title: T-bet expression in CD8+ T cells associated with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mechanisms leading to virus-specific CD8+ T cell dysfuction in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remain to be elucidated. Our study focused on the role of transcription factor T-bet in HBV infection because it is a crucial regulator of T cell immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the expression of T-bet along with PD-1, IFN-γ and perforin, in HBV-specific CD8+ T cells from resolved acute hepatitis B (rAHB) patients, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, as well as asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASCs). We observed dynamic changes of T-bet, PD-1, IFN-γ and perforin in acute stage and recovery stage of acute hepatitis B (AHB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing with other cohorts, HBV-specific CD8+ T cells from rAHB demonstrated a superior ability in T-bet, IFN-γ and perforin expression, but an inferior ability in PD-1 expression. In the CHB group, the level of T-bet has a linear relationship with the level of PD-1, IFN-γ and HBV DNA, respectively. A lower expression of T-bet and PD-1 was observed in ASCs when compared with CHB. A higher expression of T-bet, PD-1, IFN-r and perforin was observed in acute stage when compared with the recovery stage of AHB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that expression of T-bet may influence the function of HBV-specific CD8+ T cells and thus can be an attractive target for modulation to improve HBV-specific immunity in CHB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Post Street 23rd, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. fanrongshan2010@163.com.
authors.forename: Rongshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Post Street 23rd, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. lan_yinghua@163.com.
authors.forename: Yinghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Hospital of Daqing City, Daqing City, People's Republic of China. chenjiwang1981@163.com.
authors.forename: Jiwang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Post Street 23rd, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. huangyanxin5332621@163.com.
authors.forename: Yanxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Post Street 23rd, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. yan_qin_qin@126.com.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Post Street 23rd, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. jls197910@126.com.
authors.forename: Lisheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Post Street 23rd, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. song_shu_peng@163.com.
authors.forename: Shupeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Post Street 23rd, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. liyongguodoctor@163.com.
authors.forename: Yongguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054353:Perforin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037182:T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D054353:Perforin; D007371:Interferon-gamma
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