T cell immune response is correlated with fibrosis and inflammatory activity in hepatitis B cirrhotics

Figure 1 PIIIP, HA and type IV collagen levels in the three groups. There was a statistically significant difference between ALC and NC (^bP < 0.01, ALC vs NC) and ALC and SLC (^dP < 0.01, ALC vs SLC).

Figure 2 Relationship between serologic markers of fibrosis and HBeAg. There were statistically significant differences in levels of serologic markers of fibrosis between HbeAg (+) and HbeAg (-) groups (^bP < 0.01).

Figure 3 Serum IFN-γ, IL-2, sIL-2R and IL-10 levels in the three groups. IFN-γ and IL-2 levels were significantly higher in the ALC group compared to the SLC and NC groups (^bP < 0.01, ALC vs SLC; ^dP < 0.01, ALC vs NC), but no obvious difference was found between the SLC and NC groups (P > 0.05, NC vs SLC). IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the SLC group compared to the NC and ALC groups (^fP < 0.01, SLC vs NC; P < 0.05, SLC vs ALC). sIL-2R levels elevated gradually in all three groups (^bP < 0.01, ALC vs SLC; ^dP < 0.01, ALC vs NC; ^dP < 0.01, NC vs SLC).

Figure 4 Simplified schemes showing the effects of IFN-γ on fibrosis. (+): upregulate; (-): downregulate.