FIGURE 3.

HBV-specific T-cell responses are predominantly mediated by CD4⁺ T cells. (A) The number of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses targeting all HBV proteins was displayed for patients at 96 weeks of withdrawal. (B) The coverages of indicated peptides (Env, Core, Pol, and HBx) responding to CD4⁺ T cells (red), CD8⁺ T cells (orange), and both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells (gray) are shown and compared. Annotation represents the coverage of responsive peptides targeting CD4⁺ T cells. The coverage of responsive peptides was calculated as the number of single peptides responding to CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells divided by the number of single responsive peptides. (C) Representative FACS plots showed the gating strategy and the staining of IFN-γ-producing HBV-specific T cells. The frequency of IFN-γ-producing HBV-specific T cells in CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells in (D) responders and relapsers at 96 weeks of withdrawal, or (E) HBsAg loss and HBsAg-positive patients. (B) Chi square test or Fisher test. (D and E) Mann–Whitney U test. *p < 0.05. Abbreviations: Env, Envelope; Pol, Polymerase.