Decreased frequency of a novel T-lymphocyte subset, CD3+ CD4- CD7+ CD57- T cells, in hepatitis B virus-related end-stage liver disease might contribute to disease progression

Xueping Yu; Yijuan Zheng; Dawu Zeng; Yongjun Zhou; Jian Sun; Milong Su; Huatang Zhang; Minhui Zheng; Zhipeng Huang; Wenwu Lin; Richeng Mao; Jiming Zhang; Chunfu Zheng; Zhijun Su

doi:10.1002/jmv.28129

Decreased frequency of a novel T-lymphocyte subset, CD3⁺ CD4^- CD7⁺ CD57^- T cells, in hepatitis B virus-related end-stage liver disease might contribute to disease progression

J Med Virol. 2023 Jan;95(1):e28129. doi: 10.1002/jmv.28129. Epub 2022 Sep 28.

Authors

Xueping Yu^{1

2}, Yijuan Zheng¹, Dawu Zeng^{2

3}, Yongjun Zhou⁴, Jian Sun^{2

5}, Milong Su¹, Huatang Zhang¹, Minhui Zheng¹, Zhipeng Huang¹, Wenwu Lin¹, Richeng Mao², Jiming Zhang^{2

6

7}, Chunfu Zheng^{8

9}, Zhijun Su¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Fujian Medical University Affiliated First Quanzhou Hospital, Quanzhou, China.
² Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
³ Department of Liver Center, The First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
⁴ Institute of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Minnan Science and Technology University, Quanzhou, China.
⁵ Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Hospital Affiliated to Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/MOH), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁷ Department of Infectious Diseases, Jing' An Branch of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁸ State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China.
⁹ Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

PMID: 36068190
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28129

Abstract

CD7 and CD57 are related to the differentiation and functional stages of CD8⁺ T cells. However, the role of their combined presence in CD8⁺ T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, especially those with end-stage liver disease, remains unclear. Blood samples from healthy volunteers and patients with chronic hepatitis B were analyzed via Luminex assay and ELISA to measure plasma cytokine levels. Further, recombinant IL-22 was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers, and the frequency of CD3⁺ CD4^- CD7⁺ CD57^- T cells and apoptosis rates were investigated via flow cytometry. Patients with end-stage liver disease, particularly those with acute to chronic liver failure, showed decreased CD3⁺ CD4^- CD7⁺ CD57^- T cell frequency. Furthermore, the prevalence of CD3⁺ CD4^- CD7⁺ CD57^- T cells was negatively correlated with disease severity, prognosis, and complications (ascites). We also observed that IL-22 promoted apoptosis and brought about a decrease in the number of CD3⁺ CD4^- CD7⁺ CD57^- T cells in a dose-dependent manner. CD3⁺ CD4^- CD7⁺ CD57^- T cells displayed a B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA)^high CD25^high CD127^high immunosuppressive phenotype and showed low interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, granzyme A, and perforin expression levels. The present findings will elucidate the pathogenesis of HBV-related end-stage liver disease and aid the identification of novel drug targets.

Keywords: CD57; CD7; acute-on-chronic liver failure; hepatitis B virus; CD8+T cells.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Disease Progression
End Stage Liver Disease*
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B, Chronic* / complications
Humans
Leukocytes, Mononuclear
T-Lymphocyte Subsets