[Dynamic observation of cytokine induced killer cells in peripheral blood from patients with chronic hepatitis B].

AIM: To observe dynamically proliferation and cytotoxicity of cytokine induced killer cells (CIKs) in peripheral blood from patients with persistent infection of hepatitis B virus. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated routinely from 10 normal volunteers (control group) and 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B. PBMCs were co-cultured with IFN-gamma, rhIL-2 and anti-CD3 mAb to induce CIK cell generation. The expressions of single staining CD3, CD4, and CD8, as well as double staining CD4 CD25, CD3 CD56 and CD28 CD95 on CIK cells were analyzed by flow cytomctry on 3,6,12,24 and 30 days of co-culture. RESULTS: The proliferative level and killer activity of CIK cells from the patients were lower than those from control group. The proliferative level, killer activity and expressions of above surface markers on CIK cells from the patients at various times after co-culture were higher than those before co-culture, and reached peak values on 12 days after co-culture. CONCLUSION: The proliferative level and killer activity of CIK cells from the patients are lower than that of normal people, which may be the reason of persistent development of HBV infection.