不同临床类型乙型病毒感染者外周血T细胞亚群与血清HBVDNA载量及HBeAg滴度相关性分析

目的：探讨慢性乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染患者外周血T细胞亚群与血清HBVDNA载量及HbeAg滴度的关系。方法：选取103名HBV感染患者和20名健康者为研究对象。流式细胞术检测外周血T细胞亚群,聚合酶链式反应及酶免疫分析法分别检测血清HBVDNA载量及HbeAg滴度。结果：慢性乙型肝炎患者和慢性HBV携带者外周血CD3可、CD4T淋巴细胞亚群百分数低于健康对照组,结果有统计学意义（P〈0．05或0．01;而CD8＋T细胞亚群则呈现相反趋势,结果亦有统计学意义（P〈0．05或0．01）。HBeAg阴性组中,HBVDNA水平与CD8T细胞亚群百分数呈正相关（r=0．567,P〈0．01）,与CD47CD8＋T细胞亚群百分数比值呈负相关（r=-0．601,P〈0．01）,而与CD3＋T、CD4＋T细胞亚群百分数无相关性。HBeAg阳性组中,HBVDNA水平及HbeAg滴度与cD3＋1r、cD41、CD8叮细胞百分数及CD47CD8＋T细胞百分数均无相关性（P〉0．05）。结论：不同临床类型的慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染患者外周血T细胞亚群存在不同程度细胞免疫功能降低和细胞免疫调节异常。HbeAg阴性的HBV感染患者,其血清HBVDNA水平与外周血T淋巴细胞免疫存在相关性。     

急性病毒性肝炎患者外周血T 细胞亚群的检测和分析

目的:检测急性甲、乙型病毒性肝炎患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群变化,探讨其对疗效和预后意义。方法:采用APAAP桥联酶标法检测115例急性甲、乙型病毒型肝炎患者外周血CD3+、CD4+、CD8+T细胞亚群比例,计算CD4+/CD8+值。并检测了34例患者治疗前后T淋巴细胞亚群变化。结果:115例急性甲、乙型病毒性肝炎患者外周血CD3+、CD4+T细胞比例及CD4+/CD8+值均低于正常对照组(P<0.05),而CD8+T细胞比例均高于正常对照组(P<0.01)。6例无明显疗效者,各亚群比例在治疗前后无显著差异(P>0.05)。28例有明显疗效者,治疗后各亚群比例恢复正常水平,与治疗前相比差别具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:急性甲、乙型病毒性肝炎患者外周血CD4+/CD8+T细胞比值可在一定程度上反映疗效及预后。     

阴道微生态与宫颈HPV感染患者炎性因子和T细胞亚群的相关性分析CSCD

目的分析阴道微生态与宫颈感染人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)患者炎性因子、 T细胞亚群的相关性。方法 选取120例宫颈感染HPV患者作为观察组,另选取95例同期体检健康女性作为对照组,观察2组阴道菌群情况、T细胞亚群水平(CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+)、IFN-γ和IL-4等炎性因子水平。观察组根据患者阴道微生态情况又分为阴道微生态失衡组和阴道微生态正常组,比较两组T细胞亚群和炎性因子水平;ROC曲线评估T细胞亚群和炎性因子预测阴道微生态失调的价值;采用Spearman相关性分析分析阴道菌群失调与HPV感染患者T细胞亚群变化和炎性因子水平的关系。结果 观察组阴道微生态失衡率明显46.7%高于对照组6.3%(P<0.05);观察组CD4+T细胞、CD4+/CD8+、IFN-γ水平均较对照组低,CD8+T细胞、IL-4水平均较对照组高(P<0.05);阴道微生态失衡者CD4+T细胞、CD4+/CD8+和IFN-γ水平低于阴道微生态正常者,而CD8+T细胞、IL-4水平高于阴道微生态正常者(P<0.05);血清IFN-γ、IL-4、CD4+T细胞、CD8+T细胞、CD4+/CD8+联合预测HPV感染患者阴道微生态失衡的AUC为0.972,灵敏度、特异度分别为85.7%、98.4%;Spearman相关性分析显示,HPV感染患者血清IFN-γ、IL-4、CD4+T细胞、CD8+T细胞、CD4+/CD8+水平与阴道菌群失调呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论 HPV感染患者阴道微生态失衡,出现免疫功能紊乱和炎症反应,血清T细胞亚群和炎性因子与患者阴道微生态失衡有相关性,在一定程度上能预测HPV感染患者阴道微生态失衡的发生。     

