Objective: To investigate the distribution of peripheral blood monocyte subsets of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and observe the expression of negative regulators T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (Tim-3) and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) on the monocyte subsets.
Methods: Flow cytometry was employed to determine the distribution of three monocyte subsets as well as Tim-3 and PD-1 expression on the three monocyte subsets. Their correlations with the clinical parameters were analyzed by Spearman test.
Results: Compared with healthy controls, an increased distribution of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes, especially CD14(++)CD16(+) monocyte subset, was observed in CHC patients. Tim-3 expression was significantly elevated on CD14(++)CD16(-) and CD14(+)CD16(++) subsets in CHC patients. Obviously increased PD-1 expression was found mainly on CD14(++)CD16(-) and CD14(++)CD16(+) subsets. There were no significant correlations between monocyte subsets, PD-1, Tim-3 and the clinical parameters.
Conclusion: The levels Tim-3 and PD-1 are different in three monocyte subsets.