title: [Hepatitis B e antigen perturbs the LPS-stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines by mononuclear-derived dendritic cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) can modulate the ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to produce inflammatory cytokines (IL-12/IL-6) upon stimulation in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Purified adherent mononuclear cells isolated by Ficoll-hypaque density gradient centrifugation were cultured in complete medium containing granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus interleukin (IL)-4 to generate immature (i)DCs. Microscopic analysis and flow cytometry were performed to define the phenotypic characteristics of the iDCs. Then, different concentrations (1, 2 and 5 mug/ml) of HBeAg were added to the culture medium and for 24 hrs of incubation. To induce iDCs' maturation, the various groups of cells were incubated for 24 hrs in differentiation culture with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Effects on secreted inflammatory cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the cells' supernatants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All concentrations of HBeAg led to significant reductions in IL-6 (all P less than 0.05). Similar significant reduction trends were seen for IL-12 at the HBeAg concentrations of 2 and 5 mug/ml (both P less than 0.05), but not at the 1 mug/ml concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBeAg may suppress the production of cytokines from DCs; this mechanism may contribute to the immune escape of HBV that supports persistent infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical College, Taizhou 317000, China.
authors.forename: Yong-zhi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ke-chuan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Jian-sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hua-zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hai-hong
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018664:Interleukin-12