Objective   To investigate the profiles of Th17 cells in chronically HBV-infected patients with enticarvir (ETV) treatment.    Methods   Serum and peripheral blood monouclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 9 enrolled CHB patients who admitted in our center in December 2008 and 9 matched health controls. The patients were administered 0.5 mg ETV

once per day for 48 weeks. Their ALT

HBV DNA

HBV markers as well as the frequency of T

h17 cells were measured and monitored in 4

12

24

36 and 48 weeks after the treatment.    Results   There was a significant decrease in ALT and HBV DNA levels in patients after  4 weeks’ ETV treatment

but the percentage of peripheral IL-17

+

and IL-17

+

IFN-γ

-

T cells were significantly increased from the 4th week [(6.32±2.26)% and (4.68±1.73)% respectively

]

and then gradually decreased later till 24 weeks

even almost closed to the baselines at the end of 48 weeks’ treatment

but they still higher than the counterparts in healthy controls at any time point. The percentage of peripheral IL-17

+

IFN-γ

+

T cells was increased significantly at the 36th week [(1.92±0.97)%

]

and then decreased significantly after 48 weeks’ treatment

though much higher than that of healthy controls at any time point.    Conclusion   ETV efficiently suppresses HBV replication

which may be correlated with the decrease of Th17 cells and thus might attenuate hepatic inflammation in the disease.