Objective: To study activation of dendritic cells (DC) isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis B after stimulation with HBsAg or HBcAg.
Methods: DCs were isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis B. DCs were impulsed with HBsAg and HBcAg separately before their maturation. The expression levels of DC surface molecule were analyzed by using flow cytometry and the ability of DC to induce T lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated by a liquid scintillation counter and the amount of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in mixed lymphocytic (IL-12) in mixed lymphocytic reaction (MLR) was measured by using ELISA.
Results: The expression rate of CD86 significantly increased to (29.20 +/- 5.18)% on DC after loading with HBcAg as compared with those after loading with HBsAg (76.19 +/- 3.90)% and controls (62.37 +/- 4.24)%, P>0.01. The ability of DC after loading with HBcAg to induce T lymphocyte proliferation (34,326 +/- 3088 cpm) was significantly higher than that of DC after loading with HBsAg (20,306 +/- 2897 cpm) and controls (3454 +/- 409 cpm), P greater than 0.01. The amount of IL-12 in MLR of DC after loading with HBcAg was (348 +/- 42.8) ng/L, which was significantly higher than those of DC after loading with HBsAg (226 +/- 30.6) ng/L and controls (116 +/- 15.6) ng/L, P greater than 0.01.
Conclusion: Human dendritic cell stimulated with HBcAg could more efficiently present antigen and induce specific T cell immune response.