RESUMO
Objective To analyze CD127 expression on the memory CD8+ lymphocytes from hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with peginterferon α-2a (Pegasys). Methods Thirty HBeAg positive CHB patients were treated with peginterferon α-2a 180 μg once a week for 48 weeks and followed up for 24 weeks. The memory CD8+ lymphocytes were characterized by expressing CD45RA and CD27 markers. CD127 expression on cell surface was measured by four-colour flow cytometry. The difference of mean values between groups was evaluated by Mann-Whitney test. Results The CD127 expression on CD8+ T lymphocytes was significantly lower in HBeAg positive CHB patients compared to healthy controls (Z=2.889, P＜0.05), which was negatively correlated with serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level and HBeAg titers. The CD127 expression increased along with the decrease of HBV DNA and HBeAg after 24-week, 48-week and 72-week treatment in patients showing good response to peginterferon α-2a, while CD127 expression didn't change markedly in non responders (Z24w = 1.954, Z48w = 2.789, Z72w = 2. 989; all P＜0. 05). Conclusion CD127 expression on memory CD8+ lymphocytes increases along with effective anti-HBV treatment in CHB patients, which can be used as a marker for evaluating the effectiveness of anti-viral treatment.
RESUMO
Objective To evaluate the clinical application of HLA-peptides tetramer staining flow cytometry for determining HBV specific CD8+ cells.Methods HBV specific CD8+ cells in whole blood samples of chronic hepatitis B patients were stained with tetramer complex of HLA-A2 and HBV core 18-27 peptide and counted by flow cytometry. Results The medians of percentages of HBV specific CD8+ cells of total CD8+ cells were 0.20%(0.02%～2.04%) in 11 acute hepatitis B patients and 0.05%(