Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of host immune response specific to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections between acute self-limited and chronic persistent hepatitis by quantitative analysis of HLA-A * 2402-restricted HBcAg-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte cells (CTL) cells. METHODS: The frequency of HBV-specific CTL cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 20 patients infected with HBV were quantified by ELISPOT assays and flow cytometry using one HLA-A * 2402-HBV, 7 with acute HB and 13 with chronic HB, peptide tetrameric complex. RESULTS: High frequencies of circulating HBcAg-specific CTL cells were detected in most individuals with acute HBV infection while the number of these cells was significantly reduced at the convalescent stage. HBcAg-specific CTL cells were not detected in the PBMC from individuals with chronic HBV infection except for one patient with an acute infection exacerbation. CONCLUSION: HBcAg-specific CTL cells may play a crucial role in complete clearance of HBV from patients with acute HBV hepatitis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2073-2076 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Zhonghua yi xue za zhi |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 24 |
State | Published - Dec 17 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine