The reduction in CD8+PD-1+ T cells in liver histological tissue is related to Pegylated IFN-α therapy outcomes in chronic hepatitis B patients

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases 2020-08, Vol.20 (1), p.1-590, Article 590
• Main Authors: Liu, Ruyu, Chen, Yanhui, Guo, Jiang, Li, Minghui, Lu, Yao, Zhang, Lu, Shen, Ge, Wu, Shuling, Chang, Min, Hu, Leiping, Hao, Hongxiao, Zhang, Henghui, Xie, Yao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antigens; Antiviral agents; Biopsy; CD4 antigen; CD4+ T cells; CD68+ mononuclear cells; CD8 antigen; CD8+ T cells; Chronic hepatitis B; Complications; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Fibrosis; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B e antigen; Hepatocytes; Immunofluorescence; Infections; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Labeling; Laboratories; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Liver; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Normal distribution; PD-1; PD-1 protein; Pegylated IFN-α; Seroconversion; Serology; Software; Therapy; Viral infections; α-Interferon
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05320-z

Background Antiviral therapy is recommended for patients with immune-active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to decrease the risk of liver-related complications. However, the outcomes of the pegylated IFN-α (PEG-IFN-α) therapy vary among CHB patients. We aimed to identify factors that can influence the outcomes in CHB patients who received antiviral PEG-IFN-α monotherapy. Methods Thirty-two CHB patients who received PEG-IFN-α monotherapy were enrolled in this study. All of the patients underwent two liver biopsies at baseline and 6 months after the initiation of the therapy. CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD68+ mononuclear cells, and PD-1 levels in the 64 liver biopsy specimens were examined via immunofluorescence. Results The overall median frequency of CD8+ T cells in the liver tissues of 32 CHB patients significantly decreased at 6 months after the therapy initiation (p