Cellular immune responses in hepatitis B virus e antigen negative chronic hepatitis B

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Hepatology
• Virology

Background:

• The immunopathogenesis of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains incompletely understood.
• Investigating cellular immune responses is crucial for understanding HBV infection dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cellular immune responses in HBeAg-negative CHB patients.
• To compare immune responses between HBeAg-negative CHB, acute hepatitis B, inactive carriers, and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed using proliferation assays, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS), and ELISPOT interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assays.
• Stimulation involved non-specific and specific (whole HBV proteins and peptides) methods.
• Study included 30 HBeAg-negative CHB patients, 11 HBsAg inactive carriers, 9 acute hepatitis B patients, and 22 healthy controls.

Main Results:

• HBeAg-negative CHB patients exhibited increased CD8+ T cells and enhanced PBMC proliferation to HBV core and envelope peptides, akin to acute hepatitis B.
• ICS revealed expanded populations of IFN-γ producing CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in HBeAg-negative CHB post-non-specific stimulation.
• Both HBeAg-negative CHB and acute hepatitis B patients showed increased core-specific T cells via IFN-γ assays, while inactive carriers had elevated envelope-specific effector T cells.

Conclusions:

• CD4+ T cell responses in HBeAg-negative CHB patients are comparable to those in acute hepatitis B.
• Inactive HBsAg carriers demonstrate maintained peripheral T cell effector activity despite reduced proliferative capacity.