ISSN:
1573-2568
Keywords:
activation antigens
;
proliferative response
;
peripheral blood lymphocytes
;
chronic hepatitis type B
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Cell-mediated immunity, evaluated by lymphocyte proliferation and expression of the activation antigen interleukin-2 receptor in response to mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin-A, has been reported to be defective in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers. However, no definite conclusion on the functional state of T cells from these patients can be drawn. In the present study, we have investigated the expression of a wide set of lymphoid activation molecules as well as the proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from patients with chronic hepatitis type B afterin vitro stimulation with monoclonal antibodies to both the T-cell receptor-CD3 complex and the CD2 molecule, which are the two main T-cell activation pathways. Our findings show that peripheral T lymphocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis type B express the activation antigens 4F2 molecule, interleukin-2 receptor, and activation inducer molecule (AIM) antigen, and proliferate normally after specific stimulation through either the T-cell receptor-CD3 complex or the CD2 molecule. These results suggest that the peripheral blood T cells of patients with chronic hepatitis B are fully operative and functionally competentin vitro.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01308345
Permalink
