scholarly journals Identification of Therapeutic Targets for the Selective Killing of HBV-Positive Hepatocytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 649
Author(s):  
Chien-Jung Huang ◽  
Lily Hui-Ching Wang ◽  
Yu-Chao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Essential Genes ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Novel Therapy ◽  
Microarray Gene Expression ◽  
Complete Cure

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Most infected individuals become lifelong carriers of HBV as the drugs currently used to treat the patients can only control the disease, thereby achieving functional cure (loss of the hepatitis B surface antigen) but not complete cure (elimination of infected hepatocytes). Therefore, we aimed to identify the target genes for the selective killing of HBV-positive hepatocytes to develop a novel therapy for the treatment of HBV infection. Our strategy was to recognize the conditionally essential genes that are essential for the survival of HBV-positive hepatocytes, but non-essential for the HBV-negative hepatocytes. Using microarray gene expression data curated from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and the known essential genes from the Online GEne Essentiality database, we used two approaches, comprising the random walk with restart algorithm and the support vector machine approach, to determine the potential targets for the selective killing of HBV-positive hepatocytes. The final candidate genes list obtained using these two approaches consisted of 36 target genes, which may be conditionally essential for the cell survival of HBV-positive hepatocytes; however, this requires further experimental validation. Therefore, the genes identified in this study can be used as potential drug targets to develop novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HBV, and may ultimately help in achieving the elusive goal of a complete cure for hepatitis B.

How Far we are towards Eradication of HBV Infection

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihai Voiculescu
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
T Cell Receptors ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Major Health Problem ◽  
Cell Receptors ◽  
B Virus

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem with an important biological and a significant socio-economic impact all over the world. There is a high pressure to come up with a new and more efficient strategy against HBV infection, especially after the recent success of HCV treatment. Preventing HBV infection through vaccine is currently the most efficient way to decrease HBV-related cirrhosis and liver cancer incidence, as well as the best way to suppress the HBV reservoir. The vaccine is safe and efficient in 80-95% of cases. One of its most important roles is to reduce materno-fetal transmission, by giving the first dose of vaccine in the first 24 hours after birth. Transmission of HBV infection early in life is still frequent, especially in countries with high endemicity.Successful HBV clearance by the host is immune-mediated, with a complex combined innate and adaptive cellular and humoral immune response. Different factors, such as the quantity and the sequence of HBV epitope during processing by dendritic cells and presenting by different HLA molecules or the polymorphism of T cell receptors (TOL) are part of a complex network which influences the final response. A new potential therapeutic strategy is to restore T-cell antiviral function and to improve innate and adaptive immune response by immunotherapeutic manipulation.It appears that HBV eradication is far from being completed in the next decades, and a new strategy against HBV infection must be considered. Abbreviations: ALT: alanine aminotransferase; APC: antigen presenting cells; cccDNA: covalently closed circular DNA; HBIG: hepatitis B immunoglobulin; HbsAg: hepatitis B surface antigen; HBV: hepatitis B virus; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; CTL: cytotoxic T lymphocyte; IFN: interferon; NUC: nucleos(t)ide analogues; pg RNA: pre genomic RNA; TLR: toll-like receptors; TOL: T cell receptors.

scholarly journals 1066. Immune Escape Mutant Detection Using Commercially Available Methods for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Serological Testing

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S562-S562
Author(s):  
Robert Gish ◽  
Vincent Streva
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Panel Member ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽  
Review Panel ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Escape Mutants

