Frequencies of epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in active chronic viral hepatitis B infection by using MHC class I peptide tetramers.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are thought to play key roles in viral control and liver damage. We have used HLA-A*02 tetramer complex to human HBV core 18-27 (Tc 18-27), envelope 183-191 (Te 183-191), envelope 335-343 (Te 335-343), and polymerase 575-583 (Tp 575-583) epitopes to characterize HLA class I-restricted CD8+ T cells in active chronic HBV infection. The frequencies of specific epitopes circulating tetramer+ cells were determined in whole-blood samples by analysis of flow cytometry. The correlation of HBV epitope-specific CTL, between viral replication and liver damage, was analyzed by multiple regression. Our data shown that HBV-specific CD8+ T cells can be easily detected in peripheral blood of active chronic HBV infections. No significant correlation was found between either the frequency of HBV-specific CD8+ T cells and the viral load, or the frequency of HBV-specific CD8+ T cells and the levels of alanine transaminase. These results suggest that the existence of epitope-specific HBV CTLs are not directly correlated to hepatocyte injury, and the frequencies of HBV-specific T cells are not determinant of immune-mediated protection in chronic HBV infection.
Wu
Yuzhang
Y
Institute of Immunology of PLA, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
Zhang
Jingbo
J
Chen
Shiyuan
S
Chen
An
A
Wang
Li
L
Li
Jingyi
J
Zhao
Tingting
T
Zou
Liyun
L
Tang
Yan
Y
Tingrong
L
L
Wang
Fang
F
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010446:Peptide Fragments