The development of specific monoclonal antibodies to antigens present on all peripheral T cells (OKT 3) ,
helper/inducer(OKT 4), and cytotoxic/suppressor(OKT 8) subsets provides a simple means to dissect the
immune cell populations.
In patients with acute hepatitis virus(HBV) infection, OKT 4/OKT 8 ratio are known to be lower than
normal control group. However, published data on the alteration of peripheral T cell subsets in chronic
hepatitis B virus infection are still limited and the ´results are controversial. Although the hepatitis B virus
infection is very common in Korea, there has been no published data on the alteration of immune systems
- in acute and chronic hepatitis.
The authors attempted to evaluate the distribution of T, B lymphocytes and T-cell subsets alteration in
fi acute viral hepatitis(AVH) and chronic active hepatitis(CAH). Sera from 16 patients with AVH, 18
} a patients with CAH and 17 normal healthy control group were assayed for the evaluation of total lympho-
cytes, helper/inducer, cytotoxic/suppressor subsets and pan B lymphocytes (OKB 7).
,- The results were as follows;
1. In patients with AVH, the value of OKT 3 55. 31-11. 84%, OKT 4 39. 6+10.85%&, OKB 7 25. 814. 08
= %, T4/T8 ratio 1. 49-!-0. 31 were significantly decreased than normal control group that showed OKT 3
5
66.5+10.6%, OKT 4 47.2+15.02%, OKT 8 25.3:L7.30%, T4/T8 ratio 1.87=0.46 and OKB 32. 9
+10.75 % (p<0: 05) and the value of OKT 8 was not significantly different from that of normal control
group.
2. In patients with CAH, OKT 3 65.3+7. I4%, OKB 7 30.0_I5.83,110 were not, statistically different
from normal control group, but OKT 4 30.0+-12. 69% was decreased and OKT 8 37.9-10.70%- was
increased than normal control group(p<0.05).
3. T-cell subset alterations during the course of AVH disclosed that OKT 4 and T 4/T 8 ratio were
decreased in early phase and gradually increased near normal level around 10 weeks later. But OKT 8
was not changed significantly.
9 According to the above results the regulation of immune mechanism in AVH and CAH appears to be
-different. In AVH, the percentage of T and B cells decreased. T 4/T 8 ratio decreased by decrement of
T 4 and then gradually normalized during the recovery of the illness. In CAH, the percentage of T and B
" cells were normal. But, OKT 4 were still lower than normal control group. Thus the role of OKT 4 would
t, ´be important for the recovery from AVH and CAH.
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