Detection of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R on surface of PBMC in patients with hepatitis B

AIM: To study the levels of T lymphocyte subsets andmembrane interleukin-2 receptor (mIL-2R) on surface ofperipheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients withhepatitis B and its role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B.METHODS: The levels of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R in PBMC before and after being stimulated with PHAwere detected by biotin-streptavidin (BSA) technique in 196cases of hepatitis B.RESULTS: In patients with hepatitis B, the levels of CD3+,CD4+ cells, and the ratio of CD4+ cells/CD8+ cells were lower,but the level of CD8+ cells was higher than those in normalcontrols (42.20±6.01 vs65.96±6.54, 38.17±5.93 vs41.73±6.40,0.91±0.28 vs 1.44±0.31, 39.86±6.36 vs30.02±-4.54, P＜0.01).The total expression level of mIL-2R in PBMC before andafter being stimulated with PHA was also lower than thosein normal controls (3.47±1.55 vs4.52±1.49, 34.03±2.94 vs37.95±3.00, P＜0.01). In all the patients with hepatitis B, thelevels of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R in PBMC withHBV-DNA (+) were lower than those with HBV-DNA (-),which were significantly different (39.57±7.11 vs44.36±5.43,34.36±7.16 vs 40.75±5.87, 37.82±6.54 vs 41.72±6.21,0.88±0.33 vs0.99±0.27, 2.82±1.62 vs3.85±1.47, 31.56±3.00vs35.84±2.83, P＜0.01). In addition, the levels of CD3+, CD4+,CD8+ cells, the ratio of CD4+ cells/CD8+ cells and mIL-2R amongdifferent courses of hepatitis B were all significantly different(F=3 723.18, P＜0.01. F=130.43, P＜0.01. F=54.01, P＜0.01.F=2.99, P＜0.05. F=7.16, P＜0.01).CONCLUSION: Both cellular and humoral immune functionsare obviously in disorder in patients with hepatitis B, whichmight be closely associated with the chronicity in patients.