[Decrease in γδV 2T cells correlates with severity of liver injury and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B]

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Hepatology
• Cellular Biology

Background:

• Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a significant global health concern.
• Understanding immune responses in CHB, particularly T cell dynamics, is crucial for disease management.
• Gamma delta T cells (γδT cells) are innate immune cells with roles in various liver diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize γδT cell populations in CHB patients across different disease phases (immune tolerant [IT] and immune activated [IA]).
• To assess the clinical significance of γδT cell alterations in relation to liver disease severity and histology.
• To investigate the role of specific γδT cell subsets, such as Vδ2, in CHB pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Flow cytometry was employed to quantify peripheral blood and intrahepatic γδT cells and their subsets.
• Analysis included 80 CHB patients (20 IT, 60 IA) and 5 healthy controls (HCs).
• Liver biopsies from CHB patients and HCs were analyzed alongside blood samples.

Main Results:

• IA patients exhibited significantly lower frequencies and absolute numbers of peripheral and intrahepatic γδT cells, including Vδ2 subsets, compared to HCs and IT carriers.
• Peripheral and intrahepatic γδT cell levels were strongly correlated with liver histological activity index.
• γδT cell levels also showed a close association with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.

Conclusions:

• Reduced γδT cell populations, especially Vδ2 subsets, are characteristic of the immune-activated phase in CHB.
• These findings suggest that γδT cells, particularly Vδ2 subsets, may exert a protective effect against liver damage in CHB.
• Further research into γδT cell-based therapies for CHB is warranted.