Comparison and significance of specific and non-specific cellular immunity in patients with chronic hepatitis B caused by infection with genotypes B or C of hepatitis B virus.

The present study was designed to investigate possible relationships between the genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. HBV genotypes, HBV specific CTL HBV DNA and other markers of HBV infection were determined in 138 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The results showed that the patients infected with genotype C (n=62) had a significantly lower HBV-specific CTL response than those who were infected with HBV genotype B (P<0.01). HBV DNA titer was higher in patients infected with HBV genotype C than in those infected with HBV genotype B (P<0.01). Both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) were higher in HBV genotype C infected patients than in those infected with genotype B (P<0.01 and <0.05, respectively). These results suggest that compared with CHB patients infected with HBV genotype B, the higher HBV DNA level and more severe liver damages in the patients infected with genotype C of HBV may be associated with genotype C of the virus.