Chronic infection of hepatitis B virus and cellular immunity / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

The persistent infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the result of lacking specific immunity against the virus. This state is also called immune tolerance to HBV. In most cases, acute HBV infection in adults can induce specific immune response which can clear the virus. Perinatal HBV infection, however, usually progresses to chronic infection, indicating a defect in HBV-specific immune response. A typical specific immune response includes four processes, which were antigen presentation, specific CD4 + T cell activation, specific CD8 + T cell activation and B cell activation. There must be some dysfunctions in some or all of the four processes during chronic HBV infection. This article discussed the relationship between chronic HBV infection and cellular immunity, hoping to provide a reference for further study on the reconstitution of specific immunity against HBV.