Altered immune function of monocytes in different stages of patients with acute on chronic liver failure

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the immune function of monocytes in different stages of the patients with acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF). Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) expression on monocytes in early and late stages of acute on chronic liver failure were detected by flow cytometry. The secretion function of monocytes was measured by cytometric bead array. Compared with healthy controls, the levels of HLA-DR expression on monocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and acute on chronic liver failure were gradually decreased, especially in the late stage of acute on chronic liver failure (P < 0.001). TLR-4 expression on monocytes in patients with liver cirrhosis and acute on chronic liver failure were higher than the healthy controls. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-12p70 in early-stage ACLF were significantly higher compared with healthy controls and lower in late-stage ACLF (P < 0.01, 0.05). However, a significantly lower amount of IL-10 was found on monocytes in early-stage ACLF than that of late-stage ACLF and healthy controls (P < 0.01). Monocyte HLA-DR expression in patients who died was significantly lower compared with patients who survived in the early and late stages of ACLF (P < 0.01). The dynamic detection of HLA-DR expression or cytokines secreted from monocytes could contribute to the estimation of the status of the immune function of patients with acute on chronic liver failure.