Intensity of HLA-A2 Expression Significantly Decreased in Occult Hepatitis B Infection.
BACKGROUND
Occult hepatitis B infected (OBI) patients cannot eradicate hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA from their liver and peripheral blood, completely.


OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this study was to investigate the rate of HLA-A2 expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with OBI.


METHODS
In this experimental study, intensity of HLA-A2 was measured on the PBMCs of 57 OBI patients and 100 HBsAg-/anti-HBc+/HBV-DNA samples were enrolled as controls; measurements were performed using the flow cytometry technique.


RESULTS
Flow cytometric analysis indicated that 19 (33.3%) OBI patients and 28 (28%) controls expressed HLA-A2 antigen on their PBMCs. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the rate of individuals expressing HLA-A2 antigen. Statistical analyses showed that the intensity of HLA-A2 expression significantly decreased in OBI patients (3.58 ± 0.1) in comparison to healthy controls (4.21 ± 0.25; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
According to these results it can be concluded that decreased intensity of HLA-A2 on the PBMCs of OBI patients may lead to resistance of HBV in the patients.
Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, IR Iran.
Azam
A
Askari
Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, IR Iran.
Gholam Hossein
GH
Hassanshahi
Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran.
Seyed Razi
SR
Ghalebi
Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, IR Iran.
Abdollah
A
Jafarzadeh
Department of Pathology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IR Iran.
Maryam
M
Mohit
Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, IR Iran.
Masomeh
M
Hajghani
Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, IR Iran.
Mohammad
M
Kazemi Arababadi
DNA; HLA-A2; Hepatitis B; Infection; Occult