Tracking the source of the hepatitis B virus-specific CD8 T cells during lamivudine treatment.
Lamivudine treatment in chronic hepatitis B leads to the reconstitution of virus-specific T cells in the circulation, but it is not clear whether this is the preferential result of T cell efflux from the liver or lymph nodes. To address this question, the frequency and function of liver-, lymph node-, and blood-derived hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific CD8 T cells were analyzed in patients treated with lamivudine and undergoing liver transplantation. HBV-specific CD8 T cells, identified in portal lymph nodes, were able to expand in vitro after antigen-specific stimulation and displayed a heterogeneous profile of cytokine production. These findings suggest that the peripherally reconstituted HBV-specific CD8 T cells can originate from precursor cells within lymph nodes.
Malacarne
Fabio
F
Institute of Hepatology, Royal Free Campus, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Webster
George J M
GJ
Reignat
Stephanie
S
Gotto
Jim
J
Behboudi
Shahriar
S
Burroughs
Andrew K
AK
Dusheiko
Geoffrey M
GM
Williams
Roger
R
Bertoletti
Antonio
A
D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity
D016207:Cytokines; D019259:Lamivudine