Study on the expression of PD-1,CTLA-4,Th1/Th2,and related cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with primary liver cancer and their correlation with tumor markers

CHEN Yong-xia; LI Qi; LIU Chun-mei

doi:10.13820/j.cnki.gdyx.20241892

Abstract：Objective To investigate the levels of programmed death-1(PD-1),cytotoxic T lymphocyte-as-sociated antigen-4(CTLA-4),Th1/Th2,and related cytokines in the peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and analyze their correlation with tumor markers alpha fetoprotein(AFP)and protein induced by vita-min K absence or antagonist Ⅱ(PIVKA-Ⅱ).Methods Fifty HCC patients treated at Jianyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the HCC group.A control group was composed of individuals undergoing health check-ups at the same time.Levels of peripheral blood AFP,PIVKA-Ⅱ,CTLA-4,PD-1,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interferon γ(IFN-γ),interleukin-6(IL-6),and interleukin-10(IL-10)were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The Th1/Th2 cell ratio was determined by enzyme-linked immunospot assay.Differences between the two groups for the above indicators were compared,and Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between these indicators and the levels of AFP and PIVKA-Ⅱ in the HCC group.Results Compared to the control group,the HCC group showed significant decreases in peripheral blood levels of TNF-α,IFN-γ,and the Th1/Th2 cell ratio.In contrast,levels of AFP,PIVKA-Ⅱ,IL-6,IL-10,CTLA-4,and PD-1 were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis revealed that Th1/Th2 showed the highest negative correlation with AFP and PIVKA-Ⅱ,while PD-1 exhibited the highest positive correlation with these markers(|r|＞7,P＜0.05).Conclusion In HCC patients,peripheral blood Th1/Th2 levels are significant-ly decreased,while CTLA-4 and PD-1 levels are markedly increased,closely correlating with serum tumor markers AFP and PIVKA-Ⅱ.These indicators may provide valuable references for clinical diagnosis and assessment of immuno-therapy in HCC.