J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2019 Jul 18. doi: 10.1089/jir.2019.0042. [Epub ahead of print]
Boosting of Hepatitis B Virus-Specific T Cell Responses After Pegylated-Interferon-α-2a Therapy for Hepatitis B e Antigen-Positive Pediatric Patients.
Ning L1, Huang X1, Xu Y1, Yang G1, Yang J2, Fu Q1, Zhang Q2, Liu H2, Wu X2, Wang Z1, Luo K1.
Author information
1
1State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
2
2Office of Prof. Kangxian Luo, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract
Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with pegylated-interferon-α-2a (PegIFNα) in pediatric patients can lead to a higher rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) loss than in adults. However, the mechanism of underlying immune response is not clear. The aim of this study was to explore innate and adaptive immunity, especially HBV-specific T cell responses in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive pediatric patients, who have experienced HBsAg loss. Isolated lymphocytes of 20 HBeAg-positive pediatric patients were collected every 12 weeks until treatment was stopped. The phenotype of T/natural killer (NK) cells and function of HBV-specific T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The frequency of CD69 and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) expressed on T cells and TRAIL on CD56hi NK cells in patients with HBsAg loss was remarkably higher compared with nonresponse patients. Furthermore, in vitro peptide stimulation of HBV-specific T cell responses was increased in patients with HBsAg loss when compared with week 0 and 48, and correlated with decline of viral load. The PegIFNα therapy in pediatric patients triggered T/NK cell activation and HBV-specific T cell responses, thereby contributing to successful viral control.
KEYWORDS:
HBV-specific T cell responses; HBeAg-positive CHB; IFNα; pediatric