Interleukin-2, interleukin-2 receptor and gamma-interferon synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic hepatitis delta virus infection

• Published in: Journal of hepatology Vol. 8; no. 3; p. 358
• Main Authors: Magrin, S, Craxì, A, Carini, C, Colombo, P, di Blasi, F, Spinelli, G, Fratazzi, C, Messina, M C, Antonelli, G, Ausiello, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01-05-1989
• Subjects: Adult; Chronic Disease; DNA, Viral - analysis; Female; Hepatitis B Core Antigens - analysis; Hepatitis B e Antigens - analysis; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - analysis; Hepatitis D - immunology; Hepatitis Delta Virus - immunology; Hepatitis Delta Virus - physiology; Humans; Interferon-gamma - analysis; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interleukin-2 - analysis; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Male; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - analysis; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - immunology; Virus Replication
• ISSN: 0168-8278
• DOI: 10.1016/0168-8278(89)90035-4

The behaviour of the immune system during liver damage caused by chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection was evaluated by assessing, in 16 patients with HBsAg+ chronic liver disease and HDV superinfection (15 HBeAg-, 1 HBeAg+), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced interleukin-2 synthesis and interleukin-2 receptor expression, PHA and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced gamma-interferon synthesis and, in some cases, the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The results were compared to those obtained in 13 patients without HBV replication (i.e., serum HBV-DNA and liver HBcAg-negative), in 15 with HBV replication (i.e., serum HBV-DNA and/or liver HBcAg-positive) with chronic liver disease without HDV superinfection, and in 15 HBsAg-negative healthy control subjects. The lymphokine pattern in HDV infection was comparable to that of healthy subjects and of HBV non-replicating patients without HDV superinfection. Interleukin-2 receptor expression and gamma-interferon synthesis were however significantly decreased in HDV-negative patients with active HBV replication. HBV-DNA was detected in PBMC from 8 of 23 patients, without any correlation with the lymphokine pattern. Our results suggest that in HDV-related chronic liver disease, immune system alterations are unlikely. HDV superinfection does not affect the occurrence of HBV-DNA sequences within the leukocytes. HBV-DNA in PBMC does not interfere with the interleukin-2 system nor with the gamma-interferon response in HBV- and HDV-related chronic liver disease.