B cells were related to HBsAg seroconversion in inactive HBsAg carriers following peginterferon therapy.

Zhenhuan Cao,Yanhong Zheng,Rui Wang,Junli Wang,Xinyue Chen,Sha Meng,Isabelle Chemin

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0242559

Zhenhuan Cao, Yanhong Zheng + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242559

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Dec 2, 2020
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University

Abstract

Our recent study showed high rate of HBsAg seroconversion achieved in inactive HBsAg carriers (IHCs) treated with peginterferon (PEG-IFN). To better understand the immune-mediated component to the HBsAg seroconversion, we investigated the role of B cells in this study. A total of 44 IHCs were given 48 weeks of PEG-IFN. Fifteen cases achieve HBsAg seroconversion (R group), whereas 29 failed (NR group). The proportion of total B cells and plasma B cells were measured before and during treatment. We found that the proportion of total B cells and plasma B cells was no significant between R group and NR group at baseline, but significantly higher in R group than NR group during PEG-IFN treatment, even when the exact age-, sex-, and treatment period-match was made. In conclusion, we demonstrated the increase of total B cell and plasma B cells during PEG-IFN treatment favored HBsAg seroconversion for IHC, and B cells may play a role in HBV seroconversion.

Highlights

Inactive HBsAg carriers (IHCs) characterized by effective control of HBV replication and sustained HBeAg seroconversion
The results showed that the proportion of total B cells in R group was significantly higher than Non-responder group (NR) group at Pre-P (14.3±1.3 vs 8.9±0.7, P = 0.001), but no difference at Post-P (12.9±1.4 vs 9.7 ±0.8, P = 0.060), Fig 4
We observed a high proportion of HBsAg seroconversion cases in IHC patients treated with PEG-IFN [1]

Summary

Introduction

Inactive HBsAg carriers (IHCs) characterized by effective control of HBV replication and sustained HBeAg seroconversion. Patients in this phase have detectable circulating HBsAg, absence of HBeAg, and presence of anti-HBe, as well as undetectable or low levels of HBV DNA. Our recent study showed high rate of HBsAg seroconversion for IHCs treated with peginterferon (PEG-IFN) [1]. Most reports focus on the relationship between HBV infection with T cell or NK cell at present [6, 7] and little attention paid to B cells, especially with HBsAg seroconversion. We explore the contribution of B cells to HBsAg seroconversion in inactive HBsAg carriers following PEG-IFN

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Conclusion