Effects of T-bet B Cells in Persistent Virus Control After Discontinuance of NAs in CHB Patients
Effects of T-bet B Cells in Persistent Virus Control After Discontinuance of NAs in CHB Patients
The immune mechanism of the nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) in inhibiting HBV replication effectively while having a low sustained virus control rate after drug withdrawal is unclear. B cell immunity and antibody response are the keys to prevent HBV reinfection and keep the virus under control. T-bet+ B, which can be regulated by IL-21, is a newly discovered major effector B cell in protection of pathogens and it is a main subtype of HBsAg-specific B cells. Thus, we suspect that T-bet+ B may play a role in ongoing controlling of the virus after withdraw of NAs in CHB patient. Based on our previous studies on CHB immunity, we use the RNAseq analyse, flow cytometry, and Elispot assay to analyze the frequency, function, and phenotype of B cells in CHB patients with different profiles after withdraw of NAs.
Inclusion Criteria:
18 to 70 years old, no gender restriction, serum HBsAg positive than 6 months, can understand and sign informed consent, good compliance.
Exclusion Criteria:
coinfected with other hepatotropic virus such as hepatitis C virus,hepatitis D -virus,hepatitis E and hepatitis A etc; coinfected with HIV, markers such as ceruloplasmin, anti-nuclear antibodies and anti-mitochondrial antibodies for co-existent autoimmune and metabolic liver diseases were positive, with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) with uncontrollable extrehepatic disease, received glucocorticoid or other immune inhibitor therapy, pregnancy