Changes of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes during acute flare-ups in chronic hepatitis B patients.
- Author:
Hong DENG
1
;
Yu-Tian CHONG
;
Xiao-Yan HAN
;
Fu-Cheng ZHANG
;
Xiao-Mou PENG
;
Zhi-Liang GAO
;
Ji-Lu YAO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adult; Female; HLA-A2 Antigen; immunology; Hepatitis B Core Antigens; immunology; Hepatitis B virus; immunology; Hepatitis B, Chronic; immunology; virology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; immunology; Viral Load; Young Adult
- From: Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2006;14(10):721-724
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo detect HBV antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) changes in patients during acute flare-ups and to study their association with flare-ups and aggravations into grave hepatitis by quantitative analysis of HLA-A2* restricted HBcAg-specific CTL cells.
METHODSThe frequency of HBcAg-specific CTL cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 29 patients with persistent infection with HBV were quantified by flow cytometry using one HLA-A2*HBV peptide pentamers complex (Pro5TM MHC Pentamers).
RESULTSThere was a statistical difference of HBcAg specific CTLs between the patients with acute exacerbations (1.4%+/-0.8%) and the patients with immune tolerance (0.6%+/-0.4%) (t = 2.180, P = 0.01-0.05); There was no significant difference between the grave hepatitis group (1.3%+/-1.0%) and the chronic hepatitis group (1.4%+/-0.8%) regarding frequencies of antigen specific CTL (t = 0.215, P = 0.833-0.05). The level of antigen specific CTLs in PBMC in the 6 cases of chronic hepatitis B with acute exacerbations maintained a relatively high level (more than 0.7%) within the 12 week follow-up period.
CONCLUSIONHBcAg-specific CTLs may play an important role in hepatic flare-ups in patients with chronic HBV infection, but there was no direct relationship between antigen- specific CTLs and grave hepatitis.