恩替卡韦对CHB患者外周血T淋巴细胞PD-1水平及

摘要：目的 探讨恩替卡韦对慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者外周血T淋巴细胞程序性死亡受体1（PD-1）水平及肝功能的影响。方法 将128例CHB患者随机分为观察组及对照组各64例,对照组患者给予拉米夫定治疗,观察组在对照组基础上给予恩替卡韦治疗。分别于治疗前、治疗后1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月抽取静脉血5 mL,采用荧光定量PCR检测患者血清HBV DNA载量,流式细胞术检测T淋巴细胞PD-1表达水平,全自动化生化分析仪测定患者血清谷草转氨酶（ALT）水平。结果 两组组患者治疗1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月HBV DNA载量、ALT水平、CD4+T细胞PD-1、CD8+ T细胞PD-1水平均低于治疗前（P<0.05）。观察组治疗后1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月HBV DNA载量、ALT水平、CD4+ T细胞PD-1、CD8+ T细胞PD-1水平低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 恩替卡韦能有效抑制CHB患者外周血CD4+、CD8+ T细胞表面PD-1表达水平,进而抑制HBV DNA复制,改善患者肝功能。     

恩替卡韦对CHB患者外周血T淋巴细胞PD-1水平及肝功能的影响

目的探讨恩替卡韦对慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者外周血T淋巴细胞程序性死亡受体1(PD-1)水平及肝功能的影响。方法将128例CHB患者随机分为观察组及对照组各64例,对照组患者给予拉米夫定治疗,观察组在对照组基础上给予恩替卡韦治疗。分别于治疗前、治疗后1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月抽取静脉血5 m L,采用荧光定量PCR检测患者血清HBV DNA载量,流式细胞术检测T淋巴细胞PD-1表达水平,全自动化生化分析仪测定患者血清谷草转氨酶(ALT)水平。结果两组组患者治疗1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月HBV DNA载量、ALT水平、CD4+T细胞PD-1、CD8+T细胞PD-1水平均低于治疗前(P0.05)。观察组治疗后1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月HBV DNA载量、ALT水平、CD4+T细胞PD-1、CD8+T细胞PD-1水平低于对照组(P0.05)。结论恩替卡韦能有效抑制CHB患者外周血CD4+、CD8+T细胞表面PD-1表达水平,进而抑制HBV DNA复制,改善患者肝功能。     

分泌性中耳炎患者外周血Th1Th2细胞及T淋巴细胞亚群水平的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨分泌性中耳炎(SOM)患者外周血T辅助细胞1(Th1)、T辅助细胞2(Th2)细胞因子及T淋巴细胞亚群水平的表达及其临床意义。方法:选取我院于2015年1月至2018年1月期间收治的SOM患者135例记为SOM组,根据病程将患者分为急性组(病程14d,49例)、亚急性组(病程14-30d,53例)、慢性组(病程30d,33例)。另外选择同期于我院进行体检的100例健康者为对照组。分别对比SOM组和对照组受试者、不同病程SOM患者外周血Th1细胞因子[干扰素(INF-γ)、白细胞介素-2(IL-2)]、Th2细胞因子[白细胞介素-4(IL-4)、白细胞介素-10(IL-10)]以及T淋巴细胞亚群[CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+、CD4~+/CD8~+]水平。采用Pearson相关性分析INF-γ、IL-2、IL-4、IL-10与CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+、CD4~+/CD8~+的相关性。结果:SOM组患者外周血INF-γ、IL-2、IL-4、IL-10水平高于对照组(P0.05);急性组患者外周血INF-γ、IL-2、IL-4、IL-10水平低于亚急性组、慢性组,亚急性组患者外周血INF-γ、IL-2、IL-4、IL-10水平低于慢性组(P0.05)。SOM组患者外周血CD3~+、CD4~+、CD4~+/CD8~+水平低于对照组,CD8~+水平高于对照组(P0.05);急性组患者外周血CD3~+、CD4~+、CD4~+/CD8~+水平高于亚急性组、慢性组,CD8~+水平低于亚急性组、慢性组,亚急性组患者外周血CD3~+、CD4~+、CD4~+/CD8~+水平高于慢性组,CD8~+水平低于慢性组(P0.05)。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,SOM患者外周血INF-γ、IL-4与CD8~+呈正相关(P0.05),IL-4与CD3~+、CD4~+呈负相关(P0.05)。结论:SOM患者外周血Th1Th2细胞因子、T淋巴细胞亚群水平均表现异常,且其水平与疾病发生和发展存在一定联系,通过监测Th1Th2细胞因子、T淋巴细胞亚群有助于评估SOM患者病情。     

传染性单核细胞增多症患者外周血T细胞亚群检测及临床意义

目的检测传染性单核细胞增多症(IM)患者及非本病的发热患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群,探讨EB病毒感染导致的传染性单核细胞增多症的免疫反应机制及与非本病发热患者的鉴别诊断价值,同时通过检测患者血液中的EBV-DNA载量加以确证。方法选取确诊为传染性单核细胞增多症的患者30例(IM组),非传染性单核细胞增多症的发热患者30例(对照组)。应用流式细胞技术检测患者外周血中淋巴细胞亚群,同时应用荧光定量PCR技术检测血清EBV-DNA载量,采用卡方检验及Mann-Whitney检验进行组间差异分析。结果 IM组与对照组患者T淋巴细胞亚群相比,CD8~+T淋巴细胞所占比例显著升高(Z=1.776,P0.001),CD4~+T淋巴细胞所占比例降低(F=4.008,P0.050),同时CD4~+/CD8~+比例明显下降(Z=6.653,P0.001)。IM组EBV-DNA病毒载量显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.050)。结论传染性单核细胞增多症患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群主要以CD4~+T淋巴细胞及CD8~+T淋巴细胞的变化为主,T淋巴细胞亚群结合血清EBV-DNA病毒载量的联合检测对IM及非本病的发热患者具有鉴别诊断价值。     

肝癌患者体液免疫和细胞免疫的变化情况

目的:探讨肝癌患者体液免疫和细胞免疫功能状况。方法:选取2012年1月20日至2015年3月25日在西宁市第一人民医院就诊的126例肝癌患者和87名健康者作为研究对象,采用免疫透射比浊法测定血清IgA、IgG水平,采用流式细胞术检测外周血T淋巴细胞亚群CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+和CD4~+/CD8~+水平。结果:与健康对照组相比,肝癌组患者血清中IgA和IgG水平显著升高(P0.05),外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群CD3~+、CD4~+和CD4~+/CD8~+显著降低(P0.05),CD8~+显著升高(P0.05)。结论:肝癌患者体液免疫功能增强,细胞免疫功能降低,外周血T细胞亚群和血清免疫球蛋白的检测对了解肝癌患者的病情、预后以及免疫治疗具有一定的临床指导意义。     

非小细胞肺癌患者化疗前后外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的变化

目的:探讨非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者细胞化疗前后T淋巴细胞亚群的变化及其意义.方法:采用流式细胞术检测NSCLC患者及健康对照者外周血中CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+及NK细胞的比例.结果:与对照组比较,NSCLC患者化疗前及化疗后CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+、NK细胞含量均显著降低(P＜0.01);化疗后CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+、NK细胞比例与化疗前比较均显著升高(P＜0.05);化疗前后CD8+细胞比例无显著变化(P＞0.05).治疗后疾病控制组(DCR)患者的CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+及NK细胞均显著高于治疗后进展(PD)组患者组(P＜0.05);CD8+细胞的比例无显著性变化(P＞0.05).结论:NSCLC患者细胞免疫功能低下,通过流式细胞术检测患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及NK细胞的变化对评估患者的细胞免疫功能及肿瘤化疗疗效具有重要的临床意义.     

