AIM:To study the levels of T lymphocyte subsets andmembrane interleukin-2 receptor (mIL-2R) on surface ofperipheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients withhepatitis B and its role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B.METHODS:The levels of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R in PBMC before and after being stimulated with PHAwere detected by biotin-streptavidin (BSA) technique in 196cases of hepatitis B.RESULTS:In patients with hepatitis B,the levels of CD_3~+,CD_4~+ cells,and the ratio of CD_4~+ cells/CD_8~+ cells were lower,but the level of CD_8~+ cells was higher than those in normalcontrols (42.20±6.01 vs65.96±6.54,38.17±5.93 vs41.73±6.40,0.91±0.28 vs 1.44±0.31,39.86±6.36 vs30.02±4.54,P<0.01).The total expression level of mIL-2R in PBMC before andafter being stimulated with PHA was also lower than thosein normal controls (3.47±1.55 vs 4.52±1.49,34.03±2.94 vs37.95±3.00,P<0.01).In all the patients with hepatitis B,thelevels of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R in PBMC withHBV-DNA (+) were lower than those with HBV-DNA (-),which were significantly different (39.57±7.11 vs 44.36±5.43,34.36±7.16 vs 40.75±5.87,37.82±6.54 vs 41.72±6.21,0.88±0.33 vs0.99±0.27,2.82±1.62 vs3.85±1.47,31.56±3.00vs 35.84±2.83,P<0.01).In addition,the levels of CD_3~+,CD_4~+,CD_8~+ cells,the ratio of CD_4~+ cells/CD_8~+ cells and mIL-2R amongdifferent courses of hepatitis B were all significantly different(F=3 723.18,P<0.01.F=130.43,P<0.01.F=54.01,P<0.01.F=2.99,P<0.05.F=7.16,P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Both cellular and humoral immune functionsare obviously in disorder in patients with hepatitis B,whichmight be closely associated with the chronicity in patients. AIM: To study the levels of T lymphocyte subsets andmembrane interleukin-2 receptor (mIL-2R) on surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with hepatopathy B and its role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B. METHODS: The levels of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R in PBMC before and after being stimulated with PHAwere detected by biotin-streptavidin (BSA) technique in 196cases of hepatitis B.RESULTS: In patients with hepatitis B, the levels of CD_3 ~ +, CD_4 ~ + cells, and the ratio of CD_4 ~ + cells / CD_8 ~ + cells were lower, but the level of CD_8 ~ + cells was higher than those in normal controls (42.20 ± 6.01 vs65.96 ± 6.54, 38.17 ± 5.93 vs 41.73 ± 6.40, 0.91 ± 0.28 vs 1.44 ± 0.31, 39.86 ± 6.36 vs 30.02 ± 4.54, P <0.01). The total expression level of mIL-2R in PBMC before and after being stimulated with PHA was also lower than those in normal controls (3.47 ± 1.55 vs 4.52 ± 1.49, 34.03 ± 2.94 vs 37.95 ± 3.00, P <0.01). All of the patients with hepatitis B, the levels of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R in PBMC with HBV DNA (+) were lower than those with HBV-DNA (-), which were significantly different (39.57 ± 7.11 vs 44.36 ± 5.43,34.36 ± 7.16 vs 40.75 ± 5.87,37.82 ± 6.54 vs 41.72 ± 6.21,0.88 ± 0.33 vs0.99 ± 0.27,2.82 ± 1.62 vs3.85 ± 1.47,31.56 ± 3.00vs 35.84 ± 2.83, P <0.01) .In addition, the levels of CD_3 ~ +, CD_4 ~ +, CD_8 ~ + cells, the ratio of CD_4 ~ + cells / CD_8 ~ + cells and mIL-2R among different courses of hepatitis B were all significantly different (F = 3 723.18, P <0.01.F = 130.43, P <0.01.F = 54.01, 2.99, P <0.05.F = 7.16, P <0.01) .CONCLUSION: Both cellular and humoral immune functionsare obviously in disorder in patients with hepatitis B, whichmight be closely associated with the chronic in patients.