Abstract Background Although overall infection rates of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the United States (US) remain stable, as many as 2.2 million persons are still chronically infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)1. Persons who inject drugs (PWID) are at a higher risk of HBV infection and since 2009 three states (KY, TN, WV) have reported up to a 114% increase in cases of acute HBV infection due to higher infection rates among a non-Hispanic white populations (30–39 years), and injection drug users2. Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended as primary prevention for adults who are at increased risk for HBV infection, including PWID. However, data from the National Health Interview Survey indicate that hepatitis B vaccination coverage is low among adults in the general population3, and it is likely to be lower among injection drug users. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) is the first serological marker to appear after HBV exposure and infection; this marker is included in the recommended panel for acute hepatitis diagnosis and accurate detection is necessary for early and accurate diagnosis. Serological testing challenges exist for HBsAg due to the high degree of genetic variability which can further be exacerbated by endogenous and exogenous pressures. The immuno-dominant region may have one or more mutations described as immune escape mutations which can decrease or abrogate HBsAg binding to antibodies used in immunoassays. Although the prevalence of these mutations is not well documented in the United States, international studies have shown that up to 79% of HBV-reactivated patients (vs 3.1% of control patients; p< 0.001) carry HBsAg mutations localized in immune-active HBsAg regions4. Methods A study was conducted using a panel of 10 unique recombinant HBsAg immune escape mutants. Panel members were tested by commercially available HBsAg serological immunoassays. Results It was found that although commercially available HBsAg immunoassays are the primary diagnostic tool for HBV diagnosis, not all HBsAg immune escape mutants are detected, with some method detecting as few as 5 out of 10 of these mutant samples. Figure 1 Conclusion Improvement is needed in commercially available methods for the accurate detection of HBsAg. Disclosures Robert Gish, MD, Abbott (Consultant)AbbVie (Consultant, Advisor or Review Panel member, Speaker’s Bureau)Access Biologicals (Consultant)Antios (Consultant)Arrowhead (Consultant)Bayer (Consultant, Speaker’s Bureau)Bristol Myers (Consultant, Speaker’s Bureau)Dova (Consultant, Speaker’s Bureau)Dynavax (Consultant)Eiger (Consultant, Advisor or Review Panel member)Eisai (Consultant, Speaker’s Bureau)Enyo (Consultant)eStudySite (Consultant, Advisor or Review Panel member)Exelixis (Consultant)Fujifilm/Wako (Consultant)Genentech (Consultant)Genlantis (Consultant)Gilead (Consultant, Advisor or Review Panel member, Speaker’s Bureau)GLG (Consultant)HepaTX (Consultant, Advisor or Review Panel member)HepQuant (Consultant, Advisor or Review Panel member)Intercept (Consultant, Speaker’s Bureau)Ionis (Consultant)Janssen (Consultant)Laboratory for Advanced Medicine (Consultant)Lilly (Consultant)Merck (Consultant)Salix (Consultant, Speaker’s Bureau)Shionogi (Consultant, Speaker’s Bureau)Viking (Consultant)

scholarly journals Hepatitis B surface antigen gene expression is regulated by sex steroids and glucocorticoids in transgenic mice.

1987 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1187-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Farza ◽  
A. M. Salmon ◽  
M. Hadchouel ◽  
J. L. Moreau ◽  
C. Babinet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Surface Antigen ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Antigen Gene

scholarly journals Rituximab increases the risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen-positive or have resolved hepatitis B virus infection in a real-world setting: a retrospective study

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Fen Tsai ◽  
Ching-I Yang ◽  
Jeng-Shiun Du ◽  
Ming-Hui Lin ◽  
Shih-Hao Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Hbv Reactivation ◽  
Virus Reactivation ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis Flare

