Objective To investigate the expression of T cell immunoglobulin-and mucin-domaincontaining molecule-3 (Tim-3) in peripheral CD8 +T cells and its significance in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods Fifty-eight CHB patients and 16 healthy controls were enrolled.Tim-3 expression in CDs + T cells was detected by flow cytometry,and quantities of IFNγ-producing HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in HLA-A2 positive subjects were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) test before and after the blockade of Tim-3/Tim-3L pathway.Paired t test was performed to compare the quantities of CTLs before and after the blockade,and nonparametric Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlation in quantitive data.Results Tim-3 expression in CHB patients was (14.2 ± 8.98 )％,which was higher than that of healthy controls (4.80 ± 2.92)％,and the difference was of statistical significance (x2 =92.48,P ＜ 0.05 ) Tim-3 expressions in 16 severe CHB patients and 42 mild CHB patients were ( 19.54 ± 10.95) ％ and (9.58 ± 7.30) ％,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =77.24,P ＜ 0.05 ). Before the blockade of Tim-3/Tim-3L pathway,IFNγ-producing HBV-specific CTLs were 7.27 ± 3.14,and it increased to 19.62 ± 4.97 after the blockade ( t =2.95,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion The upregulation of Tim-3 on peripheral CD8 + T cells may inhibit HBV-specific CTLs,and the blockade of Tim-3 pathway can enhance the proliferation of IFNγ-producing HBV-specific CTLs,thus can enhance antiviral effect.

Although there are various indicators for evaluating the effect of anti-HBV therapy,they have low accuracy and sensitivity.New indicators are still needed to guide clinical practice.Recent studies have found that HBV RNA might be a new potential indicator for clinical detection.This article reviews the basic concepts of HBV RNA,related detection methods,and the value of HBV RNA in clinical diagnosis.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a newly discovered adaptor protein in the innate immune system and plays an important role in innate immune response mediated by cytoplasmic DNA. Double-stranded DNA recognition receptors in cells are mediated by STING protein to produce type I interferon and other cytokines. Inadequate innate immune response and anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific immune response are important causes of chronic HBV infection. This article introduces the discovery of STING and the latest research advances in its structure, briefly elaborates on the mechanism of activation of the STING signaling pathway, summarizes the research advances in the interaction between the STING signaling pathway and HBV, and points out the potential value of STING in clinical treatment.

ObjectiveTo investigate the influencing factors for persistent low-level viremia (LLV) in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients receiving long-term entecavir antiviral therapy. MethodsThe CHB patients who received entecavir antiviral therapy for at least one year in The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from November 2018 to June 2020 were enrolled as subjects, and according to HBV DNA load at the end of the observation period, the patients were divided into LLV group and sustained virological response (SVR) group. Demographic features and laboratory markers were observed for all patients. The independent samples t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors for LLV in patients receiving long-term entecavir treatment. ResultsA total of 560 CHB patients were enrolled, with 204 in the LLV group and 356 in the SVR group. There were significant differences between the two groups in age (Z=-3.530, P＜0.001), sex (χ2=4.270, P=0.039), presence or absence of liver cirrhosis (χ2=53.879, P＜0.001), medication compliance (χ2=5.326, P=0.021), HBeAg positive rate (χ2=90.681, P＜0.001), baseline HBV DNA load before treatment (Z=-8.337, P＜0.001), baseline HBsAg quantification (Z=-10.472, P＜0.001), and medication type (χ2=7.558, P=0.006). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that baseline HBeAg status before treatment (odds ratio ［OR］=3.381, 95% confidence interval ［CI］: 1.985-5.756, P＜0.001), HBV DNA load before treatment (OR=1.223, 95%CI: 1.050-1.424, P=0.010), and HBsAg quantification before treatment (OR=2.448, 95%CI: 1.743-3.438, P＜0.001) were risk factors for LLV in long-term entecavir antiviral therapy. ConclusionIn clinical practice, CHB patients with high HBV DNA load, high HBsAg quantification, and positive HBeAg tend to have a high risk of LLV even after long-term entecavir antiviral therapy. Therefore, such population should be taken seriously with the dynamic monitoring of HBsAg quantification, HBV DNA load, and HBeAg status.