title: Effects of adenine arabinoside on cellular immune responses in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: The lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood and in liver biopsies from 4 patients with chronic hepatitis B obtained about 2-7 weeks before and after treatment with adenine arabinoside (Ara-A) were studied by a peroxidase-labeled antibody method using monoclonal antibodies against Leu-1, Leu-2a, Leu-3a, Leu-7 and Leu-10 antigens. In the peripheral blood, the percentage of Leu-2a+ (cytotoxic/suppressor) cells was significantly reduced and the ratio of Leu-3a+ (helper/inducer) to Leu-2a+ cells was increased after the treatment with Ara-A. In the liver biopsies, the numbers of Leu-1+ (pan T) and Leu-2a+ cells were significantly decreased after the treatment with Ara-A. As a result, the Leu-3a+/Leu-2a+ ratio was significantly elevated in the liver after the therapy. The majority of lymphocytes distributed at sites of hepatocytic necrosis were positive for Leu-2a. The reduced numbers of Leu-1+ and Leu-2a+ cells after the treatment were mainly due to the decrease of these cells infiltrating to the sites of hepatocytic necrosis. The numbers of other subsets (Leu-3a+, Leu-7+ and Leu-10+) changed without any specific tendency both in the peripheral blood and in the liver biopsies after the treatment. With respect to viral replication, most of the patients showed a decrease of serum DNA polymerase activity or demonstrable intrahepatic HBsAg and HBcAg after the treatment. These data suggest that T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against HBV-infected hepatocytes is diminished after treatment with Ara-A.
mesh_terms: D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D014740:Vidarabine