<b>OBJECTIVEb>To measure the quantities and apoptosis-related protein levels of B lymphocyte in the patients with immunorelated pancytopenia (IRP) and explore the action of B lymphocyte in the pathogenic mechanism of IRP.

<b>METHODSb>Quantities of whole B lymphocytes and CD5+ B lymphocytes as well as the expressions of Fas and Bcl-2 in B lymphocytes in 35 patients with untreated IRP, 15 IRP patients in complete remission (CR), and 10 normal controls were assayed by flow cytometry.

<b>RESULTSb>The percentages of B lymphocyte and CD5+ B lymphocyte were significantly higher in untreated IRP patients than in CR IRP patients and normal controls (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the latter two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference of Fas expression in B lymphocyte among three groups (P > 0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 in B lymphocyte was significantly higher in untreated patients than in CR patients or normal controls (P < 0.01), and significantly higher in CR patients than in normal controls (P < 0.01). The apoptosis-related index was significantly lower in untreated patients than in CR patients or normal controls (P < 0.05), and significantly lower in CR patients than in normal controls (P < 0.05). The percentage of B lymphocyte was positively correlated with post-treated response time (r = 0.53, P < 0.01).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The production of auto-antibodies in IRP patients probably has some relationship with the abnormal quantities of B lymphocyte and its subpopulations as well as with the inhibition of B lymphocyte apoptosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; immunology ; pathology

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To investigate the characteristics and clinical significance of changes in gamma delta T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), including during the immune tolerant (IT) phase and the immune activated (IA) phase.

<b>METHODSb>Flow cytometry was used to analyze the frequencies and absolute numbers of γδT cells and their subsets in peripheral blood and in liver from 80 CHB cases, including 20 IT carriers and 60 IA patients. Blood samples were obtained from all CHB cases and 5 healthy controls (HCs). Liver biopsies were collected from 22 IA patients and 5 IT carriers undergoing diagnosis, and from the 5 HCs.

<b>RESULTSb>Compared to HCs and IT carriers, the IA patients displayed significantly lower levels of peripheral and intrahepatic γδT cells as well as the Vδ2 subsets. The levels of peripheral and intrahepatic VγδT cells were closely associated with the liver histological activity index and serum alanine aminotransferase levels.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>γδT cells, especially the Vδ2 subsets, may play a protective role in decreasing liver damage in CHB patients.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology

IL-10 production by CD19(+)CD5(+) B cells was investigated, by determining the expression levels of CD19, a classical B cell marker. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stained with fluorescence-conjugated anti-CD5, anti-CD19, anti-IL-10, and Annexin V. Interestingly, IL-10-producing B cells were found to be localised within the CD19(low)CD5(+) B cell subset. Apoptotic changes were also observed mainly in CD19(low) cells among B cells. Thus, CD5(+) B cells should be classified as CD19(high) and CD19(low) cells, and the immunological significance of CD19 for the IL-10 production by CD5(+) B cells requires further studies.
Antigens, CD19/metabolism ; Antigens, CD5/metabolism ; Apoptosis/immunology ; B-Lymphocyte Subsets/cytology/*immunology ; Cell Separation ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/*biosynthesis

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the B lymphocytes(CD20) and T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8) expression and clinical significance in chronic rhinosinusitis. METHOD: Immunohistochemical technique was applied to detect the expression of the B lymphocytes (CD20), helper T lymphocytes (CD4) and the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CD8) in 15 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps group (CRSsNP). 12 patients of chronic nasal sinusitis with nasal polyp (CRSwNP), 7 cases of recurrent CRSwNP group and 13 patients with inferior turbinate mucosa in the control group. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze CD)20, CD4 and CD8 between the experimental groups and the control group. One- Way ANOVA was used to compare the lymphocyte infiltration between the experiment groups. RESULT: Patients with CRS had higher infiltration of the B lymphocytes (CD20) and T lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD88) than the patients of the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of T lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8) in CRSwNP and recurrent CRSwNP groups was significantly higher than in CRSsNP (P < 0.05). The expression of CD4 in the recurrent CRSwNP group was obviously higher than that in CRSsNP and CRSwNP (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The B lymphocytes, helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells have the high expression in CRS groups, which involved with the formation of inflammation. Furthermore nasal polyps are closely related to T lymphocyte infiltration.
Adolescent ; Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; complications ; Rhinitis ; complications ; immunology ; Sinusitis ; complications ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; Young Adult

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To study the effect of rapamycin in inducing naïve murine effector T cell (Teff) convert to regulatory T cell (Treg) in vitro.

<b>METHODSb>The forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) negative Teff were isolated and purified from the spleen and lymph node of C57 BL/6 murines aged 6-8 weeks, then Teff were cultured in three groups with mature dendritic cells (mDC), B cells, and plate coated Anti-CD3. In addition, the control wells and the test wells were prepared in each group, rapamycin were not added in the control wells but added in the test wells with concentrations of 1, 10, 50, and 100 nmol/L. Percentages of FoxP3 positive Treg were examined by flow cytometry after 4 days in Anti-CD3 group and after 6 days in the other two groups.

