A possible role for NKT-like cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B during telbivudine treatment

Natural killer T-like (NICE-like) cells are a source of different pro-inflammatory cytokines and therefore may be involved in inflammatory processes. However, little is known about NKT-like cells during antiviral therapy. In this study, we observed significantly higher numbers of CD3(+)CD56(+) cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) than healthy controls. Importantly, CD3(+)CD56(+) NKT-like cells markedly decreased during telbivudine treatment in patients with CHB, and a positive correlation between NICE-like cell frequency and the serum HBV DNA level was observed during early antiviral therapy. Interestingly, NICE-like cell frequency significantly reduced in well-responders at week 12 of telbivudine therapy compared to baseline, but did not significantly change in non-responders after treatment. Previous studies have shown that interleukin (IL)-17 plays a role in the pathogenesis of CHB. Serum IL-17 levels reduced significantly during early antiviral therapy, however, interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels did not change significantly. A positive correlation was observed between the NICE-like cell frequency and serum IL-17 level in CHB patients, and NICE-like cells isolated from patients with CHB secreted substantial amounts of IL-17 in vitro. These results suggest that the NICE-like cell frequency may be one of useful immunologic marker for evaluating the efficacy of anti-HBV therapy, and that NICE-like cells are also an important source of IL-17 (in addition to conventional T cells) in patients with CHB. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.