title: T lymphocyte activation in chronic hepatitis B infection: interleukin 2 release and its receptor expression.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to examine early T lymphocyte activation in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. Nineteen hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients (eight with liver cirrhosis and 11 with chronic hepatitis) and 18 healthy controls were studied in a period free of other infection. Mitogen-stimulated cellular interleukin 2 receptor expression, soluble interleukin 2 receptor release, and interleukin 2 production were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured for 24 h. No difference was demonstrated between the patients and healthy controls in the cellular interleukin 2 receptor expression, soluble interleukin 2 receptor release, and interleukin 2 production. Pokeweed mitogen-stimulated interleukin 2 production in lymphocytes from cirrhotic patients was significantly lower than that of the noncirrhotic patients. However, the cellular and soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels did not differ between the two groups of chronic HBV carriers. Despite the fact that it has been suggested that autoreactive T cells have a role in mediating the development of chronic liver diseases associated with HBV infection, this study fails to demonstrate a defective T lymphocyte activation in these patients. The observed reduction of interleukin 2 production from activated lymphocytes may be related to the severity of liver impairment, rather than the HBV infection itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2