CD69 Expression is Negatively Associated With T-Cell Immunity and Predicts Antiviral Therapy Response in Chronic Hepatitis B
- Author:
Yurong GU
1
;
Yanhua BI
;
Zexuan HUANG
;
Chunhong LIAO
;
Xiaoyan LI
;
Hao HU
;
Huaping XIE
;
Yuehua HUANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2025;45(2):185-198
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:The function of CD69 expressed on T cells in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the roles of CD69 on T cells in the disease process and in antiviral therapy for CHB.
Methods:We enrolled 335 treatment-naive patients with CHB and 93 patients with CHB on antiviral therapy. CD69, antiviral cytokine production by T cells, T-helper (Th) cells, and inhibitory molecules of T cells were measured using flow cytometry, and clinical-virological characteristics were examined dynamically during antiviral therapy.
Results:CD69 expression on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells was the lowest in the immune-active phase and was negatively correlated with liver transaminase activity, fibrosis features, inflammatory cytokine production by T cells, and Th-cell frequencies but positively with inhibitory molecules on T cells. CD69 expression on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells decreased after 48 weeks of antiviral therapy, and patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in week 48 showed lower CD69 expression on T cells at baseline and week 48. The area under the ROC curve of CD69 expression on T cells at baseline for predicting HBeAg seroconversion in week 48 was 0.870, the sensitivity was 0.909, and the specificity was 0.714 (P = 0.002).
Conclusions:CD69 negatively regulates T-cell immunity during CHB, and its expression decreases with antiviral therapy. CD69 expression predicts HBeAg seroconversion in week 48. CD69 may play an important negative role in regulating T cells and affect the efficacy of antiviral therapy.
