Association Of The Changes Of Peripheral T-cell Subsets With Serum HBV DNA Levels In Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Carriers

Objective: To explore the peripheral T-cell subsets status and the association of the changes of T-cell subsets with serum HBV DNA levels in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers.Methods: T-cell subsets were examined by direct immunofluorescence using flow cytometry in 120 chronic HBV carriers and 60 health control. The results were compared between them and among different HBV DNA levels and HBeAg status groups.Results: In 120 chronic HBV carriers , the rates of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells and CD4/CD8 were significantly lower (P<0.01) than those observed in health control group, and the rate of CD8+ T cells was significantly higher (P<0.01) than those in health control group. The rateof CD3+ T cells in HBV DNA(+) carriers showed no significant difference from those in HBV DNA (—) carriers (P>0.05). Comparing with HBVDNA (-) group, the rate of CD4+ T cells and CD4/CD8 were significantly lower (P<0.01), and the rate of CD8+ T cells was significantly higher (P<0.01) in HBVDNA (+) group. CD8+ T cells is obvious higher in the highest HBVDNA level (HBVDNA>1.0e+07) group than that in the lowest HBVDNA level (HBVDNA<1.0e+05) group, and CD4/CD8 is significant lower in the highest HBVDNA level group (HBVDNA>1.0e+07) than that in the lowest HBVDNA level group (HBVDNA<1.0e+05). There was no significant difference in CD3+ and CD4+ T cells among different HBV DNA level groups, but there is a trend of the rate of CD4+ T cells reduced gradually with increasing serum levels of HBV DNA in HBV DNA(+) carriers. The rate of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells and CD4/CD8 were significantly lower (P<0.01), and CD8+ cells was significantly higher (P<0.01) in HBeAg-positive carriers than those observed in HBeAg-negative...