Effect of regulatory T cells and adherent cells on the expansion of HBcAg-specific CD8+ T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Patients with chronic HBV infection show poor immune response to HBV-specific CD8+ T cells. Several studies demonstrate that regulatory T cells (Treg) and dendritic cells (DC) are important to maintain peripheral immune tolerance. In this study, we investigated the effects of CD4+CD25+Treg and/or the adherent cells (AC) on the proliferation of HBc18-27-specific CD8+ T cells (c18-27-CD8Ts) in response to in vitro stimulation. The frequency of c18-27-CD8Ts in four different mixed leukocyte reactions (MLRs) were analyzed using an HLA-A2–HBc18-27 tetramer. The data indicated that the median percentage of c18-27-CD8Ts in four different MLRs were significant difference in patients with chronic HBV infection. Our results showed that Treg and/or AC might suppress the frequency of HBc18-27-specific CD8+ T cell proliferation in response to in vitro stimulation in chronic HBV patients, and AC might be more effective than Treg.