<b>RESULTSb>As shown by the flow cytometry, the percentages of FoxP3 positive Treg were as follows in three group: in the mDC group, it was 0.01% in the control well and 0.39%, 0.47%, 0.34%, and 0.26% in test wells; in B cell group, it was 0.01% in the control wells and 5.56%, 5.89%, 7.15%, and 4.72% in the test wells; in Anti-CD3 group, it was 0.93% in the control wells and 1.35%, 1.07%, 1.02%, and 1.19% in test wells. No significant difference was found between the test wells and control wells in the mDC group and Anti-CD3 group; however, the percentages of FoxP3 positive Treg was significantly different between the test wells and control wells in the B cell group (P < 0.01).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>When B cell is acted as the antigen-presenting cell, rapamycin can effectively induce Teff convert to Treg in vitro.

Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Precursor Cells, T-Lymphoid ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology

<b>BACKGROUNDb>To investigate the changes of circulating dendritic cell (DC) and lymphocytes subsets in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine.

<b>METHODSb>Sixteen chronic hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine were included and followed up for 48 weeks in this study. Before and during lamivudine treatment, DC collected from peripheral blood sample was cultured in vitro and surface markers of DC and lymphocytes subsets were detected by flow cytometry simultaneously.

<b>RESULTSb>Of the 16 patients, 11 were consistently HBV DNA negative in serum and HBV DNA YMDD variants appeared in 5 cases. In the consistent responder group, HLA-DR level of DC decreased transiently in 12 weeks and recovered in 48 weeks (P<0.05). At 48 weeks CD80, CD40 and CD1a were improved compared with baseline level (P<0.05). In the YMDD variant group, CD83 and HLA-DR level of DC decreased at 12 weeks treatment (P<0.05) and HLA-DR was still lower compared with baseline (P<0.05). In the consistent responder group, no significant changes occurred in lymphocyte subsets number at 12 weeks treatment, but CD4 + T cell was improved and NK cell dropped at 48 weeks compared with baseline level (P<0.05). In the YMDD variant group lymphocyte subsets had no statistically significant change.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>In the consistent responder group, the expression of surface costimulatory molecules of DC, such as CD80 and CD40,was partly recovered after the virus of hepatitis B had been inhibited efficiently, HLA-DR levels of DC decreased transiently at 12 weeks and recovered in 48 weeks and CD4+ T cell improved and NK cell dropped at 48 weeks. In the YMDD variant group, HLA-DR levels of DC were lower consistently during treatment compared with baseline level.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; HLA-DR Antigens ; analysis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To analyze the characteristics of lymphocyte phenotypes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice and the effect of exogenous interferon-α on virological profiles and lymphocytes phenotypes of the mice.

<b>METHODSb>HBV transgenic mice and wild-type (WT) mice were examined for serum levels of HBsAg, HBcAb, IL-21, and IL-6 using ELISA. The frequencies of CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells separated from the liver, spleen, and peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Nine HBV transgenic mice were injected subcutaneously with recombinant mouse interferon alpha (rmIFN-α) and another 9 transgenic mice were injected with PBS, and their HBsAg, HBV DNA, IL-6, and IL-21 levels and frequencies of peripheral blood CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells were detected.

<b>RESULTSb>HBV transgenic mice showed a high level of HBsAg with a detectable level of HBcAb and significantly increased serum levels of IL-21 and IL-6 as compared with WT mice (P<0.05). The transgenic mice had a significantly lower frequency of CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood, liver and spleen (P<0.05) but a significantly higher frequency of CD19(+) B cells in the liver (P<0.05). An inverse correlation between intrahepatic CD4(+) T cell frequency and serum HBsAg level while a positive correlation between intrahepatic CD19(+) B cell frequency and HBcAb level were found in HBV transgenic mice. Administration of rmIFN-α significantly increased the frequencies of CD4(+) T and CD19(+) B cells in the peripheral blood and the serum level of IL-6 in HBV transgenic mice (P<0.05).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>HBV transgenic mice have lymphocyte subset dysregulation and exogenous interferon-α can modulate the immune function of the mice by regulating the frequencies of lymphocyte subsets.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; B-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Hepatitis B ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Liver ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Phenotype ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To investigate the characteristics of circulating type II pre-dendritic cells (pDC2) and evaluate its role in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

<b>METHODSb>The quantitative alterations of pDC2 in 27 chronic HBV-infected patients as treated group and 15 healthy individuals as a control group were analyzed by using flow cytometry based on the comparison of CD4+/CD8+ ratios of T lymphocyte subsets between the two groups. The IFN-alpha-producing ability of pDC2 after incubation was determined by ELISA.

<b>RESULTSb>The percentage of pDC2 (0.096 +/- 0.086) from the peripheral blood in chronic HBV-infected patients were significantly lower than that (0.304 +/- 0.093) from the normal controls (P less than 0.001) while the CD4+/CD8+ ratios were higher than those in normal controls (P less than 0.01). The values of IFN-alpha-producing function and IL-12 of circulating pDC2 in chronic HBV-infected patients group were significantly lower than those in healthy subjects (P < 0.001). The percentage of pDC2 and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were higher in the patients positive for HBV DNA in sera than those in patients negative for HBV DNA in sera (P < 0.01).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The decreased number of circulating pDC2 and IFN-alpha-producing function from peripheral blood in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection may result in the decline of host immune response, which may partially contribute to the disease progress of HBV infection and existence of viral genomic DNA in patient's sera.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cell Count ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology ; Young Adult