Increased CD163 expression is associated with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure

Figure 1 Percentage of CD163+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The representative results of CD163+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells are shown. ACHBLF: Acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B.

Figure 2 Acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (n = 40), chronic hepatitis B (n = 40) and healthy controls (n = 20). A: The frequency of CD163+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) patients was significantly higher than that in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and healthy controls (P < 0.01); B: There were no significant differences in mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD163+ PBMCs within the three groups (P > 0.05); C: The plasma levels of soluble CD163 (sCD163) in ACHBLF patients were significantly higher than those in CHB patients and healthy controls (P < 0.01); D: The mRNA levels of CD163 in ACHBLF patients and CHB patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P < 0.01). Significant differences were calculated using the Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test (^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 between the two groups).

Figure 3 Linear correlation of plasma CD163 levels with disease severity markers in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure patients. A-C: Plasma CD163 was positively correlated with model of end stage liver disease (MELD) score, hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA and negatively correlated with prothrombin activity (PTA); D: There was no correlation between plasma CD163 levels and total bilirubin (TBIL); E: In acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) patients, non-survivors had elevated plasma CD163 levels compared with survivors.