Frequencies and characterization of HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in self-limited and chronic hepatitis B viral infection in China.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are believed to play a major role in viral clearance and disease pathogenesis during HBV infection. To clarify the differences in host immune responses between self-limited and chronic HBV infections, we constructed three HLA-A*0201/HBV tetramers with immunodominant epitopes of core18-27, polymerase 575-583 and envelope 335-343, and analyzed the HBV-specific CTLs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients infected with HBV. The frequencies and expansion ability of HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells in most self-limited HBV infected individuals were higher than those in chronic HBV-infected patients. HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells could be induced by in vitro peptide stimulation from chronic patients with a low level of serum HBV-DNA but not from those with a high level of serum HBV-DNA. In chronic infection, no significant correlation was found either between the frequencies of HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells and the viral load, or between the frequencies and the levels of alanine transaminase. Our results suggested that the frequencies of HBV-specific CTLs are not the main determinant of immune-mediated protection in chronic HBV infection and immunotherapeutic approaches should be aimed at not only boosting a HBV-specific CD8(+) T response but also improving its function.
Yang
Xinxing
X
Division of Clinical Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. glp5177@126.com
Hao
Youhua
Y
Liu
Zhi
Z
Chen
Ling
L
Ding
Honghui
H
Zhao
Xiping
X
Lu
Mengji
M
Yang
Dongliang
D
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; C435939:HLA-A*02:01 antigen; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens