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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice
Published on: September 25, 2019
Interferon therapy-induced reduction in PD-1 + CD8 + and CD160 + CD8 + T cells is associated with functional cure in
Daqiong Zhou1, Jiangyu Liu1, Jianru Jia2
1Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.8, Xitou Alley, Outer, You'an Gate, Fengtai, Beijing, China.
Background And Aims:
HBsAg seroclearance is a key indicator of functional cure in chronic HBV. We evaluated the efficacy of pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFN-α) in HBeAg-negative patients and its association with T-cell subsets.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 618 patients, 34 of whom underwent longitudinal immune profiling.
Results:
Among 618 patients, a total of 214 cases (34.6%) achieved HBsAg clearance, namely 214 cases in group R and 404 cases in group NR. The R group was younger, had longer treatment, and had lower baseline HBsAg levels compared to the NR group. In 34 HBeAg-negative patients with chronic HBV infection, we studied the distribution of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells at different stages of differentiation. After 24 weeks of interferon therapy, responders exhibited increased CD4 + TCM and stable CD8 + TCM levels, along with decreased CD8 + TEMRA and Th2 cells. In contrast, non-responders showed reductions in TCM, elevated TEMRA, and Th2 cells. Responders exhibited a marked decline in PD-1 + CD8 + and CD160 + CD8 + T cells (at 0.97 and 0.95 times the baseline), whereas non-responders showed relative increases (at 1.74 and 1.55 times the baseline).
Conclusion:
Peg-IFN-α may promote HBsAg clearance in selected HBeAg-negative patients with low antigen burden and partially reversible T-cell exhaustion.
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