| Objective The aim of this study was to define the intrahepaticimmune mechanisms responsible for viral clearance during acute HBVinfection through detecting the frequency and function related molecules ofCD4+CXCR5+T and CD19+B cells.Methods Mice were hydrodynamically transfected with either apCDNA3.1-HBV1.3plasmid containing a supergenomic HBV1.3-lengthtransgene or a control pCDNA3.1plasmid. The frequency of CD4+CXCR5+T cells, CD19+B cells and function related molecules, includingPD-1, ICOS, PDL-1, ICOSL and IL-21R, in the livers and spleens of micewere detected using flow cytometry. Bcl-6, CXCR5, IL-6, IL-6R, IL-21and IL-4mRNA expression in the intrahepatic lymphocytes of mice wereanalyzed using Real-Time PCR.Results The frequency of CD4+CXCR5+in CD4+T cells, but notCD4+T cells, was increased in the livers ofpCDNA3.1-HBV1.3-transfected mice compared with thepCDNA3.1-transfected mice. The expression of PD-1on intrahepatic CD4+CXCR5+T cells was decreased, but the expression of ICOS wasincreased during acute HBV infection. Although no difference in thefrequency of intrahepatic CD19+B cells was evident, the expression ofPDL-1, ICOSL and IL-21R on CD19+B cells was increased in the livers ofpCDNA3.1-HBV1.3-transfected mice. Furthermore, the expression ofBcl-6, CXCR5, IL-6, IL-6R, IL-21and IL-4mRNAs in intrahepaticlymphocytes was increased during acute HBV infection.Conclusions Intrahepatic CD4+CXCR5+T cells, CD19+B cells andtheir activation are associated with the disappearance of HBV duringacute HBV infection. |
