Frequency analysis of proliferating and cytotoxic T cells in livers and peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Frequencies of proliferating and cytotoxic lymphocytes from liver biopsy samples and peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and control subjects were monitored by limiting dilution analysis. Precursor frequencies of proliferating T lymphocytes were not significantly different in the liver and peripheral blood compartments of patients and controls. Moreover, similar frequencies of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes were observed in the peripheral blood of patients and controls. A higher frequency of cytotoxic T cells (1 of 22) compared to NK cells (1 of 306) was observed in liver tissues of CHB patients. Dual colour flow cytometric analysis revealed the presence of both CD4+ HLA-DR+ and CD8+ HLA-DR+ T cells in the liver tissues. These results suggest that in livers of CHB patients not only activated CD8+ T cells but also activated CD4+ T cells may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B.