title: Analysis of intrahepatic HBV-specific cytotoxic T-cells during and after acute HBV infection in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Characteristics of the intrahepatic virus-specific T-cell response in patients with acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have not been studied due to the risk of complications associated with standard liver biopsies. In this study we aimed to characterize the virus-specific CD8 + T-cell response in the liver of patients with acute HBV infection using fine-needle aspiration-biopsy (FNAB).
  
  
  METHODS
  In HLA-A2 positive patients with acute HBV infection a FNAB was performed at first presentation, at the time of HBsAg-seroconversion and 3 months after HBsAg-seroconversion. HLA-A2 tetramers were used to identify HBV-specific CD8 + T-cells in FNAB-cytology and peripheral blood (PB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At first presentation there was a correlation between the frequency of intrahepatic CD8 + T-cells and the degree of liver damage. At all time points there was sequestering of HBV-specific CD8 + T-cells in the liver, and the percentage of intrahepatic HLA-DR expressing HBV-specific CD8 + T-cells was higher than in PB. Three months after HBsAg-seroconversion the frequency of intrahepatic HBV-specific CD8 + T-cells remained high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV-specific CD8 + T-cells are compartmentalized in the liver during acute HBV infection. Their presence in the liver may suggest a role in the resolution of the infection. Intrahepatic HBV-specific CD8 + T cells remain detectable at high frequencies after HBsAg-seroconversion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sprengers
authors.forename: Renate G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: van der Molen
authors.forename: Johannes G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kusters
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: De Man
authors.forename: Hubert G M
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Niesters
authors.forename: Solko W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Schalm
authors.forename: Harry L A
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens