T lymphocyte activation in chronic hepatitis B infection: Interleukin 2 release and its receptor expression

The present study was undertaken to examine early T lymphocyte activation in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. Nineteen hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients (eight with liver cirrhosis and 11 with chronic hepatitis) and 18 healthy controls were studied in a period free of other infection. Mitogen-stimulated cellular interleukin 2 receptor expression, soluble interleukin 2 receptor release, and interleukin 2 production were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured for 24 h