Estradiol receptors in the cytosol of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in hepatitis virus carriers.
Sex hormones are known to affect the immune system. Asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers are thought to be immunologically tolerant to HBV, but in some HBV carriers, the immune response to HBV is induced, especially in females during their sexually-mature periods. This may be caused by the effects of estrogen on the immune system. In this study, we found that the level of estradiol receptors in the cytosol of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly lower in asymptomatic HBV carriers and patients with chronic hepatitis (B type and non A non B type) compared to healthy controls. This suggests that one cause of the deficiency in virus elimination in hepatitis virus carriers may be the unresponsiveness of the immune system to sex hormones, as a result of the low level of cytosol estradiol receptors.
Mizoguchi
Y
Y
Takeda
H
H
Kobayashi
K
K
Morisawa
S
S
Yamamoto
S
S
D002353:Carrier State / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006509:Hepatitis B; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*
D011959:Receptors, Estradiol