Impact of viral replication inhibition by entecavir on peripheral T lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic hepatitis B patients

Background: The role of immune response to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is complex; and the specific T-cell response to this infection can determine the duration and the extent of liver disease. Objective: This study aimed at assessing the profile of Tlymphocyte subpopulations in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and its association with HBV replication. Methodology: The case group included 50 CHB patients with normal liver function tests (LFTs); and the control group included 50 age and sexmatched healthy individuals. The HBV markers, LFTs and serum viral load were measured in cases. Blood CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte subpopulations and the CD4/CD8 ratio were assessed in both groups by flow cytometry. Results: Our results showed significantly higher CD8 T-cells; significantly lower CD3 and CD4 T-cells; markedly reduced CD4/CD8 ratio in the cases as compared to the controls (P<0.001, for all). This T-cell impairment was also significantly linked to HBeAg positivity and elevated level of viraemia. The increased level of CD8 T-cells was significantly linked to both the HBeAg positivity (P<0.001) and the elevated level of viraemia (P=0.005), whereas the decreased levels of CD3, CD4 T-cells and CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly linked to both HBeAg positivity (P<0.001, in all) and the elevated level of viraemia (P<0.001, P=0.001& P=0.007, respectively). Conclusion: T-lymphocyte subpopulations imbalance could be expected by measuring the serum HBVeAg and the viraemia level in CHB patients exhibiting normal LFTs. These parameters are recommended to be measured regularly for the cellular immune function assessment.

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PP-083 The relationship between HBV precore region mutation and the variation of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with chronic hepatitis B

International Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1016/s1201-9712(09)60477-x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. S72

Author(s):

Jing You ◽

Xu Zhang ◽

Lin Zhuang ◽

Hong-Ying Chen ◽

Bao-Zhang Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

T Lymphocyte ◽

Lymphocyte Subpopulations ◽

T Lymphocyte Subpopulations ◽

Precore Region ◽

The Relationship

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Clinical relevance of the in situ assay for HBV DNA: a cross-sectional study in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Journal of Clinical Pathology ◽

10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206440 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 73 (12) ◽

pp. 813-818

Author(s):

Danping Liu ◽

Tong Xu ◽

Bisheng Shi ◽

Wei Lu ◽

Ye Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Viral Replication ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

In Situ Hybridisation ◽

Collagen Fibre ◽

Hbv Dna ◽

Viral Antigens ◽

Intrahepatic Hbv

AimsThe visualisation of HBV DNA in liver sections of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in our previous report uncovered a mosaic distribution of viral antigens and nucleic acids. Here we aim to further explore the clinical utility of the in situ hybridisation (ISH) assay for HBV DNA.MethodISH of HBV DNA along with immunohistochemistry (IHC) of HBsAg, HBcAg and routine histopathology analysis was performed in 313 treatment-naive patients with CHB. Serum HBcrAg and HBcAb titre were also measured in addition to basic biochemical and virological parameters.ResultsThe ISH of HBV DNA, HBsAg and HBcAg showed 95.2%, 97.1% and 42.8% positive rate, respectively. The staining pattern of HBV DNA differs significantly with that of HBsAg. Intrahepatic HBV DNA exhibited high-level of correlations with viral load, HBcrAg and HBsAg titre. In HBeAg-negative patients, higher intrahepatic HBV DNA is associated with histological evidence of liver inflammation and fibrosis, whereas no such trend was observed in HBeAg-positive patients. Finally, a triple staining protocol that combined the detection of HBV DNA, HBsAg and collagen fibre was developed to enable better evaluation of viral replication and antigen expression in the context of disease progression.ConclusionsThe ISH assay for HBV DNA reflects the vigour of intrahepatic viral replication. It is complementary to the routine IHC assay for viral antigens and also related to the histopathological progression of liver diseases. The application of the HBV DNA ISH assay may help a better evaluation of virological and pathological condition of patients with CHB.

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