Reciprocal Changes of Naive and Effector/Memory CD8(+) T Lymphocytes in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

P (Patrizia) Carotenuto, A Artsen, Ab Osterhaus, O Pontesilli

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Abstract

Persistent viruses, such as cytomegalovirus or human immunodeficiency virus, cause major perturbations of CD8(+) T-lymphocyte subpopulations. To test whether chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) could also be responsible for such modifications, we analyzed the expression of CD27, CD28, CCR7, and perforin in blood CD8(+) T lymphocytes. In comparison to healthy subjects and patients recovering from acute hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis B patients showed higher percentages of naive CD8(+) T lymphocytes (CD45RA(+)CD27(+)CD28(+)), and lower percentages of intermediately-differentiated CD27(+)CD28(-)CD8(+) T cells. The late differentiated CD45RA(+)CD27(-)CD28(-) subset was also present in a large percentage in some patients, but no statistically significant difference with healthy controls was observed. Removal from the circulation of intermediately-differentiated CD8(+) T lymphocytes may occur during chronic HBV infection, favoring the recruitment of naive cells. This may result in impairment of the generation of functionally-competent memory cells, and an inability to achieve control of HBV replication.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)27-33
Number of pages7
JournalViral Immunology
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Research programs

  • EMC MM-04-27-01

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