T lymphocyte activation is associated with viral replication in chronic hepatitis B virus infection of childhood.
Activated circulating T lymphocytes expressing HLA-DR (mean +/- s.d. 11.0 +/- 5.2%) or interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) (2.1 +/- 1.7%) were significantly increased in 63 children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection when compared with 33 age-matched healthy controls (3.0 +/- 1.3%, P less than 0.01, and 0.1 +/- 0.4%, P less than 0.01). HBeAg-positive patients had higher percentage of DR (11.9 +/- 5.1%) or IL-2R (2.4 +/- 1.7%) positive T lymphocytes than anti-HBe-positive children (7.4 +/- 3.6% and 1.1 +/- 1.5%, P less than 0.01 and P = 0.02 respectively). Similarly, HBV DNA-positive patients had higher percentage of DR (10.5 +/- 3.3) or IL-2R (3.2 +/- 1.7%) positive T cells than HBV DNA-negative children (6.6 +/- 2.8% and 1.2 +/- 1.5%, P less than 0.01 for both). There was a positive correlation between percentage of DR positive T lymphocytes and levels of HBV DNA. Sixty-two per cent of the DR-positive T lymphocytes were cytotoxic/suppressor and 35% helper/inducer. The relationship between viral replication and T lymphocyte activation is discussed.
Vegnente
A
A
Dipartimento di Pediatria, II Facolta di Medicina, Naples, Italy.
Guida
S
S
Lobo-Yeo
A
A
Alviggi
L
L
Daniels
H
H
Toscano
P
P
Nuzzo
V
V
Mieli-Vergani
G
G
Vergani
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014775:Virus Activation
D015703:Antigens, CD; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2