Frontiers in Immunology (Oct 2022)

Describing immune factors associated with Hepatitis B surface antigen loss: A nested case-control study of a Chinese sample from Wuwei City

  • Xiaojie Yuan,
  • Xiaojie Yuan,
  • Ting Fu,
  • Ting Fu,
  • Lixin Xiao,
  • Lixin Xiao,
  • Zhen He,
  • Zhen He,
  • Zhaohua Ji,
  • Zhaohua Ji,
  • Samuel Seery,
  • Wenhua Zhang,
  • Yancheng Ye,
  • Haowei Zhou,
  • Haowei Zhou,
  • Xiangyu Kong,
  • Xiangyu Kong,
  • Shuyuan Zhang,
  • Shuyuan Zhang,
  • Qi Zhou,
  • Qi Zhou,
  • Yulian Lin,
  • Yulian Lin,
  • Wenling Jia,
  • Chunhui Liang,
  • Haitao Tang,
  • Fengmei Wang,
  • Weilu Zhang,
  • Weilu Zhang,
  • Zhongjun Shao,
  • Zhongjun Shao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1025654
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

Read online

BackgroundHepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss is considered a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), however, several factors influence HBsAg loss.Methods29 CHB patients who had achieved HBsAg loss, were selected and 58 CHB patients with persistent HBsAg were matched, according to gender and age (+/- 3 years). Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) modelling were performed.ResultsMultivariate-adjusted logistic regression, based on stepwise selection, showed that baseline HBsAg levels negatively correlated with HBsAg loss (odds ratio [OR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.98-0.99). Interferon treatment positively related with HBsAg loss (OR = 7.99, 95%CI = 1.62-44.88). After adjusting for age, HBsAg level, ALT level, HBeAg status and interferon treatment, MMP-1 (OR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.44-0.97), CXCL9 (OR = 0.96, 95%CI = 0.93-0.99) and TNF-R1 (OR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.94-0.99) baseline levels all negatively correlated with HBsAg loss. Our multivariate-adjusted RCS model showed that baseline CXCL10 was associated with HBsAg loss although the relationship was “U-shaped”.ConclusionsCytokines such as MMP-1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and TNF-R1 are important factors which influence HBsAg loss. It may be possible to develop a nomogram which intercalates these factors; however, further research should consider immune processes involved in HBsAg loss.

Keywords