Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore the clinical implications of hepatic interleukin-35 (IL-35) and the peripheral blood myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSCs) count changes in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods 35 patients with AIH were enrolled in our hospital between May 2017 and February 2020, and all patients underwent liver biopises. The p35 and the Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (Ebi3) expressions in liver tissues were detected by Western blot. The percentages of peripheral blood MDSCs were detected by LX flow cytometry. According to interface inflammation and cell infiltration depth, the liver damage were divided into mild, moderate and severe degree. Results The hepatic expression of p35 and Ebi3, and the percentage of MDSCs in 6 patients with severe liver injury were(0.9±0.1),(0.9±0.1) and (1.5±0.3)%, significantly higher than [(0.5±0.1),(0.6±0.1) and (0.9±0.2)%, respectively, P<0.05] in 18 patients with mild or [(0.6±0.1), (0.7±0.1) and (1.2±0.2)%, respectively, P<0.05] in 11 patients with moderate liver injury; the hepatic expression of p35 and Ebi3, and the percentage of MDSCs in 16 patients with liver fibrosis S3-S4 were (0.7±0.2), (0.8±0.1) and (1.3±0.2)%, significantly higher than [(0.5±0.1),(0.6±0.1) and (0.9±0.2)%, respectively, P<0.05] in 19 patients with S1～S2, and those in 17 patients with G3-G4 were (0.7±0.1), (0.8±0.2) and (1.2±0.2)%, significantly higher than [(0.5±0.1), (0.6±0.1) and (1.0±0.1)%, respectively, P<0.05]in 18 patients with G1-G2; the hepatic expression of p35 and Ebi3, and the percentage of MDSCs in 19 patients who responded to immunosuppressive agent therapy less than 3 month were (0.4±0.1), (0.5±0.1) and (1.0±0.2)%, the former two were significantly weaker than [(0.7±0.1) and (0.8±0.2), P<0.05] in 10 patients who responded to therapy 3 to 6 months or [(1.1±0.1),(1.1±0.2) and (1.4±0.2)%, respectively, P<0.05] in 6 patients who responded to therapy longer than 6 month. Conclusion The hepatic IL-35 expression and the peripheral blood MDSCs counts are related to liver injuries in patients with AIH, which needs further investigation.

Key words: Autoimmune hepatitis, Interleukin-35, Myeloid-derived suppressor cell, Response to immunosuppressive agent therapy