Peripheral basophil activation: A hidden player in the immunopathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis

Table 1 Baseline characteristics and key laboratory parameters in patients with primary biliary cholangitis, n (%)

Parameter	PBC (n = 65)	CHB (n = 65)	Normal (n = 65)	χ2/F/H	P value
Sex (female,%)	48 (73.8)	49 (75.4)	40 (61.5)	3.297	0.192
Age (years)	58.22 ± 13.63	57.03 ± 11.07	59.18 ± 11.80	0.507	0.603
White blood cell count (×109/L)	5.69 ± 1.80	6.19 ± 1.60	6.41 ± 1.59	3.190	0.043
ALT (IQR, U/L)	48.70 (28.25, 102.90)	23.00 (15.80, 41.45)	16.80 (11.15, 22.95)	55.948	< 0.001
AST (IQR, U/L)	58.70 (33.60, 107.20)	24.50 (19.35, 33.88)	18.70 (16.10, 22.30)	88.404	< 0.001
ALP (IQR, U/L)	204.90 (113.50, 318.55)	79.40 (63.45, 101.20)	71.00 (59.80, 85.15)	81.054	< 0.001
GGT (IQR, U/L)	188.60 (67.00, 387.75)	32.70 (17.60, 53.00)	19.20 (15.10, 28.60)	85.797	< 0.001
Basophil proportion (%)	0.6 (0.4, 0.9)	0.3 (0.2, 0.4)	0.3 (0.2, 0.4)	81.478	< 0.001
Absolute basophil count (counts/μL)	35.32 (21.98, 51.71)	20.00 (14.15, 23.92)	18.96 (13.19, 25.31)	51.511	< 0.001

ALT: Alanine transaminase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase; IQR: Interquartile range; PBC: Primary biliary cholangitis; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B.

Table 2 Baseline characteristics of subgroups analyzed via flow cytometry, n (%)

Parameter	PBC subgroup (n = 14)	CHB subgroup (n = 14)	Normal subgroup (n = 14)	χ2/F	P value
Female (%)	13 (92.9)	12 (85.7)	13 (92.9)	0.721	1.000
Age (years)	56.79 ± 10.95	58.43 ± 6.61	59.07 ± 6.79	0.278	0.759
White blood cell count (× 109/L)	6.25 ± 1.02	6.07 ± 1.60	6.45 ± 1.30	0.314	0.732

PBC: Primary biliary cholangitis; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B.

Table 3 Flow cytometry analysis of basophil activation markers with their mean fluorescence intensity values

Activation marker	PBC subgroup (n = 14)	CHB subgroup (n = 14)	Normal subgroup (n = 14)	H	P value
CD203c MFI	1792.00 (1301.50, 29410)	1575.00 (871.0, 2079.00)	1014.50 (652.25, 1784.75)	8.465	0.015
CD62 L MFI	3130.00 (2290.0, 4760.75)	2956.00 (1933.75, 4118.75)	2963.00 (2386.75, 4946.50)	0.880	0.644

PBC: Primary biliary cholangitis; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B; MFI: Mean fluorescence intensity.

Table 4 Proportion of interleukin-6-positive basophils in peripheral blood

	PBC subgroup (n = 13)	CHB subgroup (n = 14)	Normal subgroup (n = 14)	H	P value
IL-6+Ba, M (IQR),%	1.74 (1.41, 2.19)	0.76 (0.31, 1.13)	0.84 (0.54, 1.17)	13.373	< 0.001

IQR: Interquartile range; PBC: Primary biliary cholangitis; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B.