Abstract

Background Chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 19 (CCL19) is a leukocyte chemoattractant that plays a crucial role in cell trafficking and leukocyte activation. Dysfunctional CD8 + T cells play a crucial role in persistent HBV infection. However, whether HBV can be cleared by CCL19-activated immunity remains unclear. Methods We assessed the effects of CCL19 on the activation of PBMCs in patients with HBV infection. We also examined how CCL19 influences HBV clearance and modulates HBV-responsive T cells in a mouse model of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In addition, C–C chemokine-receptor type 7 (CCR7) knockdown mice were used to elucidate the underlying mechanism of CCL19/CCR7 axis-induced immune activation. Results From in vitro experiments, we found that CCL19 enhanced the frequencies of Ag-responsive IFN-γ + CD8 + T cells from patients by approximately twofold, while CCR7 knockdown (LV-shCCR7) and LY294002 partially suppressed IFN-γ secretion. In mice, CCL19 overexpression led to rapid clearance of intrahepatic HBV likely through increased intrahepatic CD8 + T-cell proportion, decreased frequency of PD-1 + CD8 + T cells in blood and compromised suppression of hepatic APCs, with lymphocytes producing a significantly high level of Ag-responsive TNF-α and IFN-γ from CD8 + T cells. In both CCL19 over expressing and CCR7 knockdown (AAV-shCCR7) CHB mice, the frequency of CD8 + T-cell activation-induced cell death (AICD) increased, and a high level of Ag-responsive TNF-α and low levels of CD8 + regulatory T (T reg ) cells were observed. Conclusions Findings in this study provide insights into how CCL19/CCR7 axis modulates the host immune system, which may promote the development of immunotherapeutic strategies for HBV treatment by overcoming T-cell tolerance.