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Viral suppression correlates with dendritic cell restoration in chronic hepatitis B patients with autologous cytokine‐induced killer cell transfusion
Author(s) -
Shi Ming,
Fu Junliang,
Shi Feng,
Zhang Bin,
Tang Zirong,
Zhang Zheng,
Zhang Hui,
Jin Lei,
Chen Liming,
Wang Huifeng,
Akbar Sheikh Mohammad Fazle,
Wang FuSheng
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2008.01861.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immunology , cytokine induced killer cell , seroconversion , viral load , immunotherapy , hepatitis b virus , cytokine , dendritic cell , hepatitis b , immune system , virus , cd8 , cd3
Background: Myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (mDCs, pDCs) are functionally impaired in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Adoptive immunotherapy can suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in CHB patients, but whether it can restore the functionality of mDCs and pDCs remains unknown. Methods: Autologous cytokine‐induced killer (CIK) cells obtained from 14 CHB patients were transfused back to patients, case by case, to observe the effect of CIK‐cell treatment on the frequency and functionality of mDCs and pDCs in CHB patients during a 24‐week follow‐up investigation. Results: Seven virological responders exhibited a sustained decrease in HBV load after CIK‐cell transfusion; another seven non‐virological responders showed only sustained high levels of HBV load during the 24‐week period following CIK‐cell transfusion. The rate of hepatitis B e antigen loss or seroconversion was also higher in virological responders than in non‐virological responders. Importantly, we found that the frequency and cytokine‐producing capacity of mDCs and pDCs increased significantly in virological responders, but not in non‐virological responders. In addition, these patients exhibited a close correlation between restoration DC subsets and a decrease in HBV DNA load, rather than a change in the alanine aminotransferase level. Conclusion: Cytokine‐induced killer‐cell treatment reduced HBV DNA load in some CHB patients; the efficiency at least partially correlates with the restoration of frequency and functionality of mDCs and pDCs.