To investigate the correlation between the HBeAg and the properties of HBV-specific CD8 T cells, as well as liver injury, serum HBV markers, liver histology, the frequency and phenotypic characteristics of CD4CD25 Treg and HBV-pentamer CD8 T cells were measured. No significant differences between the median serum ALT levels, the frequency and Foxp3 expression of CD4CD25 Treg, and liver fibrosis were observed. Higher HBV DNA levels in HBeAg patients were observed, while liver necroinflammation was more severe in HBeAg patients. Differences in HBV-pentamer T cell frequency were not significant, but increased PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression on HBV-specific CD8 T cells was seen in the HBeAg group. HBV-peptide stimulation with anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 significantly increased the proliferation in PBMCs from both groups, but enhanced IFN-γ production only in the HBeAg patients. Therefore, HBeAg persistency in CHB patients probably increased the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 on HBV-specific CD8 T cells, which may be associated with the low intensity of T cell responses and high HBV DNA load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]