Cytokine Release of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Resource
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION v.29 n.5 pp.540-545
Journal
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION
Journal Volume
v.29
Journal Issue
n.5
Pages
540-545
Date Issued
1999
Date
1999
Author(s)
HSU, HONG-YUAN
CHANG, MEI-HWEI
NI, YEN- HSUAN
LEE, PING-ING
Abstract
Background : Immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens or mitogens in Asian children with chronic HBV in- fection who are mainly perinatally infected has not been studied in connection with the production of various cytokines, although these patients are considered to be less responsive to antiviral therapy. Methods: The production of the cytokines interferon (IFN)-γ,lymphotoxin, interleukin( IL)-4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- α,and interleukin (IL)- 1β by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was studied in 17 hepatitis B surface antigen ( HBsAg) carrier children with raised alanine transferase levels (group 1), 17 HBsAg carrier children with normal alanine transferase levels (group 2) , and 20 healthy noncarrier control subjects (group 3). Results: Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg)- stimulated IFN-γ production was significantly higher in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3, serum HBeAg cleared within 1 year in five of eight children in group 1 with stimulation indexes higher than 3, and HBcAg-induced IL-4 secretion was minimal in all groups. In- terferon-γ produced by PBMCs stimulated by purified HBsAg did not differ among the three gorups. Higher lymphotoxin production by PBMCs stimulated by HBcAg was also noted in groups 1 and 2 than in group 3. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated TNF-αproduction by PBMCs was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. There was no association between HBeAg-anti-HBe status and procuction of various cytokines. No differences were seen in the profile of cytokines induced by HBV antigens or LPS in children of carrier mothers compared with children of HBsAg- negative mothers. Conclusion: Increased IFN-γproduction resulting from HBcAg-specific T-helper lymphocyte type 1 response, and in-creased TNF-α production may contribute to cell-mediated an-tiviral immune response in children with chronic hepatitis B. In HBV carrier children, the ability to produce the studied byto-kines is related to whether an endogenous immune attempt to eliminate HBV infection emerges in the patients but is not related to the different modes of acquisition of HBV infection.
Subjects
Children
Chronic in
Fection
Cytokines
Hepatitis B virus
SDGs
Type
journal article