Leu-1(CD5) B cell subpopulation in patients with various liver diseases--special reference to hepatitis B virus carrier and to changes caused by prednisolone therapy.

A human B cell subpopulation identifiable by the expression of the cell surface antigen Leu-1(CD5) was examined in peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from patients with various liver diseases by dual two-color fluorescence flow cytometry. A significantly high level of Leu-1 B cells in chronic hepatitis and in liver cirrhosis especially in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients (hepatitis B virus carriers) was observed. However, there was no significant difference between the percentage in controls and those in patients with acute hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis. Moreover, we could not demonstrate a correlation between the incidence of these cells and positive IgM class rheumatoid factor in patients with liver diseases. The percentage of Leu-1 B cells in patients who had been receiving prednisolone at the time of this study was lower than that in healthy controls. These results suggested that Leu-1 B cells might be associated with the continuation of the HBsAg-positive state and that the presence of the Leu-1 B cell population might be modified by prednisolone administration.