title: Decreased CD27 on B lymphocytes in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates in the liver and can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The B lymphocytes may provide a means for HBV to persist although the mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to characterize B lymphocyte subset phenotypes and measure levels of B lymphocyte-related cytokines in HCC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 38 HCC patients and 30 healthy control subjects. Phenotyping of B lymphocytes was performed by flow cytometry. Serum cytokine levels were measured using a cytometric bead array immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of naïve (CD29+CD27-) to memory (CD19+CD27+) B lymphocytes was significantly higher in HCC patients compared with healthy controls. The percentage of memory B lymphocytes decreased with the progression of HCC. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were significantly increased in HCC patients compared with healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The depletion of memory B lymphocytes may contribute to unresponsiveness to HBV or to HCC. This humoral defect might be related to raised production of IL-6 and IL-10.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, General Surgery Centre of Jilin University, The Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: X D
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ayana
authors.forename: X D
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; D016207:Cytokines; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7