Abstract: Objective To investigate the change of toll-like receptor 4 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the serum Thl/Th2 cytokine levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B receiving interferon-α therapy. Methods 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B were treated with interferon α for six months. After 12 weeks,they were devided into response and non-response group. Serum HBV DNA was detected by PCR;The Thl/Th2 cytokines were measured by ELISA;TLR4 was measured by flow cytometry. Results The IL-4 and TLR4 contents in the two groups at 3rd and 6th month were significantly lower than that before interferon-α therapy（P<0.05）,while serum IFN-γ levels were higher than that before interferon therapy（P<0.05）;The levels of IFN-γ,IL-4,TLR4,HBV DNA and ALT at 3rd month were significantly different between the two groups（P<0.05）;The levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in 50 patients were not correlated with TLR4 level（P<0.05）;The change of TLR4 level in response patients at 3rd month was not correlated with the change of HBV DNA levels（P>0.05）. Conclusions The changes of IFN-γ and IL-4 level in CHB patients received 12 week interferon-α therapy may be not releted to the changes of TLR4 level;the changes of TLR4 level probably is releted to the early response in CHB patients received interferon-α therapy.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis B, Interferon -α, Toll-like receptor 4, Thl/Th2 cytokines