During chronic HBV infection, a dynamic balance between viral replication and the host immune response is pivotal to the pathogenesis of liver disease. HBV specific T-cell function is impaired in patients with chronic HBV infection characterized by low levels of antiviral cytokines, impaired cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, and persistent viremia. However, the mechanism underlying this T-cell malfunction in chronic HBV infection has not been completely understood.