HBV-related-HCC:Research On Virus-specific Cellular Immune Response

[Objective] The pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC has not been well elucidated. Our study aims to analyze the relationship between the circulation and intrahepatic virus-specific T cells, especially CD8+T cells.[Method]15were HCC patients, of whom13patients had peripheral blood and liver tissue samples, another two cases had blood samples only.7volunteers all had blood samples and liver tissues. ELIspot was used to test the frequencies of HBcAg-specific T cells. At the same time, using recombinant HBsAg and HBcAg as stimulus, we detected specific T cell proliferation by CFSE,[Results]1. The frequencies and breadth of total intrahepatic HBcAg-specific CD8+T cells was significantly higher than circulation. We found similar result in C1-C12pool.2. Using HBsAg and HBcAg as stimulus, we compared three HCC patients’circulation and intrahepatic specific T cell proliferation. The result showed that HBsAg-specific T cell proliferation was higher compared with PBMC in two patients.3. We analyzed9HCC patients’circulating HBsAg-specific T cells proliferation. HBsAg-specific T cells proliferation was12.02%±13.15%. No stimulu control was3.31%±2.90%. There was no significant difference between them4. Comparing6HCC patients,’HBsAg specific T cell proliferation:The first group’s specific T cell proliferation was27.23%±12.74%. Another was5.37%±0.12.They had significant difference (P<0.05). However, analysis of the possible influencing factors (including HBV-DNA, the age, AFP values) showed no significant correlations.[Conclusion]Circulating and intrahepatic HBcAg-specific CTL were different in patients with HCC. At the same time, we found that the proliferation of intrahepatic HBsAg-specific T cells were higher than circulation. Both of these two results suggested immune conditions were different between circulation and liver.We also found that some HCC patients’circulating HBsAg-specific T cell proliferation were better than others. However, analysis of the possible influencing factors (including HBV-DNA, the age, AFP values) showed no significant correlations.