Impaired HBcAg-specific interferon (IFN)-γ T-cell response in C57BL/6 mice with hepatitis B viral (HBV) persistence was reversed by treatment with anti-PD-1 mAb.

<p>C57BL/6 mice were hydrodynamically injected with WT pAAV/HBV1.2 or HBV core mutant DNA, including HBV-175 or HBV-38 constructs. Ten days after the injection, splenocytes were isolated and HBcAg-specific IFN-γ responses were analyzed by an ELISpot assay. The frequency of HBcAg-specific IFN-γ-secreting cells in the presence of an anti-PD-1 or control antibody were measured. Spot-forming cells per million splenocytes are shown. *<i>p</i><0.05.