Intrahepatic lymphocyte subpopulation defined by monoclonal antibodies in anti-HBe positive type B chronic active hepatitis.
The composition of the mononuclear cell infiltrates in the liver was studied in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced chronic active hepatitis (CAH). Lymphocyte subpopulations as defined by Leu monoclonal antibodies (Leu-1: pan T cell, Leu-2a: cytotoxic/suppressor T cell, Leu-3a: helper/inducer T cell, Leu-7: natural killer/K cells, and Leu 10: B cell) and distribution of both HBsAg and HBcAg in the liver have been evaluated in 10 anti-HBe-positive patients compared to 36 HBeAg-positive ones. In anti-HBe-positive patients, a general decrease of Leu-1+ cells associated with decreased numbers of Leu-2a+ and Leu-3a+ cells were observed in both portal/periportal and lobular areas. In 3 patients who had been seroconverted to anti-HBe longer than 17 months before the time of liver biopsy, there was a tendency toward a more decrease of Leu-2a+ cells and a higher ratio of Leu-3a+/Leu-2a+ cells. In respect of viral replication in the liver, HBcAg and membranous HBsAg was clearly decreased in anti-HBe-positive patients as compared with HBeAg-positive ones. These findings suggest that in patients with CAH, T cell-mediated cytotoxicity to HBV-infected hepatocytes is diminished in accordance with the decrease of active HBV replication shown by seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens