OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of the costimulatory molecule CD28 on peripheral blood CD8(+)T cells from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHOD: The expression of CD28 on CD8(+), CD8(+)CD28(-)- and CD8(+)CD28(+) cell subsets in the peripheral blood obtained from 20 HCC patients and 15 healthy controls were assayed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The elevated percentages of CD8(+) cells, decreased percentages of CD8(+)CD28(+) cells and increased percentages of CD8(+)CD28(-)- cells were observed in the peripheral blood of HCC patients as compared with those of the control group (P<0.01). Positive correlation between the percentage of CD8(+)CD28(-)- cells and that of CD8(+) cells were found. CONCLUSION: CD28 expression on CD8(+) T cells was aberrant in the peripheral blood of HCC patients, and the elevation of CD8(+)CD28(-)- cell number results in the increase of CD8(+) cell number.
OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of the costimulatory molecule CD28 on peripheral blood CD8(+)T cells from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHOD: The expression of CD28 on CD8(+), CD8(+)CD28(-)- and CD8(+)CD28(+) cell subsets in the peripheral blood obtained from 20 HCC patients and 15 healthy controls were assayed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The elevated percentages of CD8(+) cells, decreased percentages of CD8(+)CD28(+) cells and increased percentages of CD8(+)CD28(-)- cells were observed in the peripheral blood of HCC patients as compared with those of the control group (P<0.01). Positive correlation between the percentage of CD8(+)CD28(-)- cells and that of CD8(+) cells were found. CONCLUSION:CD28 expression on CD8(+) T cells was aberrant in the peripheral blood of HCC patients, and the elevation of CD8(+)CD28(-)- cell number results in the increase of CD8(+) cell number.