title: Characteristics of expanded CD4+CD28null T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Expanded CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells have not been described in the circulation of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of the present was to detect and characterize the surface phenotype and functional capacity of these cells in CHB patients. Expanded CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells were detected in the circulation of CHB patients with high viral load and elevated aminotransferase levels. Most CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells showed a CD27-CD45RA(-)CD45RO(+) surface phenotype. The markers CD56, CD57 and killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) were detected on CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells, but the majority were positive for CD57. Functionally, CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells were found to be potent cytotoxic T lymphocytes with perforin and granzyme B secretion profiles. These findings indicate that the expanded CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells are cytotoxic memory T cells and display a distinct functional phenotype in comparison with CD4(+)CD28(+) T cells. The presence of these cells appears to be associated with inflammatory conditions, suggesting that these elevated CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells might be involved in the pathogenesis of CHB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yiqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huiming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wenyue
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jingbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Yuzhang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens