title: Tracking the source of the hepatitis B virus-specific CD8 T cells during lamivudine treatment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hepatology, Royal Free Campus, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malacarne
authors.forename: George J M
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reignat
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gotto
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behboudi
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Burroughs
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dusheiko
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoletti
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D019259:Lamivudine