Deficient interleukin (IL)-2 production in children with chronic B hepatitis.

It is known that children with CBH have low levels of T lymphocytes espressing IL-2 receptors and that in adults affected by CBH there is a reduced production of IL-2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of IL-2 by lymphocytes following stimulation with phytoaemoagglutinin (PHA) in a group of children with CBH. Nine children (6 males) affected by CBH were investigated. The mean age was 9y-6m, and the mean duration of the disease was 3y-2m. The aspartate-amino transferase (AST) levels varied between 2 and 8 times the normal values (NV), with the majority having 3 times above the upper normal limit. All subjects were HBsAg positive (“+”). 6 children were HBeAg “+”, 3 of whom were also anti-HDV “+”, and 3 were HBcAb “+”, of whom 2 had anti-HDV antibodies. The serum levels of IgG were increased in 8 patients. The liver biopsy, performed in 5 children, showed histological features of chronic active hepatitis in 3 and cirrhosis in 2. 8 age and sex matched healthy children were studied as controls. IL-2 production was obtained by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with PHA (1mcg/ml) after monocytes were removed by plastic adhesion. The activity of IL-2-containing supernatants was tested using PHA-induced blast cells by H3-thymldine incorporation. Levels of IL-2 are expressed as units/ml according to Saxena et al. The mean value (34.78 U/ml) was significantly lower in CBH children when compared to controls (105.37 U/ml;(p<0.05). This preliminary study indicates that IL-2 production is impaired in CBH children. This could explain the immunological alternations seen in CBH patients.