Cellular cytotoxicity against autologous hepatocytes in children with different forms of chronic hepatitis B

Cell-mediated immune reactions play the most important role in the pathogenesis of chronic viral and auto-immune hepatitis. Cellular cytotoxicity (CC) of peripheral blood lymphocytes against autologous hepatocytes isolated from liver biopsies was studied in 29 children with different types of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive hepatitis. Children with chronic hepatitis B showed higher cytotoxicity than control patients. However, a correlation of cytotoxicity to serum amino-transferases, HBeAg-/Anti-HBe-status, and hepatitis B virus DNA in serum could not be found. Children with a higher percentage of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) expression in their liver tissue presented lower CC values, and vice versa. This supports the hypothesis that virus elimination occurs via T-cell attack against HBcAg expressing hepatocytes. Furthermore, children with a longer duration of chronic hepatitis B had considerably higher cytotoxicity values. Possibly, CC plays a role in perpetuating liver damage after infection with hepatitis B virus.