Monocytes play an important role in the initiation and regulation of the antiviral immune response. These cells have a dense framework of intermediate filaments composed of vimentin monomers. In 35 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 26 healthy controls, seven patients with acute liver damage and eight patients with inactive HBsAg-negative cirrhosis, we investigated the expression of vimentin filaments, C3b and IgGFc receptors, HLA-DR molecules and the phagocytic activity in monocytes purified from venous blood. In the same subjects, we also studied the display of CD2, CD3 and CD5 on lymphocytes. In patients with chronic hepatitis B manifesting viral replication (n = 21; Group 1), the expression of vimentin filaments and the other functional monocyte parameters were decreased, whereas in patients in the nonreplicative phase of the disease (n = 14; Group 2) and in control cases with various forms of acute liver damage or inactive HBsAg-negative cirrhosis, they were similar to those found in healthy subjects. In Group 1, there was also a selective defect in the display of CD3 on lymphocytes. The expression of this molecule correlated with the functional state of monocytes. In three patients with chronic hepatitis B that changed from the replicative to the nonreplicative phase of the disease, the expression of vimentin filaments in monocytes and of CD3 on lymphocytes increased to normal levels. On the other hand, the incubation of patients' monocytes with gamma-interferon corrected the diminished expression of vimentin filaments and the other decreased functional parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Suppressor T-cell activity and allogeneic T-cell response to concanavalin A (ConA) were investigated in 46 patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Thirty-eight patients had chronic active hepatitis, seven of whom were superinfected with Delta virus, and eight were healthy chronic HBV carriers. T-cell suppressor activity was in the normal range in healthy carriers and in patients negative for serum HBV-DNA, independent of the e antigen status. In contrast, the group of patients positive for HBV-DNA exhibited a significant reduction in suppressor activity. Longitudinal studies in patients who cleared serum HBV-DNA demonstrated that suppressor T-cell activity became normal thereafter. These results suggest a relationship between suppressor T-cell function and the stage of viral replication in individuals with chronic HBV infection.
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