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of HBsAg on the expression of interferon-α (IFN-α) in peripheral blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) induced by the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway activated by cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP). MethodPeripheral venous blood was collected from healthy adults and the patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who attended the outpatient service or were hospitalized in Department of Infectious Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, from February to December 2016, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and extracted. After the STING agonist cGAMP was added to PBMCs, ELISA was used to measure the levels of IFN-α, interferon-β, and tumor necrosis factor-α in supernatant. PBMCs from healthy adults were pre-incubated with HBsAg and then stimulated by cGAMP, and supernatant was collected to measure IFN-α. The magnetic-activated cell sorting method was used to remove pDCs from PBMCs, and after culture with cGAMP, ELISA was used to measure the level of IFN-α in supernatant. PBMCs from healthy adults were stimulated by HBsAg and/or cGAMP, and then flow cytometry was used to measure the frequency of pDCs. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups. ResultsPBMCs from the patients with chronic HBV infection stimulated by cGAMP in vitro had a significantly lower level of IFN-α than healthy controls (469.72±18.95 vs 599.90±84.06, t=4.868, P=0.001). PBMCs from healthy adults co-cultured with HBsAg and stimulated by cGAMP had a significantly lower level of IFN-α than those in the non-HBsAg group (448.5±52.0 vs 571.0±30.8, t=4.500, P=0.011). Compared with PBMCs containing pDCs, PBMCs without pDCs stimulated by cGAMP had a significant reduction in the level of IFN-α (164.50±40.73 vs 339.50±35.33, t=6.482, P=0.001). Compared with PBMCs from healthy adults stimulated by cGAMP, PBMCs pre-incubated with HBsAg and then stimulated by cGAMP had a significant reduction in the frequency of pDCs (0.12%±0.04% vs 0.24%±0.04%, t=5.176, P=0.014). ConclusionHBsAg can inhibit the expression of IFN-α induced by the STING pathway in pDCs activated by cGAMP.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for recompensation in patients with first-time decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. Methods A total of 438 patients with first-time decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who attended The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from September 1, 2011 to December 31, 2019 were enrolled, and all patients received comprehensive treatment including antiviral therapy. According to the outcome at the end of follow-up, the patients were divided into recompensation group and persistent decompensation group, and the independent influencing factors for recompensation were analyzed. Long-term survival rate was compared between the patients with different states of compensation. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data. A multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors for recompensation. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and the log-rank test was used for comparison. Results Among the 438 patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis, 199 (45.4%) achieved recompensation after antiviral therapy. There were significant differences between the recompensation group and the persistent decompensation group in sustained virologic response (SVR) ( χ 2 =72.093, P < 0.001), single or multiple complications ( χ 2 =9.834, P =0.002), presence or absence of gastrointestinal bleeding ( χ 2 =6.346, P =0.012), serum creatinine (SCr) ( Z =-1.035, P =0.011), blood sodium concentration ( Z =-1.606, P =0.019), hemoglobin ( Z =1.455, P =0.006), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level ( Z =-2.194, P < 0.001). Baseline ALT level (odds ratio [ OR ]=1.002, 95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 1.000-1.003, P =0.009), SVR ( OR =5.760, 95% CI : 3.634-9.129, P < 0.001), and SCr ( OR =0.990, 95% CI : 0.981-1.000, P =0.047) were independent influencing factors for recompensation. The recompensation group had a significantly higher 5-year survival rate than the persistent decompensation group (87.9% vs 72.0%, χ 2 =9.886, P =0.025). Conclusion After comprehensive treatment, including antiviral therapy, approximately 45.4% of patients can achieve recompensation.Patients with elevated baseline ALT and achieved SVR were more likely to achieve recompensation, patients with elevated baseline serum creatinine had difficulty achieving recompensation, and patients with recompensation had a better long-term prognosis than patients with persistent decompensation.