The ultimate aims of the treatment of
hepatitis B virus infection are the loss of
hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and
body(Anti-HBs%29" title="Link to external resource: http://dict.cn/Hepatitis%20B%20surface%20antibody(Anti-HBs%29" target="_blank">hepatitis B surface antibody seroconversion. Unfortunately, these goals are rarely reached. Many factors are associated with HBsAg seroconversion, including genetic, immune, and viral factors. However, the mechanism of HBsAg seroclearance, and particularly the immune mechanism, is still difficult to elucidate. The immune factor interferon-α is currently the main antiviral therapy for
chronic hepatitis B virus infection. However, a sustained shift from response of HBsAg to
hepatitis B surface anti
body seroconversion is rarely o
btained. Recent studies have revealed that several of the newly identified immune factors are closely related to the removal of HBsAg. In this article, we review recent studies on these immune factors, their influence on
hepatitis B progression, and HBsAg seroconversion.