Restoration of a functional antiviral immune response to chronic HBV infection by reducing viral antigen load: If not sufficient, is it necessary?

A new approach in understanding the mechanisms of immune response in viral hepatitis is the discovery of a unique type of immune cells – plasmocytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Plasmocytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are cells of lymphoid origin and morphologically resemble plasma cells. Functionally, they are professional IFN-a-producing cells that play an important role in antiviral immune response. Data on the mechanisms of PDCs participation in hepatitis B virus infection are few and contradictory. In chronic HBV infection, the role of pDCs remains mysterious and poorly understood with conflicting circulating blood pDCs results that show differently that they are not affected or reduced. However, functional disorders of pDCs were observed in patients with chronic HBV infection. The establishment of these mechanisms, as well as the search for the cause of hepatitis B virus latency and the formation of chronic infection remains one of the important and promising areas of scientific activities today.

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Recombinant hepatitis B core antigen carrying preS1 epitopes induce immune response against chronic HBV infection

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2003.07.014 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 22 (3-4) ◽

pp. 439-446 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Xinchun Chen ◽

Meizhong Li ◽

Xiaohua Le ◽

Weimin Ma ◽

Boping Zhou

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Core Antigen ◽

Recombinant Hepatitis ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv ◽

Hepatitis B Core Antigen

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Hepatitis B vaccination status and vaccine immune response among children in rural Senegal

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.592 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

L Perieres ◽

M Coste ◽

S Ndiour ◽

P Halfon ◽

C Sokhna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Infection ◽

Vaccination Status ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Hbv Vaccination ◽

Chronic Hbv ◽

Vaccine Immunity

Abstract Background Hepatitis B vaccination during childhood is key to reduce the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In Senegal, a highly endemic country, the three-dose hepatitis B vaccine and the birth dose vaccine were introduced in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in 2004 and 2016 respectively. This study aimed to determine chronic HBV infection prevalence, hepatitis B vaccination status and vaccine immunity among children in Senegal. Methods A cross-sectional study including HBV screening was conducted at home among children aged 6 months to 15 years (i.e. born after the introduction of the HBV vaccine in the EPI) in the rural zone of Niakhar. Dried Blood Spot (DBS) samples were collected for the detection of HBsAg, anti-HBc Ab and anti-HBs Ab using chemoluminescence. Vaccination status was assessed using information on vaccination cards. Detectable vaccine immunity was defined with an adjusted DBS threshold of DOI≥0.36 IU/mL (corresponding to 10 IU/mL in venous blood sampling). Results Between October and December 2018, 455 children were enrolled. Preliminary results show that 7/455 (1.5%) had been in contact with HBV (positive anti-HBc Ab) and 5/455 (1.1%) had chronic HBV infection (positive HBsAg). Only 161/455 (35.4%) children had a vaccination card available. Among those, 150/161 (93.2%) received at least 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine, of which 83/150 (55.3%) had detectable vaccine immunity. The proportion of children with detectable vaccine immunity was significantly higher in children <5 years than in children aged 5-9 and 10-15 (72.3% versus 47.3%, p = 0.006 and 72.3% versus 14.3%, p < 0.001). Conclusions Preliminary results suggest a low prevalence of HBV chronic infection among children born after the introduction of HBV vaccination in Senegal. However, detectable vaccine immunity rapidly decreases with age among vaccinated children, signalling a need for further studies on the immune response to HBV vaccination in this context. Key messages HBV chronic infection is low among children born after the introduction of HBV vaccination in Senegal. Further studies on the immune response to HBV vaccination in this context are needed.

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Characterization of the immune response to the hepatitis B virus X protein in acute and chronic HBV infection

Journal of Hepatology ◽

10.1016/0168-8278(89)90540-0 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. S182

Author(s):

M. Levrero ◽

A. Franco ◽

E. De Marzio ◽

C. Balsano ◽

M.L. Avantaggiati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

X Protein ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

B Virus ◽

Chronic Hbv

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The Multiple Functions of B Cells in Chronic HBV Infection

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2020.582292 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Ying Cai ◽

Wenwei Yin

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

B Cells ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

B Cell ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Multiple Functions ◽

Chronic Hbv ◽

B Cell Subsets

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the main causes of liver diseases, of which the natural history and clinical outcomes are associated with the role of B cells. As humoral immune cells, B cells play a critical role in the process of anti-HBV antibody production. In addition, some studies have also characterized other B cell subsets involved in antigen presentation and regulating the immune response beyond antibody secretion. However, not all B cell subsets play a positive role in the immune response to chronic HBV infection, and various B cell subsets jointly mediate persistent HBV infection, tolerance, and liver damage. Thus, we further sought to elucidate the multiple functions of B cells to gain novel insight into the understanding of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) pathogenesis. We also reviewed the current immunotherapies targeting B cells to explore novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.

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CpG oligodeoxynucleotide-adjuvanted fusion peptide derived from HBcAg epitope and HIV-Tat may elicit favorable immune response in PBMCs from patients with chronic HBV infection in the immunotolerant phase

International Immunopharmacology ◽

10.1016/j.intimp.2010.12.005 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 406-411 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Suna Wang ◽

Qunying Han ◽

Guoyu Zhang ◽

Ni Zhang ◽

Zhu Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Fusion Peptide ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Cpg Oligodeoxynucleotide ◽

Hiv Tat ◽

Chronic Hbv

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Hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma and stress: untangling the host immune response from clinical outcomes

Hepatic Oncology ◽

10.2217/hep-2020-0028 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. HEP35

Author(s):

Peter D Block ◽

Brianna Shinn ◽

Jin Hyang Kim ◽

Hie-Won Hann

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Immune Response ◽

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Host Factors ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health challenge on the global scale. Affecting hundreds of millions worldwide, HBV is a leading risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Clinical outcomes from chronic HBV infection are varied and appear to be influenced by a complex and dysregulated host immune response. In turn, much attention has been given to the immunologic response to HBV in an effort to identify host factors that lead to the development of HCC. However, the role of nonimmunologic host factors, such as chronic stress, in HBV-related HCC is poorly defined. Indeed, a growing appreciation for the effects of stress on chronic liver diseases raises the question of its role in chronic HBV infection. In this light, the present review will untangle the roles of key host factors in HBV-related HCC with an emphasis on chronic stress as a viable contributor. First discussed is the interplay of stress, inflammation and chronic liver disease. The host immune response’s role as a driver of HBV-related HCC is then reviewed, allowing for a close exploration of the effects of stress on immune function in chronic hepatitis B and as a potential risk factor for HBV-related HCC.

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