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation with a hepatitis flare is a common complication in lymphoma patients treated with immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Anti-HBV prophylaxis is suggested for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients undergoing rituximab therapy, even those with resolved HBV infection. Since anti-HBV prophylaxis for patients with resolved HBV infection is not covered by national health insurance in Taiwan, a proportion of these patients receive no prophylaxis. In addition, late HBV reactivation has emerged as a new issue in recent reports, and no consensus has been reached for the optimal duration of antiviral prophylaxis. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the incidence and outcomes of HBV reactivation in NHL patients in a real-world setting and to study the frequency of late HBV reactivation. Materials Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients who received rituximab and/or chemotherapy at our institute between January 2011 and December 2015 and who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)- or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)-positive were reviewed retrospectively. Results A total of 388 patients were screened between January 2011 and December 2015. In total, 196 patients were excluded because HBsAg was not assessed, HBcAb was negative or not assessed, or they were not treated with immunosuppressive therapy. Finally, the retrospective study included 62 HBsAg-positive NHL patients and 130 NHL patients with resolved HBV infection (HBsAg-negative and HBcAb-positive). During a median 30.5-month follow-up period, seven patients experienced HBV reactivation, five of whom had a hepatitis flare. The incidence of HBV reactivation did not significantly differ between the HBsAg-positive patients and the resolved HBV infection population without anti-HBV prophylaxis (4.8% vs. 3.1%, P = 0.683). All patients with HBV reactivation were exposed to rituximab. Notably, late HBV reactivation was not uncommon (two of seven patients with HBV reactivation events, 28.6%). Hepatitis B virus reactivation did not influence the patients’ overall survival. An age ≥65 years and an advanced disease stage were independent risk factors for poorer overall survival. Conclusion The incidence of HBV reactivation was similar between the HBsAg-positive patients with antiviral prophylaxis and the resolved HBV infection population without anti-HBV prophylaxis. All HBV reactivation events occurred in NHL patients exposed to rituximab. Late reactivation was not uncommon. The duration of regular liver function monitoring for more than 1 year after immunosuppressive therapy or after withdrawal of prophylactic antiviral therapy should be prolonged. Determining the exact optimal duration of anti-HBV prophylaxis is warranted in a future prospective study for NHL patients treated with rituximab-containing therapy.

scholarly journals Age-wise and Gender-wise Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection in Lahore, Pakistan

2019 ◽  
Vol 01 (04) ◽  
pp. 20-28
Author(s):  
Aqib Nazeer ◽  
Shahid Ali ◽  
Imran Tipu
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Pakistani Population ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
B Virus ◽  
And Gender

Background The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Pakistani population has been reported previously, however, studies with a city-oriented approach and focus on age and gender distribution are very limited. Therefore, the current study was designed to unravel the age-wise and gender wise prevalence of HBV in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods A total of 350 blood samples of both male and female patients who visited National Genetic Laboratory, Lahore between February 2019 and July 2019 and who were suspected of HBV infection were screened. Sandwich based ELISA was used to detect rapid hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Real time PCR was used to detect HBV using HBV Rotor Gene PCR kit. Results Out of 350 blood samples screened for HBV infection (n= 350), 180 (51.43%) were of males and 170 (48.57%) were of females. Mean age (years) with SD (standard deviation) of the screened population was 37.22 ± 12.16 years. Overall, 224 samples (64%) were found to be positive for HBV infection. In our study, the number of females with this infection (52.24%) was slightly higher than males (47.76%). However, we observed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.225) between them. Conclusion Our study concludes that HBV is highly prevalent in Lahore, Pakistan. Females are slightly more susceptible to HBV infection as compared to males. This study also reports that HBV is more prevalent in the 20-40 age group.

scholarly journals Significant Increase of HBV Infection in HIV Infected Patients With Disease Progression in China Based on Two MSM HIV Infected Cohorts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Zhu ◽  
Qi Liang ◽  
Taiyi Jiang ◽  
Yanmei Jiao ◽  
Yu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Hiv Patients ◽  
Acute Hiv Infection ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Acute Hiv

Abstract The date about the condition of HBV co infection with the disease progress of HIV is limited. To investigate whether the incidence of HBV co-infection is significantly higher in HIV patients with disease progression in China, we compared rates of HBV co-infection in HIV patients based on an acute and a chronic HIV infected cohort. Significance was assessed with Chi-square. HBV infection is diagnosed by the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen. The HBsAg positive rate increased from 6.18% in acute HIV infection to 11.44% in chronic HIV infection. Thirty-four acute HIV patients had been tested for HBV in their chronic phase, four of them had HBV -specific antigens and/or specific antibodies changes. The number of Hepatitis B virus-specific antibodies decreased from acute phase to chronic phase in four patients and two patients’ HBsAg changed from negative to positive. There is an increased prevalence of HBV infection in HIV patients with the disease progression in China.

scholarly journals Hepatitis B Virus Replication Induces Methylation of both Host and Viral DNA

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
pp. 4321-4329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perumal Vivekanandan ◽  
Hubert Darius-J Daniel ◽  
Rajesh Kannangai ◽  
Francisco Martinez-Murillo ◽  
Michael Torbenson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Cpg Islands ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
B Virus

