Relationship between the HBV core gene mutation and the cellular immunity in host / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the relationship between the mutation of Leu60Val in HBV core region and the cellular immunity in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HBV DNA C gene mutation was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing the products directly. The cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2) levels in serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The distribution of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry (FCM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mutation of Leu60Val was found in 19 out of the 91 CHB patients. With the CHB severity, the mutation rate was getting higher, especially in the severe hepatitis group. The IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels were much higher in mutant strain group than those in wild strain group (t=2.584, 4.766, P<0.01), so was the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (t=2.275, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutant strain of 60Val may increase affinity to HLA-I molecule, or up-regulate the expression of HLA-I molecule, resulting in the activation of CTL to release the cytokines and cause immune response in liver.</p>