title: Immunological analysis of a patient with hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation after bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: Patients with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection undergoing chemo- or immunosuppressive therapy are at potential risk for HBV reactivation. To determine whether the host immune response contributes to liver injury, we performed an immunological analysis of a patient with HBV reactivation. Consistent with the detection of HBV DNA in the sera, the number of polyclonal HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) gradually increased; however, the number of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) decreased. The interaction between HBV-specific CTLs and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg is an important determinant of liver injury during HBV reactivation. Therefore, monitoring the number of these cells might be a useful modality for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis resulting from HBV reactivation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kowazaki
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Kazuteru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakamaki
authors.forename: Kiminori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine