摘要
Hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection is a global public health issue.Interferon-α(IFN-α)treatment has been used to treat hepatitis B for over 20 years,but fewer than 5%of Asians receiving IFN-αtreatment achieve functional cure.Thus,IFN-αretreatment has been introduced to enhance antiviral function.In recent years,immune-related studies have found that the complex interactions between immune cells and cytokines could modulate immune response networks,including both innate and adaptive immunity,triggering immune responses that control HBV replication.However,heterogeneity of the immune system to control HBV infection,particularly HBV-specific CD8^(+)T cell heterogeneity,has consequential effects on T cell-based immunotherapy for treating HBV infection.Altogether,the host’s genetic variants,negative-feedback regulators and HBV components affecting the immune system's ability to control HBV.In this study,we reviewed the literature on potential immune mechanisms affecting the immune control of HBV and the clinical effects of IFN-αtreatment and retreatment.