再障患者血清IL-2、TNF-α、IFN-γ和外周血T淋巴细胞亚群变化研究

目的:研究再生障碍性贫血(AA)患者患病过程中血清IL-2、IL-8、TNF-α、IFN-γ和外周血T淋巴细胞亚群变化与疾病严重程度相关性。方法:选取我院经酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)筛选的AA患者40例,其中急性患者(AAA)20例,慢性患者(CAA)20例,随机抽取20例健康人,对比监测60例目标病例的血清IL-2、IL-8、TNF-α、IFN-γ和外周血T淋巴细胞亚群变化。结果:AA组患者中AAA的各项细胞因子CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+检测结果较CAA患者波动较大。AA患者的血清IL-2、IL-8、TNF-α、IFN-γ含量明显高于健康人员平均值。AA患者的CD4+、CD4+/CD8+低于含量明显低于健康人员平均值,CD3+变化差异无统计学意义,AA组CD8+显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义,P<0.05。结论:再障患者发病过程中同时存在细胞免疫功能障碍和体液免疫机制异常两种情况,且变化规律与疾病轻重缓急程度正相关。     

The intrahepatic immune response during chronic hepatitis B infection can be monitored by the fine-needle aspiration biopsy technique

Frequent analysis of the intrahepatic cellular immune response during chronic hepatitis B infection is not feasible with the liver tissue biopsy technique, due to its risk profile and patient discomfort. We investigated whether the relatively safe and patient-friendly cytological fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) technique is suited for this purpose. FNABs taken during hepatitis flares in three chronic hepatitis B patients treated with interferon-alpha, showed significant increments of CD8(+)-lymphocytes compared with the FNABs taken before and after the flares. No increments were observed in peripheral blood. The increments of intrahepatic CD8+ lymphocytes detected by the FNAB were related to anti-viral immune reactivity, since they coincided with significant serum hepatitis B virus DNA level reductions and in two of three patients with HBeAg seroconversion. In conclusion, the FNAB technique is suited to investigate the intrahepatic immune response during chronic hepatitis B infection on a frequent basis.     

预测核苷(酸)类似物停药后慢性乙型肝炎复发的生化标记筛查及其临床应用

为探寻核苷(酸)类似物停药后慢性乙型肝炎复发的相关因素及可能血清标记,收集经核苷(酸)类似物治疗的乙型肝炎病毒e抗原(hepatitis B virus e antigen,HBeAg)阳性或阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者,根据治疗应答对其能否停药进行临床评估,分析达到停药标准患者的临床资料,包括性别,年龄,疗程,HBeAg水平,基线丙氨酸氨基转移酶(alanine aminotransferase,ALT)、HBV DNA,停药时的肝硬度值、HBV表面抗原(HBV surface antigen,HBsAg)水平、白细胞介素21(interleukin 21,IL-21)水平、外周血CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数。结果显示,共47例患者符合停药标准,其中HBeAg阳性26例,HBeAg阴性21例;平均年龄(42.45±14.08)岁。抗病毒疗程平均为(4.60±1.61)年。抗病毒治疗初始ALT值为(174.38±200.84)U/L;基线HBV DNA为(5.87±1.06)log拷贝/mL;停药时HBsAg精确定量平均为(1 104.82±1 328.11)IU/mL,IL-21平均为(729.82±427.39)pg/mL,CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数平均为(0.79±0.49)%,肝硬度测定F1 27例、F2 16例、F3 4例、F4 0例。共27例患者复发,1年内累积复发率为57.45%。Logistic回归单因素分析提示,慢性乙型肝炎患者停用核苷(酸)类似物后复发与服药总疗程及停药时IL-21水平、CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数、HBsAg水平有关;Logistic回归多因素分析则提示,停药时HBsAg和IL-21水平与复发有关。因此,停药时HBsAg和IL-21水平可作为慢性乙型肝炎患者停用核苷(酸)类似物后复发的预测因素。     

乙型肝炎病人重叠感染丙型肝炎的评价

应用ＥＬＩＳＡ和ＰＣＲ法检测５０２例乙肝病人血清,４０１例ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性血清中,有１１４例（２８．４％）抗－ＨＣＶ和ＨＣＶＲＮＡ双项阳性,２５例（６．２％）ＨＣＶＲＮＡ单项阳性;２１例（５．２％）抗－ＨＣＶ单项阳性。将ＨＢｓＡｇ乙肝病人分成ＨＢＶＤＮＡ,ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性组和ＨＢＶＤＮＡ,ＨＢｅＡｇ阴性组。前者抗－ＨＣＶ阳性率为１１．６％～２０．５％,ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率为１６．２％～２０．５％。后者抗－ＨＣＶ阳性率为２０．２％～５５．６％,ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率为２３％～６０．３％。结果说明长期携带ＨＢＶ者和慢性乙肝病人均可重叠ＨＣＶ感染。ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性组抗－ＨＣＶ和ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率明显高于ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性组     

