title: Relationship between T cell subsets and suppressor cell activity in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
abstract: The relationship between T cell subset, as defined by monoclonal antibodies, and suppressor cell function, using a short lived suppressor cell assay, was studied in 38 chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers and in 32 patients with HBsAg negative chronic active hepatitis (CAH). Patients with HBV chronic infection showed an absolute reduction in the OKT4 positive subset and a significantly decreased OKT4/OKT8 ratio, as compared with healthy controls. Patients with anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) positive CAH with or without antibodies to HBV antigens, namely anti-HBs and anti-HBc, demonstrated a significant reduction in cytotoxic/suppressor T cells and an increased helper/suppressor ratio. A negative correlation between suppressor index (SI) and OKT4/OKT8 ratio (P less than 0.01), and a positive correlation between SI and OKT8 positive cells absolute number (P less than 0.01) were also observed.
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens