[Characteristics of lymphocyte phenotypes in HBV transgenic mice and the effect of interferon-α: a preliminary study].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the characteristics of lymphocyte phenotypes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice and the effect of exogenous interferon-α on virological profiles and lymphocytes phenotypes of the mice.


METHODS
HBV transgenic mice and wild-type (WT) mice were examined for serum levels of HBsAg, HBcAb, IL-21, and IL-6 using ELISA. The frequencies of CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells separated from the liver, spleen, and peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Nine HBV transgenic mice were injected subcutaneously with recombinant mouse interferon alpha (rmIFN-α) and another 9 transgenic mice were injected with PBS, and their HBsAg, HBV DNA, IL-6, and IL-21 levels and frequencies of peripheral blood CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells were detected.


RESULTS
HBV transgenic mice showed a high level of HBsAg with a detectable level of HBcAb and significantly increased serum levels of IL-21 and IL-6 as compared with WT mice (P<0.05). The transgenic mice had a significantly lower frequency of CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood, liver and spleen (P<0.05) but a significantly higher frequency of CD19(+) B cells in the liver (P<0.05). An inverse correlation between intrahepatic CD4(+) T cell frequency and serum HBsAg level while a positive correlation between intrahepatic CD19(+) B cell frequency and HBcAb level were found in HBV transgenic mice. Administration of rmIFN-α significantly increased the frequencies of CD4(+) T and CD19(+) B cells in the peripheral blood and the serum level of IL-6 in HBV transgenic mice (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
HBV transgenic mice have lymphocyte subset dysregulation and exogenous interferon-α can modulate the immune function of the mice by regulating the frequencies of lymphocyte subsets.
State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. E-mail: Yanx01@126.com.
Xin
X
Yan
Rui-Hua
RH
Zhong
Jin-Hong
JH
Liu
Yang
Y
Zhou
Li-Bo
LB
Tang
Yong-Yin
YY
Li
Guang-Ze
GZ
Liu
Jin-Lin
JL
Hou
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D000098546:Interleukin-21
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21