Abstract
The frequency and T-cell receptor beta-chain variable (TCRBV) patterns of peripheral CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are ambiguously altered in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients following tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) treatment. Moreover, the clinical significance of these parameters in relation to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion (SC) is largely unknown. In this study, the circulation of Tregs in HBeAg-positive CHB patients was determined by flow cytometry, and the molecular profiles of frequent TCRBV patterns of Tregs were analyzed using a gene melting spectral pattern. The parameters, such as Treg frequency, the number of skewed TCRBV patterns, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, were analyzed by comparing their associations in seroconverting and non-seroconverting patients following TDF treatment. The Treg frequency was significantly correlated with the ALT level in seroconverting but not in non-seroconverting patients. Similarly, skewed TCRBV patterns were remarkably associated with HBV DNA levels in the SC group. Six TCRBV families (BV3, BV11, BV12, BV14, BV20, and BV24) were more prevalent than other TCRBV members in seroconverting patients pretreated with TDF, while BV12, BV15, and BV22 were predominant in non-seroconverting patients during TDF treatment. Taken together, the preferential TCRBV patterns may be associated with immune responses related to SC. The dynamic frequency and skewed TCRBV patterns of peripheral Tregs could contribute to predicting SC in CHB patients. Moreover, the conserved TCRBV complementarity-determining region (CDR3) motif may be targeted to develop personalized immunotherapy for CHB patients.