title: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and regulatory T cells in acute viral hepatitis.
abstract: During acute viral hepatitis, we observed a significant decrease in OKT4/OKT8 ratio with a significant increase in the OKT8 positive subset in acute type B and non-A-non-B hepatitis. This altered ratio persisted in type B for a long time until HBsAg antibody became detectable, while it soon returned to normal in type A and non-A-non-B hepatitis. In the majority of acute hepatitis the altered ratio is because of an increase and not to a decrease in the whole T cell population, as described in chronic HBV infection. The number of HNK-1 positive cells remained raised during the recovery phase of type B and non-A-non-B hepatitis, a finding consistent with the hypothesis that NK cells play a role in the host defence against B and non-A-non-B virus infections. Serum beta 2-microglobulin concentrations were increased only in acute hepatitis B and non-A-non-B where immunological mechanisms are suspected to be involved, and showed a good correlation with the population of activated OKIa positive cells.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barnaba
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tamburrini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laghi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cauda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levrero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortona
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balsano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase