title: [Association of serum HBV DNA level with cytotoxic T lymphocytes in patients with HBV-induced hepatic cirrhosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the association of serum HBV DNA level with HBV-specific and nonspecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in patients with HBV-induced hepatic cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  120 patients with HBV-induced hepatic cirrhosis who were positive for HBV DNA, HBeAg and human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 were enrolled in this study. The level of HBV DNA was determined by real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HBV-specific and nonspecific CTL were detected by flow cytometry. Liver function tests were done in the 120 patients. The 120 patients were divided into group A and B based on their HBV DNA levels. In group A, there were 68 patients with HBV DNA level of 3-4 log10 copy/ml, and in group B, 52 with 5-6 log10 copy/ml. HBV-specific and nonspecific CTL and liver function were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBV DNA levels were (3.68 +/- 0.19) and (5.97 +/- 0.32) log10 copy/ml in Group A and B respectively with P < 0.001. HBV-specific CTL was higher in group A (0.33% +/- 0.04%) than in group B (0.11% +/- 0.01%) with P < 0.001. HBV-nonspecific CTL were (11.99% +/- 1.51% ) and (11.91% +/- 1.61%) in group A and B respectively with P > 0. 05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of serum HBV DNA is related to the levels of HBV-specific CTL in patients with HBV-induced hepatic cirrhosis. Patients with higher HBV DNA had lower levels of HBV-specific CTL, and the damage to liver function was severe because of higher levels of HBV DNA. Patients with lower HBV DNA had higher levels of HBV-specific CTL which predict good anti-viral effect.
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Jiangsu 214005, China. gxb188681@sina.com
authors.forename: Xi-bing
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Xiao-juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Yue-qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhong-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens