title: Interleukin-2, interleukin-2 receptor and gamma-interferon synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic hepatitis delta virus infection.
abstract: The behaviour of the immune system during liver damage caused by chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection was evaluated by assessing, in 16 patients with HBsAg+ chronic liver disease and HDV superinfection (15 HBeAg-, 1 HBeAg+), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced interleukin-2 synthesis and interleukin-2 receptor expression, PHA and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced gamma-interferon synthesis and, in some cases, the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The results were compared to those obtained in 13 patients without HBV replication (i.e., serum HBV-DNA and liver HBcAg-negative), in 15 with HBV replication (i.e., serum HBV-DNA and/or liver HBcAg-positive) with chronic liver disease without HDV superinfection, and in 15 HBsAg-negative healthy control subjects. The lymphokine pattern in HDV infection was comparable to that of healthy subjects and of HBV non-replicating patients without HDV superinfection. Interleukin-2 receptor expression and gamma-interferon synthesis were however significantly decreased in HDV-negative patients with active HBV replication. HBV-DNA was detected in PBMC from 8 of 23 patients, without any correlation with the lymphokine pattern. Our results suggest that in HDV-related chronic liver disease, immune system alterations are unlikely. HDV superinfection does not affect the occurrence of HBV-DNA sequences within the leukocytes. HBV-DNA in PBMC does not interfere with the interleukin-2 system nor with the gamma-interferon response in HBV- and HDV-related chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica R, Istituto di Medicina Generale e Pneumologia, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magrin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craxì
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: di Blasi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fratazzi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ausiello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000276:immunology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma