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
Ruyu Liu 1 , Yanhui Chen 2 3 , Jiang Guo 4 , Minghui Li 5 , Yao Lu 5 , Lu Zhang 5 , Ge Shen 5 , Shuling Wu 5 , Min Chang 5 , Leiping Hu 5 , Hongxiao Hao 5 , Henghui Zhang 6 7 , Yao Xie 8
Affiliations
Affiliations
1
Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China. [email protected].
2
Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China.
3
Genecast Precision Medicine Technology Institute, 35 North Garden Rd., Haidian District, Beijing, 100089, China.
4
Tumor Interventional Department, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China.
5
Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China.
6
Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China. [email protected].
7
Genecast Precision Medicine Technology Institute, 35 North Garden Rd., Haidian District, Beijing, 100089, China. [email protected].
8
Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China. [email protected].
PMID: 32778058 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05320-z
Abstract
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 < 0.01). In the FIER (fibrosis and inflammation response with HBeAg seroconversion) group, CD8+PD-1+ T cells significantly decreased at 6 months (p < 0.05), while CD8+PD-1- T cells had no significant difference. On the contrary, in the FIENR (no fibrosis and inflammation response and HBeAg seroconversion) group, CD8+PD-1- T cells significantly decreased after 6 months of PEG-IFN-α treatment (p < 0.05), while CD8+PD-1+ T cells had no significant difference. In addition, the levels of CD68+ mononuclear cells in the FIER group showed an overall increasing trend after treatment (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The changes in the levels of CD8+PD-1+ T cells and CD68+ mononuclear cells may be related to the response to PEG-IFN-α therapy.
Keywords: CD4+ T cells; CD68+ mononuclear cells; CD8+ T cells; Chronic hepatitis B; PD-1; Pegylated IFN-α.
Grant support
2018ZX10302207/National Key Sci-Tech Special Project of China
PX2018060/Beijing Hospitals Authority Incubating Program
QML20181803/Beijing Hospitals Authority Youth Programme