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Flow cytometry CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived lymphocytes correlates with viral replication in chronic hepatitis B.
- Source :
-
Clinical & Experimental Immunology . Sep1994, Vol. 97 Issue 3, p403-410. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 1994
-
Abstract
- T lymphocytes have been assumed to play an essential role in tissue injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B. As hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered as a major factor controlling liver inflammation, we assessed whether a particular T lymphocyte subset could be preferentially detected in the liver in accordance with viral replication. Liver-derived lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes were analysed by flow cytometry in 21 patients with histologically confirmed chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis. Viral replication was quantified by hybridization of serum HBV DNA. Eleven patients exhibited an active viral replication with serum HBV DNA ranging from 10 to 388 pg/mI at the time of the liver biopsy, whereas 10 patients had no detectable serum HBV DNA. In patients exhibiting viral replication, CD4+/CD8+ ratios of liver-derived lymphocytes were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those obtained in patients without viral replication. In contrast, the percentage of T cells expressing the γ/δ receptor and that of CD2+/CD57+ cells were similar in both groups of patients. Furthermore, in patients exhibiting viral replication, CD4+/CD8+ ratios of liver-derived lymphocytes correlated with serum HBV DNA levels (P < 0.001). No relationship between CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived and peripheral blood lymphocytes was observed. Our data indicate that, in patients with chronic hepatitis B. the CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived lymphocytes correlates with viral replication. This suggests that in situ helper/inducer CD4+ T lymphocytes may positively regulate the cytoxic T cell activity in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *T cells
*LYMPHOCYTES
*LEUCOCYTES
*SERUM
*BLOOD plasma
*DNA
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00099104
- Volume :
- 97
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Clinical & Experimental Immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16062291