Hyper-activated pro-inflammatory CD16 monocytes correlate with the severity of liver injury and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
BACKGROUND: Extensive mononuclear cell infiltration is strongly correlated with liver damage in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection.Macrophages and infiltrating monocytes also participate in the development of liver damage and fibrosis in animal models.However, little is known regarding the immunopathogenic role of peripheral bl