[Lymphocyte subset and its apoptosis in chronic hepatitis C].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the autoimmune pathogenesis induced by hepatitis C virus.


METHODS
Serum anti-GOR and peripheral blood lymphocyte subset and its apoptosis rate after activated by Pokeweed mitogen (pwm) in vitro were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Eighteen individuals with chronic hepatitis C and 16 healthy controls were observed.


RESULTS
The positive rates of serum anti-GOR (66.7%) and ANA (44.4%) were significantly higher in chronic hepatitis C than normal controls (chi(2)=26.86, chi(2)=9.30, P<0.005). The apoptosis percentage of PBMCs and CD3(+)T cell was elevated in individuals with chronic hepatitis C when compared with normal controls (t=2.44, P<0.05). However, the apoptosis percentage of CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells in PBMCs was significantly decreased in patients with anti-GOR positive compared to anti-GOR negative (t=3.17, P<0.01; t=2.294, P<0.05). Similarly, the percentage of CD4(+)CD8(+) T cells in anti-GOR positive patients was increased and CD3(+)/CD4(+) was decreased (t=2. 18, P<0.05) compared to anti-GOR negative (t=2.44, P<0.05; t=2.18, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
autoimmune response exists in chronic hepatitis C patients. There is an imbalance of lymphocyte subset and its apoptosis, which may be one of the important reasons for the mechanism of autoimmune pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C.
Liu
W
W
Department of Infections Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410008, China.
Tan
D
D
Zhang
Z
Z
Fan
X
X
Ouyang
K
K
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male
D001323:Autoantibodies