Flow cytometry CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived lymphocytes correlates with viral replication in chronic hepatitis B.
T lymphocytes have been assumed to play an essential role in tissue injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B. As hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered as a major factor controlling liver inflammation, we assessed whether a particular T lymphocyte subset could be preferentially detected in the liver in accordance with viral replication. Liver-derived lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes were analysed by flow cytometry in 21 patients with histologically confirmed chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis. Viral replication was quantified by hybridization of serum HBV DNA. Eleven patients exhibited an active viral replication with serum HBV DNA ranging from 10 to 388 pg/ml at the time of the liver biopsy, whereas 10 patients had no detectable serum HBV DNA. In patients exhibiting viral replication, CD4+/CD8+ ratios of liver-derived lymphocytes were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those obtained in patients without viral replication. In contrast, the percentage of T cells expressing the gamma/delta receptor and that of CD2+/CD57+ cells were similar in both groups of patients. Furthermore, in patients exhibiting viral replication, CD4+CD8+ ratios of liver-derived lymphocytes correlated with serum HBV DNA levels (P < 0.001). No relationship between CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived and peripheral blood lymphocytes was observed. Our data indicate that, in patients with chronic hepatitis B, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived lymphocytes correlates with viral replication. This suggests that in situ helper/inducer CD4+ T lymphocytes may positively regulate the cytotoxic T cell activity in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis.
Pham
B N
BN
Service d'Hématologie et Immunologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France.
Mosnier
J F
JF
Walker
F
F
Njapoum
C
C
Bougy
F
F
Degott
C
C
Erlinger
S
S
Cohen
J H
JH
Degos
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta