Dynamics of memory T cells during treatment with interferon-alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Aim:  To investigate the association of memory T cell subsets with viral response during treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-α). Methods:  To address this issue, the dynamics of memory T cell subsets was monitored in 57 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during treatment with pegylated IFN-α through testing the phenotypes of memory T cells with flowcytometry. Results:  There were clear differences in the phenotypes of these cells during therapy. Memory T cells converted from the major subsets to the minor in the process of treatment with IFN-α. Patients who presented a response showed significantly higher percentages of CD8+ TEM at 0 and 24 weeks (both P < 0.05), and lower frequency of CD8+ TCM than non-responders at 0 and 24 weeks (both P < 0.05). Moreover, the average dosage of IFN-α applied to patients with viral response to treatment was 1.43 ± 0.18 µg/kg, significantly higher than 1.31 ± 0.25 µg/kg in nonresponders (P < 0.01). Conclusions:  The quantity and quality of memory T cell subsets fluctuates during treatment with IFN-α. High frequency of TEM subsets may be associated with response to treatment with IFN-α. A better knowledge of mechanisms underlying the response to therapy may be important for development of new immunotherapeutic strategies to increase CD8 T-cell effectiveness in CHB infection.