Flow cytometry CD4 super(+)/CD8 super(+) ratio of liver-derived lymphocytes correlates with viral replication in chronic hepatitis B

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 liv...

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Published in:Clinical and experimental immunology 1994-01, Vol.97 (3), p.403-410
Main Authors: Pham, B-N, Mosnier, J F, Walker, F, Njapoum, C, Bougy, F, Degott, C, Erlinger, S, Cohen, JHM, Degos, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
hepatitis B virus
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Summary: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/ml at the time of the liver biopsy, whereas 10 patients had no detectable serum HBV DNA. In patients exhibiting viral replication, CD4 super(+)/CD8 super(+) ratios of liver-derived lymphocytes were significantly higher than those obtained in patients without viral replication. In contrast, the percentage of T cells expressing the gamma / delta receptor and that of CD2 super(+)/CD57 super(+) cells were similar in both groups of patients. Furthermore, in patients exhibiting viral replication, CD4 super(+)/CD8 super(+) ratios of liver-derived lymphocytes correlated with serum HBV DNA levels. No relationship between CD4 super(+)/CD8 super(+) ratio of liver-derived and peripheral blood lymphocytes was observed. Our data indicate that, in patients with chronic hepatitis B, the CD4 super(+)/CD8 super(+) ratio of liver-derived lymphocytes correlates with viral replication. This suggests that in situ helper/inducer CD4 super(+) T lymphocytes may positively regulate the cytoxic T cell activity in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis.
ISSN:0009-9104