Increased frequency of CD8+ CD45R0+ memory T lymphocytes in acute hepatitis B virus infection.
CD8+ lymphocytes of the memory subset (= CD45R0+) encompass antigen-specific effector cells, which are believed to be decisive for virus elimination in several viral infections. To determine whether this can be extended to HBV infection naive and memory T cells were studied among CD(4+)- and CD(8+)-lymphocytes and used monoclonal antibodies in two-color flow cytometric analysis to quantitate functional T cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with acute hepatitis B (n = 11), chronic hepatitis B (n = 24) and healthy individuals (n = 26). Compared to CD4+ populations of healthy individuals the number of total CD4+ lymphocytes in patients with both acute or chronic hepatitis was significantly reduced. In contrast CD8+ cells did not significantly change in either acute and chronic hepatitis. Analysis of naive and memory subsets demonstrated, however, a significant rise in CD45R0+ memory cells from 5 to 15% (70% of all CD8+ cells) in acute hepatitis. These changes within the CD8+ population were, however, restricted to the acute phase of hepatitis in that the frequency of CD8+CD45R0+ decreased within weeks post infection. Furthermore, patients with chronic hepatitis did exhibit normal values of CD8+ memory cells (30% of all CD8+ cells). These findings suggest that enrichment of CD8+CD45R0+ memory cells reflects an accumulation of functional effector cells, which may be specifically activated by viral antigens and determine the outcome of infection.
Jung
M C
MC
Institut für Immunologie, Universität München, Germany.
Schraut
W
W
Santantonio
T
T
Spengler
U
U
Eichenlaub
D
D
Eisenburg
J
J
Zachoval
R
R
Hoffmann
R
R
Paumgartner
G
G
Pastore
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens