Multiple inhibitory receptors may play a role in the weak or absent CD81 T-cell response in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Yet few receptors have been characterized in detail and little is known about their complex regulation. In the present study, we investigated the role of the signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM)-related receptor CD244 and of programmed death 1 (PD-1) in HBV infection in 15 acutely and 66 chronically infected patients as well as 9 resolvers and 21 healthy controls. The expression of CD244, PD-1, and T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) was analyzed in virus-specific CD81 T-cells derived from peripheral blood or liver using major histocompatibility complex class I pentamers targeting immunodominant epitopes of HBV, Epstein-Barr-virus (EBV), or influenza virus (Flu). In chronic HBV infection, virusspecific CD81 T-cells expressed higher levels of CD244 both in the peripheral blood and liver in comparison to the acute phase of infection or following resolution. CD244 was expressed at similarly high levels in EBV infection, but was low on Flu-specific CD81 Tcells. In chronic HBV infection, high-level CD244 expression coincided with an increased expression of PD-1. The inhibition of the CD244 signaling pathway by antibodies directed against either CD244 or its ligand CD48 resulted in an increased virus-specific proliferation and cytotoxicity as measured by the expression of CD107a, interferon-c, and tumor necrosis factor-a in CD81 T-cells. Conclusion: CD244 and PD-1 are highly coexpressed on virus-specific CD81 T-cells in chronic HBV infection and blocking CD244 or its ligand CD48 may restore T-cell function independent of the PD-1 pathway. CD244 may thus be another potential target for immunotherapy in chronic viral infections.

The CD4 molecule, which is known to play an important role in the susceptibility of T lymphocytes to infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is also expressed in small amounts on the surface of monocytes. Since monocytes can also be infected by the virus, we investigated peripheral blood monocytes of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), AIDS-related complex (ARC), and HIV seropositive and seronegative haemophiliacs without symptoms for the expression of the CD4 molecule and for other functionally important surface molecules such as CD11 (C3bi receptor), transferrin receptor, Fc receptor, and the three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens HLA-DP, HLA-DR, and HLA-DQ. With immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry no difference was found between patients and controls for the expression of the CD4 molecule and for the other antigens as assessed by the percentage of positive staining and the specific fluorescence intensity in a double marker analysis. The percentage of CD4+ monocytes was found to be 59.2 +/- 14.4% for 16 patients with AIDS and 52.9 +/- 12.8% for 12 healthy controls. Similar to our results on phenotype, we found no significant difference with respect to the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), in that monocytes of AIDS and ARC patients showed an increase in TNF secretion after stimulation with LPS comparable to controls.

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Spleen cells from a LEW.AVN rat immunized with cells from an MNR rat were fused with mouse myeloma cells to produce hybrid cell lines. One of these hybridomas produced a monoclonal antibody that was cytotoxic for bone marrow-derived (B) but not thymus-derived (T) cells. The antigen defined by this antibody is determined by a gene linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The antigen is also present on B cells of most mouse strains and is determined by an MHC-linked gene in this species as well. In both rats and mice, the gene determining the antigen maps within the immune response region of the MHC. All human B-cell lines, but not T-cell lines, and B but not T cells of all human donors tested so far are also positive for this antigen. Among human-mouse somatic cell lines that have lost various human chromosomes, this B-cell antigen is present on all lines that are positive for HLA antigen but is absent from all lines that have lost HLA.