The Reduction in CD8+PD1+ T Cells in Liver Histological Tissue is Related to Pegylated IFN-α Therapy Outcomes in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Abstract

Background and Aim Antiviral therapy for patients with immune-active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) should be adopted to decrease the risk of liver-related complications. While antiviral therapy outcomes of PEG-IFN-α vary in different CHB patients. We aimed to identify the factors influencing antiviral therapy outcomes in CHB patients who received PEG-IFN-α therapy.Methods Thirty-two CHB patients who received PEG-IFN-α therapy were enrolled in this study. All of the patients underwent two liver biopsies at baseline and 6 months later. CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD68 + mononuclear cells, and PD-1 levels in 64 liver biopsy specimens were tested via immunofluorescence.Results CD8 + T cells in 32 CHB patients’ liver tissue significantly decreased after 6 months of PEG-IFN-α therapy (p<0.01). CD8 + PD1 + T cells significantly decreased after 6 months of PEG-IFN-α treatment in the FIER (fibrosis and inflammation response with HBeAg seroconversion) group (p<0.05), while CD8 + PD1 - T cells had no significant difference. However, in the FIENR (no fibrosis and inflammation response and HBeAg seroconversion) group, CD8 + PD1 - T cells significantly decreased after 6 months of PEG-IFN-α treatment (p<0.05), while CD8 + PD1 + T cells had no significant difference. CD68 + mononuclear cells at baseline were higher in the FIRENR (fibrosis and inflammation response without HBeAg seroconversion) group than the FIENR (no fibrosis and inflammation response and HBeAg seroconversion) group.Conclusions The reduction in CD8 + PD1 + T cells in liver tissue was critical for patients who responded to PEG-IFN-α therapy. High levels of CD68 + mononuclear cells at baseline might be associated with fibrosis and inflammation response to PEG-IFN-α therapy.