Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the significance and characteristics of T lymphocyte subsets and co-stimulatory CD28 in peripheral blood of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Methods Tri-colour flow-cytometry was used to detect the levels of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood in 98 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 30 age and gender matched healthy controls. Results Compared to control group the percentage of CD4+ T increased and CD8+ T lymphocyte decreased in the PBC group. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the PBC group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). And the percentage of CD4+CD28- T cells and CD8+CD28- T cells increased, too (P<0.05). Conclusion There are immunological abnormalities in PBC and the expression of co-stimulator CD28 is significantly decreased. CD8+CD28-T lymphocytes may have immune regulatory effect in PBC.