[The influences of camel milk on the immune response of chronic hepatitis B patients].

AIM:To investigate the influences of camel milk on the immune response of the chronic hepatitis B patients and its possible mechanism. METHODS:After drinking camel milk for one year, 44 chronic hepatitis B patients were observed and the HBV-DNA, hepatitis B virus markers, ALT, IL-4 and INF-gamma levels in serum were detected. 60 chronic hepatitis B patients without any interventions for 1 year were taken as control. RESULTS:The level of Th1-type cytokine IFN-gamma in camel milk drinking group was significantly higher than that in the non-drinking camel milk group (P<0.05), however, the level of Th2-type cytokines IL-4 in camel milk drinking group was significantly lower than that in the non-drinking camel milk group (P<0.01). Both IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels in camel milk drinking group were near to those in the normal control group. The HBV-DNA negative rate of the camel milk drinking group (90.91%) was significantly higher than that of the non-drinking group (3.23%) (P<0.01). The HBsAg negative rates of the camel milk drinking group (54.55%) was also higher than that of the non-drinking group (1.61%)(P<0.01).The ALT level of 44 cases in the camel milk drinking group (100%)and 7 cases in the non-drinking group(11.29%) turned back to the normal level, there was a significant difference between the two group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Camel milk regulates the expression of Th1/Th2-type cytokines, and corrects the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokine network, which could strengthen the cellular immune response, inhibit the replication of virus DNA, and promote the recovery of the chronic hepatitis B patients.