Tim-3 expression on peripheral T cell subsets correlates with disease progression in hepatitis B infection

[Guest guest]

http://7thspace.com/headlines/375307/tim_3_expression_on_peripheral_t_cell_subse\

ts_correlates_with_disease_progression_in_hepatitis_b_infection.html

Tim-3 expression on peripheral T cell subsets correlates with disease

progression in hepatitis B infection

Background and objective: T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin

domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) represents a novel mechanism of T-cell

dysfunction in chronic viral diseases. However, the role of Tim-3 in the

pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is not well understood.

We investigated Tim-3 expression on peripheral T cell subsets and analyzed the

relationship between Tim-3 expression and disease progression in HBV infection.

Methods: peripheral blood samples were obtained from CHB patients (n = 40),

including 23 patients with moderate CHB [MCHB] and 17 with severe CHB [sCHB].

Control samples were obtained from nine acute hepatitis B patients (AHB) and 26

age-matched healthy subjects.

The expression of Tim-3 on T cells was determined by flow cytometry.

Results: Tim-3 expression was elevated on peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from

AHB and CHB patients compared to those from healthy controls. The percentage of

Tim-3+ T cells was further increased in SCHB patients relative to MCHB patients

and showed a positive correlation with conventional markers for liver injury

(alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin

(TB) and international normalized ratio (INR) level).

The frequency of Tim-3-expressing T cells was negatively correlated with T-bet

mRNA expression and plasma interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) levels. Further, Tim-3

expression on CD4+ or CD8+ T cells was reduced in CHB patients with disease

remission after antiviral treatment and in AHB patients during the convalescence

phase.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that over-expression of Tim-3 is involved in

disease progression of CHB and that Tim-3 may participate in skewing of Th1/Tc1

response, which contributes to persistency of HBV infection.

Author: Wei WuYu ShiJie LiFeng ChenZhi ChenMin Zheng

Credits/Source: Virology Journal 2011, 8:113

[Guest guest]

http://7thspace.com/headlines/375307/tim_3_expression_on_peripheral_t_cell_subse\

ts_correlates_with_disease_progression_in_hepatitis_b_infection.html

Tim-3 expression on peripheral T cell subsets correlates with disease

progression in hepatitis B infection

Background and objective: T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin

domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) represents a novel mechanism of T-cell

dysfunction in chronic viral diseases. However, the role of Tim-3 in the

pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is not well understood.

We investigated Tim-3 expression on peripheral T cell subsets and analyzed the

relationship between Tim-3 expression and disease progression in HBV infection.

Methods: peripheral blood samples were obtained from CHB patients (n = 40),

including 23 patients with moderate CHB [MCHB] and 17 with severe CHB [sCHB].

Control samples were obtained from nine acute hepatitis B patients (AHB) and 26

age-matched healthy subjects.

The expression of Tim-3 on T cells was determined by flow cytometry.

Results: Tim-3 expression was elevated on peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from

AHB and CHB patients compared to those from healthy controls. The percentage of

Tim-3+ T cells was further increased in SCHB patients relative to MCHB patients

and showed a positive correlation with conventional markers for liver injury

(alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin

(TB) and international normalized ratio (INR) level).

The frequency of Tim-3-expressing T cells was negatively correlated with T-bet

mRNA expression and plasma interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) levels. Further, Tim-3

expression on CD4+ or CD8+ T cells was reduced in CHB patients with disease

remission after antiviral treatment and in AHB patients during the convalescence

phase.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that over-expression of Tim-3 is involved in

disease progression of CHB and that Tim-3 may participate in skewing of Th1/Tc1

response, which contributes to persistency of HBV infection.

Author: Wei WuYu ShiJie LiFeng ChenZhi ChenMin Zheng

Credits/Source: Virology Journal 2011, 8:113