title: [Changes in lymphocyte surface expression of CD8 and CD38 molecules in peripheral blood of inactive HBsAg carriers following pegylated interferon a-2a therapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of pegylated interferon a-2a (Peg-INFa-2a) treatment on expression of CD8 and CD38 surface molecules on lymphocytes from peripheral blood of inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic infection (CHB) received a 48-week course of Peg-INFa-2a treatment, with 30 administered 135 mug/week and 14 administered 180 mug/week. Every 12 weeks of treatment, the subjects were assessed for HBsAg titer, presence of anti-hepatitis B e (HBe) antibody, serum alanine amino transaminase (ALT) levels, and lymphocyte surface expression of CD8 and CD38 molecules. Patients were classified as responders and non-responders according to standard parameters. Dynamic differences between the two groups over time were assessed by multivariate repeated measures ANOVA with Greenhouse-Geisser correction and differences at single time points were assessed by univariate ANOVA. Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship of two variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The responders showed a significantly higher increase in ALT at week 12 (60.75+/-24.95 U/L vs. non-responders: 37.03+/-18.45 U/L; t = 2.905, P less than 0.01) and significantly higher proportion of CD8+CD38+ cells at week 24 (71.20+/-11.70% vs. non-responders: 56.79+/-7.72%; F = 23.941, P less than 0.01). The decline in level of HBsAg at week 24 was positively correlated with the increase in ALT level at week 12 (r = 0.386, P less than 0.01) and with expression levels of CD8 and CD38 molecules on lymphocytes at week 24 (r = 0.397, P less than 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower baseline levels of HBsAg correlated to better Peg-INFa-2a-related HBsAg clearance. Increased expression of CD8 and CD38 on lymphocytes is suggestive of intensive cellular immunity in CHB patients and may be related to HBV-induced hepatocyte damage and may promote the HBsAg clearance.
authors.affiliation: International Medical Department, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
authors.forename: Hai-bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Li-na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ya-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Zhi-min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jun-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xin-yue
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002353:Carrier State; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a