title: Activation of cytotoxic and natural killer T-cell system in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis.
abstract: The immune response in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is receiving renewed attention in consideration of the possible treatment with biological response modifiers. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma induce any modification in peripheral lymphocyte subsets. Lymphocytes were evaluated (number/percentage) in 61 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 35 with cirrhosis and 24 healthy controls. Using flow cytometry, 10 lymphocyte subpopulations were assayed, plus the CD4/CD8 ratio. Results demonstrated no change in the number of lymphocytes; cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma patients had significantly more HLA-DR+ (p = 0.001) and CD3+/HLA-DR+ (activated T) (p = 0.002) and fewer CD3+ (mature T) (p = 0.02) cell than controls; hepatocellular carcinoma patients had significantly more CD3+/CD56+/CD16- (cytotoxic non-MHC restricted T cells) and CD25+ (IL-2 receptor positive cells). If the percentages of all cells with cytotoxic-T activity were pooled, a significant increase (p = 0.03) was seen in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. In conclusion, in contrast to previous data, hepatocellular carcinoma patients reveal an increased number of cytotoxic non-MHC restricted T cells.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra Malattie Apparato Digerente, Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marafin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angonese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Franchis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naccarato
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farinati
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens