Open AccessAn increased number of circulating γ/δ TCR + T cells in patients with chronic viral hepatitis
Author(s) -
Nikolopoulou Vassiliki,
Skoutelis Athanasios,
Thomopoulos Konstantinos,
Salsaa Bassam,
Zoumbos Nicholas
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1995.tb00019.x
Subject(s) - biology , virology , immunology , viral hepatitis , t cell receptor , hepatitis , viral disease , virus , t cell , immune system
There is evidence that γ/δ TCR + T cells are specialized in recognizing different antigens, but their immunologic role as a second TCR is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the percentage and absolute numbers of circulating γ/δ TCR + T cells in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and to compare with HBsAg + , HCV healthy carriers and healthy subjects. Forty nine patients with CVH‐24 with chronic active (CAH) and 25 with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH)‐, 21 HBsAg + , 20 HCV asymptomatic carriers and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Lymphocyte subsets were determined after incubation with monoclonal antibodies to T total (CD5) and T γ/δ cells (γ/δ‐1) using immunofluorescence microscopy. An increased number of circulating γ/δ TCR + T cells was found in patients with CVH in comparison with asymptomatic carriers and normal controls: this increase was more profound in patients with CAH, compared to CPH patients. These results indicate a correlation between circulating γ/δ TCR + T cells in CVH patients and activity and chronicity of the disease.