Phenotypic characteristics of lymphocytes in HBV transgenic mice and the effect of interferon-α on them

  OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of lymphocyte phenotype in hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice and the effect of interferon α on its virological indicators and immune cell phenotype.

  Methods: HBV transgenic mice and wild-type (WT) mice were selected, the serum HBsAg and HBcAb levels of HBV transgenic mice and the serum IL-21 and IL-6 levels of the two groups of mice were detected by ELISA, and the liver, spleen and peripheral blood were separated. Lymphocytes, flow cytometry to detect the frequency of CD4+T and CD19+B cells; 9 HBV transgenic mice were injected with recombinant murine interferon α (rmIFN-α) subcutaneously, and 9 HBV transgenic mice were injected with PBS accordingly , Observe the changes in the levels of serum HBsAg, HBV DNA, IL-6, IL-21 and the changes in the frequency of peripheral blood CD4+T and CD19+B cells.

  Results: The serum HBsAg level of HBV transgenic mice was higher and HBcAb could be detected. The serum IL-21 and IL-6 levels were significantly higher than those of WT mice (P<0.05); HBV transgenic mice had peripheral blood, liver and The frequency of CD4+T cells in spleen lymphocytes was significantly lower than that in WT mice (P<0.05), but the frequency of CD19+B cells in the liver was significantly higher than that in WT mice (P<0.05); CD4+ in the liver of HBV transgenic mice T cell frequency is negatively correlated with serum HBsAg level, while intrahepatic CD19+B cell frequency is positively correlated with serum HBcAb level; rmIFN-α treatment can significantly increase peripheral blood CD4+T and CD19+B cell frequency and serum of HBV transgenic mice IL-6 level (P<0.05).

  Conclusion: The frequency of lymphocyte subpopulations in HBV transgenic mice is abnormal, and exogenous interferon α can play an immunoregulatory effect by adjusting the frequency of lymphocyte subpopulations.