Abstract: Objective： To study the role of HBV infection on the function of dendritic cells (DCs) and explore the mechanism of immune tolerance in chronic B hepatitis. Methods： The bone marrow cells were isolated, cultured and transfected transiently with pcDNA3-HBV or pcDNA3 plasmid DNA, and then they were cultured under the stimulation of GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-α to be induced to become mature dendritic cells. RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of PreS1 mRNA. FCM was used to detect the expression of CD80, NF-κB. 3H-TdR adulteration assay was used to detect the potential for stimulating the proliferation of allogenic lymphocytes. Results： After being transfected with pcDNA3-HBV, mature DCs had the expression of PreS1 mRNA, but had lower level of superficial marker CD80 and transcriptional factor NF-κB, compared with pcDNA3-transfected control cells; the potential for stimulating the proliferation of allogenic lymphocytes was also decreased. Conclusion： Transient transfection of pcDNA3-HBV could decrease the function of DCs directly by inhibiting the maturation of DCs, which may be one of the mechanisms of immune tolerance in chronic B hepatitis.

Key words: Hepatitis B virus, Transfection, Dendritic cells