Changes of Costimulatory Molecule CD28 on Circulating CD8+ T Cells Correlate with Disease Pathogenesis of Chronic Hepatitis B

Abstract EN

Costimulatory signals are critical for antiviral immunity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the change of costimulatory molecule CD28 on circulating CD8+ T cells in chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB).

Seventy CHB patients and fifty-six healthy controls were included, and forty-eight CHB patients were recruited for 52 weeks of longitudinal investigation.

The proportions of circulating CD8+CD28+ and CD8+CD28− subpopulations were determined by flow cytometry, and the CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28− T cells ratio was calculated.

Compared with the subpopulation in healthy controls, high proportions of CD8+CD28− subpopulation were observed in CHB patients.

Similarly, the CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28− T cells ratio was significantly decreased in CHB patients compared with healthy controls and correlated significantly with hepatitis B virus (HBV) loads.

High proportions of CD8+CD28− subpopulation and low CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28− T cells ratio were observed in hepatitis B e antigen- (HBeAg-) positive individuals as compared with that in HBeAg-negative subjects.

A significant decrease in CD8+CD28− subpopulation, increase in CD8+CD28+ subpopulation, and CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28− T cells ratio were seen in those patients who received efficient antiviral therapy.

Thus, aberrant CD28 expression on circulating CD8+ T cells and the CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28− T cells ratio reflect the dysregulation of T cell activation and are related to the pathogenesis of chronic HBV infection.