title: Regulatory T cell-subset imbalance in chronic active hepatitis.
abstract: Three monoclonal anti-T-cell antibodies, specifically directed against total T cells (OKT3), inducer-helper T cells (OKT4) and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (OKT8), were used in this study to analyze peripheral T-cell subsets in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and -negative chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patients. Results showed that a clear-cut difference exists in the distribution of peripheral T cells of these two groups of subjects. HBsAg-positive CAH patients had a numerical predominance of peripheral T lymphocytes expressing the characteristics of cytotoxic/suppressor T cells. In contrast, patients with "autoimmune" HBsAg-negative CAH exhibit a predominance of OKT4 cells, namely, the helper-inducer T-cell subset. In addition, high numbers of circulating double labeled cells (expressing both the OKT4 and the OKT8 xenoantigens) were detected in some of the HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative CAH patients studied.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase