Lamivudine can restore HBV-specific cytotoxic activities in patients with CHB

ObjectiveTo study whether anti viral treatment by lamivudine can reconstitute CTL responses in CHB patients Methods PBMCs were separated routinely during lamivudine or interferon α treatment,and stimulated by peptide HBcAg18 27/rHBcAg/rIL 2.The cytotoxic activities against HBV DNA transfected hepatoma cells(2 2 15) and HepG2 cells were detected by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) assay after 21 days cultivation Results The cytotoxic activities against HepG2 2 15 cells increased significantly by whether lamivudine or interferon α treatment which have not obviously effect on the cytotoxic activities against HepG2 cells The increased HBV specific CTL activities by interferon α treatment lasted longer than lamivudine treatment Conclusion Treatment with lamivudine could restore HBV specific CTL activities partly and transiently but could not eliminate HBV persistently