Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the implication of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and serum soluble CD30 (sCD30) levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatitis B cirrhosis. Methods 45 patients with CHB and 38 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis were encountered in our hospital between December 2019 and December 2021, and 40 healthy volunteers matched by gender and age were selected as control. The PBMCs were separated and the STAT3 mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR. Serum SCD30 level was detected by ELISA. All patients with CHB and hepatitis B cirrhosis received antiviral therapy, and the cirrhotics were also managed by liver-protecting medicines. Results The PBMC STAT3 mRNA load and serum sCD30 level in patients with liver cirrhosis were (1.6±0.4) and (60.3±12.9)U/L, both significantly higher than [(1.3±0.3) and (51.8±10.2)U/L, P＜0.05] in patients with CHB or [(0.5±0.1) and (10.6±2.4)U/L, respectively, P＜0.05] in healthy volunteers; the STAT3 mRNA and sCD30 level in 25 CHB patients with serum HBeAg positive were (1.4±0.3) and (57.2±11.9)U/L, both significantly higher than [(1.2±0.3) and (45.1±8.1), respectively P＜0.05] in 20 CHB patients with serum HBeAg negative, and the STAT3 mRNA and sCD30 level in 16 patients with decompensated cirrhosis were (1.8±0.5) and (70.5±14.3)U/L, both significantly higher than [(1.4±0.3) and (52.9±11.8), respectively, P＜0.05] in 22 patients with compensated cirrhosis; at the end of three-month and six-month treatment, the STAT3 mRNA and sCD30 level in patients with CHB and with hepatitis B cirrhosis decreased gradually, out of which, the STAT3 mRNA and sCD30 levels in patients with cirrhosis were (1.2±0.2) and (43.6±8.3)U/L, and (0.7±0.2) and (21.5±3.7)U/L, all significantly lower than at inclusion (P＜0.05). Conclusion The PBMC STAT3 and serum sCD30 levels in patients with CHB and hepatitis B cirrhosis are up-regulated, which might be related to the deterioration of the disease, and needs further investigation.

Key words: Liver Cirrhosis, Hepatitis B, Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, Soluble CD30, Clinical implication