Hepatitis B envelope antigen increases Tregs by converting CD4+CD25^- T cells into CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can establish a lifelong chronic infection in humans, leading to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) exhibit a weak virus-specific immune response. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in regulating the immune response in patients with CHB. Patients with hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB harbored a higher percentage of Tregs in their peripheral blood than those with HBeAg-negative CHB. However, whether and how HBeAg manipulates the host immune system to increase the population of Tregs remains to be elucidated. The present manuscript describes a preliminary immunological study of HBeAg in a mouse model. Multiple potential CD4⁺ T cell epitopes in HBeAg were identified us

SUBMITTER: Tang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7444405 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature