Role of activation-induced cell death in pathogenesis of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
OBJECTIVE
To study and compare the difference of activation-induced cell death (AICD) in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes(PBL-Ts) from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and the normal people in vitro, and to explore the role of AICD in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the pathogenesis of CHB.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients and fourteen healthy people were selected for isolation of PBL-Ts. During cultivation, anti-CD3 mAb, PMA and ionomycin were used for AICD of PBL-Ts. AICD ratio of PBL-Ts was detected with TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling and assessed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
When induced with anti-CD3, PMA and ionomycin in vitro, AICD ratio of PBL-Ts from CHB patients was significantly higher than that from healthy control (17.24+/-1.21 vs. 6.63+/-1.00, P<0.01) and that from CHB patients without induction (17.24+/-1.21 vs. 9.88+/-1.36, P<0.01). There was a similar AICD ratio of PBL-Ts between induction group and without induction group, but no difference was found before and after induction in healthy control. The density of INF-gamma in culture media of induction groups of CHB was lower than that of other groups (P<0.01). There was no difference between these groups in density of IL-10 (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
When induced during cultivation in vitro, PBL-Ts from CHB have AICD very commonly. This phenomenon has a potentially important relation with pathogenesis of CHB and chronicity of HBV infection.
Hou
Chun-Sheng
CS
Department of Infectious Diseases, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province, China. cshou2000@sina.com
Wang
Gui-Qiang
GQ
Lu
Shu-Lan
SL
Yue
Bei
B
Li
Ming-Rong
MR
Wang
Xiao-Yan
XY
Yu
Jian-Wu
JW
D000328:Adult; D016923:Cell Death; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines