[Identification of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells in chronic HBV-infected patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the features of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in patients with chronic hepatitis B for a better understanding of the immunopathogenesis of HBV infection.


METHODS
Fresh blood samples were collected from 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and from 15 healthy individuals who served as controls. pDCs were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using immunomagnetic assay and detected by flow cytometry. Fresh PBMCs and isolated pDCs were stimulated in vitro using CpG ODN2216. The supernatants were measured for IFNa production using ELISA.


RESULTS
The peripheral pDCs frequency in CHB patients (0.192%+/-0.110%) was markedly lower than that in the healthy controls (0.287%+/-0.142%). After being pulsed with CpG ODN2216, the isolated pDCs produced lower levels of IFNa and expressed lower levels of CD80 and CD40 in the CHB patients when compared to those of the healthy controls. The level of IFNa was (972.6+/-705.5) pg/ml in the patients and (3 142.9+/-1 292.2) pg/ml in the controls. Moreover, the pDCs frequency was reversely correlated with serum ALT levels in these HBV infected patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduced number and impaired function of circulating pDCs in patients with CHB may be related to their disease progression.
Liu
Qing-Feng
QF
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100039, China.
Zhang
Zheng
Z
Yao
Jin-Xia
JX
Shi
Ming
M
Zhang
Hui
H
Mao
Yuan-Li
YL
Wang
Fu-Sheng
FS
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000819:agonists
C526902:CpG ODN 2216; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9