Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the function of peripheral blood hepatitis B virus(HBV)-specific CD8⁺ T cells from patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB), and assess its relationship with clinical relative parameters. Methods The HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells were detected by staining of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide tetramers in patients with CHB. The HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells were analyzed for cytokine secretion ability. The relationship of HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells with clinical biochemical and viral indices was analyzed. Results A total of 9 of 35 patients with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A02 genotype or A24 genotype had HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells recognized by tetramers in peripheral blood. The HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells expressed significantly lower interleukin 2(IL-2) and interferon gamma(IFN-γ) than their counterpart CD8⁺ T cells. The patients who can be found HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells had higher level of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and lower HBV DNA load than those without HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Results Persistent stimulation of HBV antigen is one of the causes of HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cell dysfunction in patients with CHB. The patients who can be found HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood could have strong anti-virus immunity.

Key words: T cell exhaustion, Chronic hepatitis B, Major histocompatibility complex-peptide tetramer