Interferon therapy-induced reduction in PD-1 + CD8 + and CD160 + CD8 + T cells is associated with functional cure in hepatitis B.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

HBsAg seroclearance is a key indicator of functional cure in chronic HBV. We evaluated the efficacy of pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFN-α) in HBeAg-negative patients and its association with T-cell subsets.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 618 patients, 34 of whom underwent longitudinal immune profiling.

Results

Among 618 patients, a total of 214 cases (34.6%) achieved HBsAg clearance, namely 214 cases in group R and 404 cases in group NR. The R group was younger, had longer treatment, and had lower baseline HBsAg levels compared to the NR group. In 34 HBeAg-negative patients with chronic HBV infection, we studied the distribution of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells at different stages of differentiation. After 24 weeks of interferon therapy, responders e

SUBMITTER: Zhou D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12717683 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature