Model to predict on-treatment restoration of functional HBV-specific CD8 cell response foresees off-treatment HBV control in eAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific CD8 cell response restoration during nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) treatment could lead to off-treatment HBV control in e-antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHBe(-)).

Aim: To predict this response with variables involved in T-cell exhaustion for use as a treatment stopping tool.

Methods: In NUC-treated CHBe(-) patients, we considered a functional response in cases with HBV-specific CD8 cells against core and polymerase HBV epitopes able to proliferate and secrete type I cytokines after antigen encounter.

Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Based Combination Immunotherapy to Boost Antigen-Specific CD8 T Cell Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Thirty to fifty percent of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) display an immune class genetic signature. In this type of tumor, HCC-specific CD8 T cells carry out a key role in HCC control. Those potential reactive HCC-specific CD8 T cells recognize either HCC immunogenic neoantigens or aberrantly expressed host's antigens, but they become progressively exhausted or deleted.

Gamma-Chain Receptor Cytokines & PD-1 Manipulation to Restore HCV-Specific CD8 T Cell Response during Chronic Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8 T cell response is essential in natural HCV infection control, but it becomes exhausted during persistent infection. Nowadays, chronic HCV infection can be resolved by direct acting anti-viral treatment, but there are still some non-responders that could benefit from CD8 T cell response restoration. To become fully reactive, T cell needs the complete release of T cell receptor (TCR) signalling but, during exhaustion this is blocked by the PD-1 effect on CD28 triggering.