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Impact of early viral kinetics on T-cell reactivity during antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B.

Author(s): Lau GK, Cooksley H, Ribeiro RM, Powers KA, Shudo E, Bowden S, Hui CK, Anderson J, Sorbel J, Mondou E, Rousseau F, Lewin S, Perelson AS, Locornini S, Naoumov NV

Affiliation(s): Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China. gkkla@netvigator.com

Publication date & source: 2007, Antivir Ther., 12(5):705-18.

Publication type: Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

BACKGROUND: The patterns of hepatitis B viral dynamics during different antiviral therapies and the associated changes in HBV-specific T-cell reactivity are not well defined. METHODS: We investigated the impact of early viral load decline on virus-specific T-cell reactivity in 30 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B randomized to monotherapy with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) or in combination with emtricitabine (ADV/FTC). Viral kinetics were analysed by mathematical modelling. T-cell reactivity to HBV core and/or surface antigens and natural killer T cell frequency were tested longitudinally, baseline to week 48, using EliSPOT assays and/or flow cytometry. RESULTS: Mathematical modelling of early HBV kinetics identified two subsets of patients: 11 fast responders (undetectable viraemia by week 12; eight on ADV/FTC three on ADV) and 19 slow responders who remained viremic (six on ADV/FTC 13 on ADV). The rate of infected hepatocyte loss was higher in fast than in slow responders (P = 0.0007), and correlated inversely with pre-treatment levels of intrahepatic covalently closed circular HBV DNA. The frequency of HBV core-specific CD4+ T-cells increased significantly only in fast responders, peaking between week 16 and 24, while the HBV surface-specific CD4+ T-cells increased in both subsets. These changes in CD4+ T-cell reactivity were transient however, and no increase in HBV-specific CD8+ T-cells was observed. By week 48, HBeAg seroconversion occurred only in 3/30 (10%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Early viraemia clearance facilitates recovery of virus-specific CD4+ T-cell reactivity, but appears insufficient to establish clinically relevant antiviral immunity.

Page last updated: 2007-10-19

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