乙型肝炎病毒DNA在患者血清及肝组织中存在状态的研究

对29例肝炎,1例尸检肝组织和血清中乙型肝炎病毒的DNA(HBV DNA)进行了研究,发现HBsAg( )/HBeAg( )患者中,有9/17(52.94％)血清HBV DNA阳性;HBsAg( )/抗-HBe( )患者中,2/6(33.33％)也为阳性。从30例肝组织中提取DNA经琼脂糖电泳,Southern吸印转移及分子杂交试验结果表明,27例HBV DNA阳性,全部有游离型HBV DNA。27例中有5例经用标记pBR322探针杂交排除非特异杂交带后,在高分子量区有HBV DNA特异的杂交带,提示有HBV DNA整合。     

免疫预防阻断乙型肝炎病毒母婴传播效果的观察

阻断乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)母婴传播是控制乙型肝炎的重大问题。为探讨免疫预防对阻断HBV母婴传播的效果及影响因素,对667例HBV表面抗原(HBsAg)阳性孕妇及其婴儿进行研究。这些孕妇按HBVe抗原(HBeAg)和HBVDNA检测结果,分为HBeAg阳性组及阴性组、DNA阳性组及阴性组;按是否于孕晚期注射乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白(HBIG),分为注射组及未注射组。婴儿于出生24h内均肌内注射HBIG100IU,并按0、1、6方案注射10μg重组酵母HBV疫苗;8～12月龄后随访婴儿,并进行HBV标志物(HBV-M)检测。667个婴儿中,20例感染HBV,免疫阻断失败率为3.0%。孕妇HBeAg阳性组免疫阻断失败率为8.7%,阴性组为0.2%,两组差异显著(P<0.001);两组婴儿对疫苗免疫应答率分别为83.0%和83.1%,无显著差异(P=0.988)。孕妇DNA阳性组免疫阻断失败率为8.1%,HBVDNA均≥6log10copies/ml。孕期注射与未注射HBIG组婴儿免疫阻断失败率分别为3.7%和2.7%,无显著差异(P=0.479);两组婴儿对疫苗免疫应答率分别为84.4%和82.4%,无显著差异(P=0.519)。孕妇HBeAg阳性注射HBIG组与未注射组的免疫阻断失败率分别为8.4%和8.9%,无显著差异(P=0.892)。孕妇HBeAg阴性注射与未注射HBIG组的免疫阻断失败率分别为0.0%和0.3%,也无显著差异(P=0.538)。11例免疫阻断失败的婴儿中,10例出生时血清HBsAg已为阳性;8～12个月后随访,HBsAg仍持续阳性,提示为宫内感染。本研究证实,孕期注射HBIG未能提高婴儿对HBV疫苗加HBIG的免疫阻断效果。宫内感染可能是疫苗加HBIG免疫阻断失败的主要原因。采用降低孕妇血清HBVDNA的措施,如对孕妇进行抗HBV治疗,也许能降低HBV宫内感染率。     

国产胸腺肽治疗慢性乙肝疗效及其机理初探

本文观察大剂量胸腺肽对慢性乙肝患者的治疗作用并研究其作用机理。用ＥＬＩＳＡ、ＰＣＲ 和免疫化学染色法等比较分析胸腺肽治疗三个月后,ＡＬＴ、ＨＢＶ－ Ｍ 和ＨＢＶ ＤＮＡ 等指标变化,发现患者ＡＬＴ 复常率、ＨＢｅＡｇ 转阴率、ＨＢＶ ＤＮＡ 阴转率和ＨＢＶ ＤＮＡ 有效下降率分别为５８．３３ ％ 、３３．３３ ％ 、４１．６７ ％ 和９１．６７ ％ ;同时患者外周血ＣＤ４ ＋淋巴细胞亚群上调,ＣＤ８ ＋ 亚群下调,二者比值趋于正常。说明国产胸腺肽治疗慢性乙肝有较好的应用前景,其治疗机理与免疫调节作用有关。     

