Immune Checkpoints Determines the Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Chronic Hepatitis B

Abstract

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB) is the serious health threaten with high morbidity and mortality. The work of innate and adaptive immune systems determines the development and prognosis of CHB. Immune checkpoints (ICs) play a crucial role in regulating the immune response by providing inhibitory or stimulatory signals when interacting with their ligands. However, the precise mechanism by which ICs affect the outcome of CHB patients remains unclear. Methods: We collected data from 334 CHB patients and comprehensively analysed their clinical and immune traits. 17 healthy controls (HC) were also included. The immune parameterswere obtained by flow cytometry. We deeply detected the expressions of ICs on both innate and adaptive immune cells at different stages of CHB. We also systematically analyzed the correlations between ICs and immune cells function. Results: The innate and adaptive immune status are various among different stages of CHB patients. There were also differential expressions of ICs on multiple immune cells among these CHB patients. ICs levels were related with immune cells function, including cytotoxicity and antiviral cytokines. NK cells and NKT cells possibly regulated T cells function by their ICs expressions. Conclusions: We fully uncover the landscape of innate and adaptive immunity along with their differential ICs levels in CHB patients at different clinical stages. Our findings provide systematic information for CHB patients’ immunity and imply that ICs may be a potential immune targets for HBV treatment.