The level of expression of programmed death type 1 during the natural course of hepatitis B virus infection in asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B

Background and ObjectivesDuring chronic hepatitis B virus infection, the dynamic balance between virus replication and the host immune response is crucial in developing liver disease.In this study, the level of expression of programmed death type 1 in asymptomatic donors infected with hepatitis B during the natural course of the infection was investigated. Materials and MethodsIn this case-control study, 120 blood donors were divided into two groups.The first control group included 60 healthy individuals who tested negative for HBsAg and anti-HBc.The second group, known as the case group, comprised 60 asymptomatic HBV-infected blood donors who tested positive for HBsAg and anti-HBc.All participants were entered from the Tehran Blood Center in 2018.To check gene expression after RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, a Real-Time PCR test was performed for the PD-1 gene and -actin reference gene, then using REST software, gene expression changes compared to the healthy group were checked ResultsAll the samples of asymptomatic HBV-infected blood donors were 100% positive for total anti-HBc, anti-HBe, and negative for HBe Ag.The gene expression levels were analyzed using REST software, utilizing Cycle Threshold values obtained from Real-Time PCR tests for the PD-1 gene and a reference gene.The analysis revealed 1.5 times increase in PD-1 gene expression in asymptomatic HBV-infected donors compared to healthy donors.However, this increase was not found to be statistically significant Conclusions PD-1 gene expression does not change during the normal course of chronic HBV infection in asymptomatic HBV-infected donors and is similar to healthy individuals.