ABSTRACT Control of viral replication is a major therapeutic goal to reduce morbidity and mortality from chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Recently, methylation has been identified as a novel host defense mechanism, and methylation of viral DNA leads to downregulation of HBV gene expression. To better understand the mechanisms of HBV methylation, cell lines were exposed to HBV using a model system that mimics natural infection and the expression of host DNA methyltransferase genes (DNMTs) was measured. DNMT1, DNMT2, and DNMT3 were all significantly upregulated in response to HBV. DNMT3 was further studied because of its known role in the de novo methylation of DNA. Cotransfection experiments with full-length HBV and DNMT3 led to the downregulation of viral protein and pregenomic RNA production. To investigate whether the upregulation of DNMTs could also have an effect on the methylation of host DNA, cell lines were exposed to HBV in two independent model systems, one that mimics natural infection and a second model with temporary transfection. Host DNA methylation was measured by DNA microarray analysis. Increased methylation of host CpG islands was detected in both experimental systems. Two CpG islands, corresponding to genes SUFU and TIRAP, were selected, and the downregulation of these genes in hepatocellular carcinomas was confirmed. In conclusion, hepatocytes respond to HBV infection by upregulating DNMTs. The DNMTs methylate viral DNA, leading to decreased viral gene expression and decreased viral replication. However, virus-induced overexpression of DNMTs also leads to methylation of host CpG islands.

scholarly journals D-GPM: A Deep Learning Method for Gene Promoter Methylation Inference

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan ◽  
Liu ◽  
Wen ◽  
Liu ◽  
Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Promoter Methylation ◽  
Methylation Level ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing generates a comprehensive profiling of the gene methylation levels, but is limited by a high cost. Recent studies have partitioned the genes into landmark genes and target genes and suggested that the landmark gene expression levels capture adequate information to reconstruct the target gene expression levels. This inspired us to propose that the methylation level of the promoters in landmark genes might be adequate to reconstruct the promoter methylation level of target genes, which would eventually reduce the cost of promoter methylation profiling. Here, we propose a deep learning model called Deep-Gene Promoter Methylation (D-GPM) to predict the whole-genome promoter methylation level based on the promoter methylation profile of the landmark genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). D-GPM-15%-7000 × 5, the optimal architecture of D-GPM, acquires the least overall mean absolute error (MAE) and the highest overall Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), with values of 0.0329 and 0.8186, respectively, when testing data. Additionally, the D-GPM outperforms the regression tree (RT), linear regression (LR), and the support vector machine (SVM) in 95.66%, 92.65%, and 85.49% of the target genes by virtue of its relatively lower MAE and in 98.25%, 91.00%, and 81.56% of the target genes based on its relatively higher PCC, respectively. More importantly, the D-GPM predominates in predicting 79.86% and 78.34% of the target genes according to the model distribution of the least MAE and the highest PCC, respectively.

scholarly journals Strigolactone GR24 upregulates Nrf2 target genes and may protect against oxidative stress in skeletal muscle

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1459
Author(s):  
Shalem Raju Modi ◽  
Tarja Kokkola
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Antioxidant Defences ◽  
Microarray Gene Expression

GR24 is a synthetic strigolactone analog, demonstrated to regulate the development of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. GR24 possesses anti-cancer and anti-apoptotic properties, enhances insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal myotubes, inhibits adipogenesis, decreases inflammation in adipocytes and macrophages and downregulates the expression of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes. Transcription factor Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) is a master regulator of antioxidant response, regulating a multitude of genes involved in cellular stress responses and anti-inflammatory pathways, thus maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. Nrf2 activation reduces the deleterious effects of mitochondrial toxins and has multiple roles in promoting mitochondrial function and dynamics. We studied the role of GR24 on gene expression in rat L6 skeletal muscle cells which were differentiated into myotubes. The myotubes were treated with GR24 and analyzed by microarray gene expression profiling. GR24 upregulated the cytoprotective transcription factor Nrf2 and its target genes, activating antioxidant defences, suggesting that GR24 may protect skeletal muscle from the toxic effects of oxidative stress.

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