Changes in dendritic cells and T cell subsets in immunocompromised infants with intrauterine infection due to hepatitis B virus.

Objective To study the mechanism of compromised immunity due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) intrauterine infection via the detection of Dendritic cells (DC) and T cells subsets in peripheral blood. Methods The DC subsets and T cell subsets of peripheral blood from 29 patients with immunity and 20 with compromised immunity were analyzed by flow cytometry and three-color fluorescence staining. Results The percentage of MDC,PDC,CD4+ and CD8+ cells was (0.30±0.12)%,(0.28±0.12)%,(39.55±8.80)%,and (24.62±7.23)%,indicating immunity in the immune group. The absolute number of MDC and PDC was (20.28±6.82)×106/L and (18.01±5.58)×106/L,respectively. The CD4+/CD8+ value was 1.66±0.51. The percentage of MDC,PDC and CD4+ cells in the immunocompromised group were significantly lower than those in the immune group (P0.05),as was the CD4+/CD8+ value. However,the percentage of CD8+ cells in the immune group was significantly lower than that in the immunocompromised group (P0.05). Conclusion Changes in DC subset and T cell subset levels in peripheral blood may be important factors that resulted in compromised immunity in infants with HBV intrauterine infection.