The relationship between the clearance of HBsAg and the remodeling of B cell subsets in CHB patients treated with Peg-IFN-α.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The seroconversion of the hepatitis B antigen is the ideal outcome for long-acting interferon-pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFN-α) treatment among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). B-cell response plays an important role in the process of hepatitis B antigen clearance, but the specific mechanism by which B-cell improve hepatitis B virus (HBV) is still unclear.

Methods

A total of 103 CHB patients participated in this study. The patients received 24 weeks of Peg-IFN-α treatment. Flow cytometry was used to detect B-cell surface markers' cluster of differentiation cluster of differentiation CD19, CD24, and CD27 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of CHB patients before and after 24 weeks of Peg-IFN-α treatment.

Results

After 24 weeks of Peg-IFN-α treatment, the content of memory B cells (CD19⁺CD27⁺) and effector B cells (CD19⁺CD38⁺) increased significantly. Further analysis showed that the clearance of the hepatitis B antigen was correlated with the change value, ΔT, of plasma cells before and after treatment. The B-cell subsets (CD19⁺CD24⁺; CD19⁺CD40⁺; CD19⁺CD40⁺; CD19⁺CD80⁺), was also tested and the results showed that CD19⁺CD24⁺ and CD19⁺CD80⁺ content also increased significantly after treatment.

Conclusions

After Peg-IFN-α treatment, the B-cell subsets of CHB patients are remodeled. Thus, Peg-IFN-α treatment appears to play an important role in the remodeling of B cell subsets and the clearance of HBV antigens. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and guidance for the clinical treatment of CHB.

SUBMITTER: Wu ZQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8033293 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature