Functional status of hepatitis B virus-specific T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: Exhausted or silenced?
10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2020.05.005
- VernacularTitle:慢性HBV感染者病毒特异性T淋巴细胞：耗竭还是沉默？
- Author:
Haoliang WANG
1
;
Guohong DENG
Author Information
1. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Southwest Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
- Publication Type:Research Article
- Keywords:
hepatitis B virus;
hepatitis B, chronic;
T-lymphocytes;
immune tolerance
- From:
Journal of Clinical Hepatology
2020;36(5):980-982
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific T cells in patients with chronic HBV infection are currently acknowledged as exhausted T cells. This article summarizes previous studies which support this hypothesis and then points out several inconsistencies between this hypothesis and clinical observation. Based on recent research findings, it is pointed out that in patients with chronic HBV infection, HBV-specific T cells might be dominated by silenced, early-differentiated progenitor T cells. Also, this article analyzes the possible causes of the silenced status of those T cells.