Peripheral T-cell subsets in asymptomatic hepatitis B-virus carriers

To ascertain whether the abnormalities of circulating T-cell subsets in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related chronic liver diseases represent the primary immunological process or are secondary to liver disease process, peripheral T-cell subsets were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies against total T cells (OKT3), T helper/inducer cells (OKT4), and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells (OKT8), in 30 asymptomatic HBV carriers without biochemical or histological evidence of liver disease, and the results were compared to 15 HBV-induced chronic active liver diseases. The results revealed that OKT4/OKT8 ratios were significantly reduced in 15 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive asymptomatic carriers as compared with controls, with decreased OKT4-positive cells and increased OKT8-positive cells, while T-cell subsets and ratios were normal in 15 hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe)-positive asymptomatic carriers. The changes of circulating T-cell subsets in 15 HBe-Ag-positive asymptomatic carriers showed no significant difference from those of 15 HBeAg-positive patients with chronic active liver diseases. These findings suggest that the deranged T-cell subsets in chronic HBV infection are not secondary to liver cell damage, but might represent the underlying immunological abnormalities which are closely related to HBeAg/anti-HBe status, and that the pathogenetic mechanism of liver cell damage in chronic HBV infection may not be simply related to circulating T-cell subsets.     

Activation of Th1 immunity is a common immune mechanism for the successful treatment of hepatitis B and C: tetramer assay and therapeutic implications

Both chronic hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections respond ineffectively to current antiviral therapies. Recent studies have suggested that treatment outcomes may depend on the development of type 1 T helper (Th1) and Th2 cell responses. Specifically, activation of Th1 immunity may play a major role in successfully treating hepatitis B and C. This model was revisited herein by evaluating immune responses in 36 HBV and 40 HCV patients with or without treatment, in an attempt to find a common immune mechanism for successful treatment. The immune responses in all examined cases were studied by peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation and cytokine responses to viral antigens, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, and tetramer staining of virus-specific CD8+ T cells. The overall results revealed that all responders among both HBV- and HCV-infected cases displayed significantly higher PBMC proliferation to viral antigens with a predominant Th1 cytokine profile. Furthermore, the Th1-dominant responses were associated with significant enhancement of CTL activities and were correlated with ELISPOT data, while non-responders responded more weakly. During therapy, the numbers of tetramer-staining, virus-specific CD8+ T cells showed greater increases in responders than in non-responders (p = 0.001). The frequencies determined by the tetramer assay were approximately 200-fold higher than data estimated by limiting-dilution analysis. In conclusion, activation of Th1 immunity accompanied by enhancement of CTL activity during therapy is a common immune mechanism for successfully treating hepatitis B and C, and therefore may have important therapeutic implications.     

Activation of a heterogeneous hepatitis B (HB) core and e antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell population during seroconversion to anti-HBe and anti-HBs in hepatitis B virus infection.

Overcoming hepatitis B virus infection essentially depends on the appropriate immune response of the infected host. Among the hepatitis B virus antigens, the core (HBcAg) and e (HBeAg) proteins appear highly immunogenic and induce important lymphocyte effector functions. In order to investigate the importance of HBcAg/HBeAg-specific T lymphocytes in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B and to identify immunodominant epitopes within the HBcAg/HBeAg, CD4+ T-cell responses to hepatitis B virus-encoded HBcAg and HBcAg/HBeAg-derived peptides were studied in 49 patients with acute and 39 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The results show a frequent antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell activation during acute hepatitis B infection, a rare HBcAg/HBeAg-specific CD4+ T-cell response among HBeAg+ chronic carriers, and no response in patients with anti-HBe+ chronic hepatitis. An increasing CD4+ T-cell response to HBcAg/HBeAg coincides with loss of HBeAg and hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). Functional analysis of peptide-specific CD4+ T-cell clones revealed a heterogeneous population with respect to lymphokine production. Epitope mapping within the HBcAg/HBeAg peptide defined amino acids (aa) 1 to 25 and aa 61 to 85, irrespective of the HLA haplotype, as the predominant CD4+ T-cell recognition sites. Other important sequences could be identified in the amino-terminal part of the protein, aa 21 to 45, aa 41 to 65, and aa 81 to 105. The immunodominant epitopes are expressed in both proteins, HBcAg and HBeAg. Our findings lead to the conclusion that activation of CD4+ T lymphocytes by HBcAg/HBeAg is a prerequisite for viral elimination, and further studies have to focus on the question of how to enhance or induce this type of T-cell response in chronic carriers. The immunodominant viral sequences identified may have relevance to synthetic vaccine design and to the use of peptide T-cell sites as immunotherapeutic agents in chronic infection.