title: [Relationship between the HBV core gene mutation and the cellular immunity in host].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship between the mutation of Leu60Val in HBV core region and the cellular immunity in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV DNA C gene mutation was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing the products directly. The cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2) levels in serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The distribution of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry (FCM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mutation of Leu60Val was found in 19 out of the 91 CHB patients. With the CHB severity, the mutation rate was getting higher, especially in the severe hepatitis group. The IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels were much higher in mutant strain group than those in wild strain group (t=2.584, 4.766, P<0.01), so was the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (t=2.275, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mutant strain of 60Val may increase affinity to HLA-I molecule, or up-regulate the expression of HLA-I molecule, resulting in the activation of CTL to release the cytokines and cause immune response in liver.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Infectious Diseases Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shu-ren
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Shun-tian
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma