Hepatitis B e-antigen persistency is associated with the properties of HBV-specific CD8 T cells in CHB patients.
To investigate the correlation between the HBeAg and the properties of HBV-specific CD8 T cells, as well as liver injury, serum HBV markers, liver histology, the frequency and phenotypic characteristics of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg and HBV-pentamer(+) CD8 T cells were measured. No significant differences between the median serum ALT levels, the frequency and Foxp3 expression of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg, and liver fibrosis were observed. Higher HBV DNA levels in HBeAg(+) patients were observed, while liver necroinflammation was more severe in HBeAg(-) patients. Differences in HBV-pentamer(+) T cell frequency were not significant, but increased PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression on HBV-specific CD8 T cells was seen in the HBeAg(+) group. HBV-peptide stimulation with anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 significantly increased the proliferation in PBMCs from both groups, but enhanced IFN-γ production only in the HBeAg(+) patients. Therefore, HBeAg persistency in CHB patients probably increased the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 on HBV-specific CD8 T cells, which may be associated with the low intensity of T cell responses and high HBV DNA load.
State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China. pgpfc@163.com
Guoping
G
Peng
Benyan
B
Luo
Jie
J
Li
Dongjiu
D
Zhao
Wei
W
Wu
Feng
F
Chen
Zhi
Z
Chen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000410:Alanine Transaminase