标题: Dynamic changes of CTL, NK, NKT cells in acute Hepatitis B [打印本页] 作者: StephenW 时间: 2011-10-6 12:51 标题: Dynamic changes of CTL, NK, NKT cells in acute Hepatitis B
本帖最后由 风雨不动 于 2012-4-14 14:45 编辑
http://www.virologyj.com/content/pdf/1743-422X-8-199.pdf
Dynamic changes of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), natural killer (NK) cells, and natural killer T (NKT) cells in patients with acute hepatitis B infection
Jun Li1,2*†, Yaping Han1†, Ke Jin1, Yufeng Wan1, Shixia Wang2,3, Bo Liu1, Yuan Liu1, Shan Lu2,3 and Zuhu Huang1,2*
* Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected]
† Contributed equally
1Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing
Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Abstract
Background:
The goal of this study is to observe changes in HBcAg-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells from peripheral blood and to relate such changes on viral clearance and liver injury in patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB).
Methods:
Dynamic profiles on the frequency of HLA-A0201-restricted HBcAg18-27 pentamer complex (MHCPentamer)-specific CTLs and lymphocyte subsets in AHB patients were analyzed in addition to liver function tests, HBV serological markers, and HBV DNA levels. ELISPOT was used to detect interferon-gamma (INF-g) secretion in specific CTLs stimulated with known T cell epitope peptides associated with HBV surface protein, polymerase, and core protein.
Results:
HBV-specific CTL frequencies in AHB patients were much higher than in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (p < 0.05). HBeAg and HBV DNA disappeared earlier in AHB patients with a high frequency of HBV-specific CTLs compared with those with a low frequency of HBV-specific CTLs (p = 0.001 and 0.024, respectively). INF-gspots of effector cells stimulated by Pol575-583, Env348-357, or Core18-27 epitope peptides were significantly greater in AHB patients than in CHB patients (p < 0.01). CD3+CD8+ T cell numbers in AHB patients was more than observed in the healthy control group from the first to the fourth week after admission (p = 0.008 and 0.01, respectively); the number of CD3+CD8+ T cells and frequency of HBcAg18-27-specific CTLs in AHB patients reached
peak levels at the second week after admission. NK and NKT cell numbers were negatively correlated with the frequency of HBcAg-specific CTLs (r = -0.266, p = 0.05).
Conclusions:
Patients with AHB possess a higher frequency of HBcAg-specific CTLs than CHB patients. The frequency of specific CTLs in AHB patients is correlated with HBeAg clearance indicating that HBV-specific CTLs play an important role in viral clearance and the self-limited process of the disease. Furthermore, NK and NKT cells are likely involved in the early, non-specific immune response to clear the virus.