[Sequential analyses of circulating HBV specific T helper cell response in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving antiviral treatment].
BACKGROUND
To investigate the frequency of circulating HBV specific T helper cell and evaluate its association with serum levels of HBV DNA before and during lamivudine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
The frequency of circulating HBV specific T helper cells in response to HBcAg in 25 chronic HBV-infected patients was determined by Elispot assay; serum HBV DNA was quantitated by real-time PCR.


RESULTS
The frequency of HBV specific T helper cell before antiviral treatment (47.30 +/- 25.50 SFCs /1 x 10(6) PBMC) was significantly higher than that at the third month of therapy (23.10 +/- 18.45 SFCs /1 x 10(6) PBMC, P < 0.05). All 8 patients observed dynamically had decreased frequency of HBV specific T helper cell at the third month of therapy; six patients with serum HBV DNA level reduced had higher frequency of HBV specific T helper cell before treatment than 2 patients without serum HBV DNA level decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
HBV specific T helper cell response at the time of hepatitis flare in chronic hepatitis B patients was significantly augmented compared to that at the time of catabasis.
Wang
Min
M
Research Center of Biological Therapy, Institute of Infectious Disease, No.302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
Zhang
Ling-xia
LX
Luo
Sheng-qiang
SQ
Xu
Dong-ping
DP
Zhu
Chuan-lin
CL
Tang
Zi-rong
ZR
Wang
Fu-sheng
FS
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine