Hepatitis B Virus e Antigen Regulates Monocyte Function and Promotes B Lymphocyte Activation

Serum alpha-fetoprotein level is correlated with the level of inflammatory markers in the immune-clearance phase of chronic hepatitis B in Eastern China

PURPOSE

To clarify the association of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during the immune-clearance phase in Eastern China.

METHODS

This research selected 60 CHB patients during the immune clearance phase who tested positive for AFP, including 32 cases treated by non-antiviral therapy (experimental group) and 28 cases treated by antiviral therapy (positive control group). Another 30 cases tested negative for AFP were set as a negative control group. The correlations of serum AFP with IL-6 and TNF-α in patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

HBV DNA clearance in patients receiving antiviral therapy, in both the positive or negative control groups, was not significantly related to other clinical data. In the experimental group, a positive correlation of HBV DNA clearance with serum AFP level (r=0.5126, P=0.0027), alanine aminotransferase (r=0.3924, P=0.0263), and total bilirubin (r=0.5126, P=0.0027) was found. The experimental and positive control groups exhibited elevated serum IL-6 and TNF-α contents versus the negative control group (P<0.05). A positive association of AFP with IL-6 and TNF-α was also identified.

CONCLUSION

Serum AFP level is positively related to IL-6 and TNF-α levels in CHB patients during the immune-clearance phase.

Innate and adaptive immune escape mechanisms of hepatitis B virus

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an international health problem with extremely high mortality and morbidity rates. Although current clinical chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment strategies can partly inhibit and eliminate HBV, viral breakthrough may result due to non-adherence to treatment, the emergence of viral resistance, and a long treatment cycle. Persistent CHB infection arises as a consequence of complex interactions between the virus and the host innate and adaptive immune systems. Therefore, understanding the immune escape mechanisms involved in persistent HBV infection is important for designing novel CHB treatment strategies to clear HBV and achieve long-lasting immune control. This review details the immunological and biological characteristics and escape mechanisms of HBV and the novel immune-based therapies that are currently used for treating HBV.

The effect of hepatitis B virus on T lymphocyte and its subsets in chronic hepatitis B patients in different ALT stages: A new concept ALT in HBV infection

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of hepatitis B virus on T lymphocyte and its subsets in different ALT states, and elucidate the immunological mechanism of ALT basing antiviral therapy for hepatitis B. 363 chronic hepatitis B patients were selected as the study subjects. According to ALT abnormalities, the patients were divided into three study groups. ALT normal group 131 cases, normal≦ ALT < 2 times of upper limit group 110 cases, ALT ≥ 2 times of upper limit group 122 cases. Entecavir was given to the ALT ≥ 2 times of upper limit group patients and followed up for 24 weeks. The hepatitis B antigen antibody parameters were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer, the liver function parameters were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer, the hepatitis B virus load were measured by quantitative PCR analyzer, T lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry, the level of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Detecting the influence of different hepatitis B viru loads in different groups on immunological indexes, and the virological and immunological indexes changes in before and after antiviral therapy patients. In the ALT normal group, different virus load hepatitis B virus had minor effect on T lymphocytes and their subsets (P > 0.05). In the ALT ≥ double upper limit of normal group. with the virus load increased, The total number of T lymphocytes, CD3+ CD4 + T lymphocytes decreased, (P < 0.05)CD3+ CD8 + T lymphocytes increased(P < 0.05). With the virus load increased the cytokines IL-2, IFN-γ which reflect the Th1 lymphocytes increased(P < 0.05), the cytokines IL-4、IL-10 which reflect the Th2 lymphocytes decreased(P < 0.05). Before and after 24 weeks of entecavir treatment, the patient's HBV-DNA decreased significantly(P < 0.05) and the body's immune function improved significantly. (P < 0.05)The influence of hepatitis B virus on immune function is different in different ALT states. Therefore, the scientific significance of ALT grouping in the hepatitis B treatment can be clarified from the immunological point.

The Multiple Functions of B Cells in Chronic HBV Infection

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.

The immunophenotyping of different stages of BK virus allograft nephropathy

Objectives: To investigate the immunohistochemical features of different stages of BK virus allograft nephropathy (BKVN) and further elucidate the underlying immunological mechanism involved in the evolution of BKVN. Methods: Fifty-two renal transplant recipients with biopsy proven BKVN were retrospectively selected. According to the third edition of the American Society of Transplantation Infection guidelines, 10 patients were categorized as having mild BKVN (stage A), 25 were moderate (stage B) and 17 were severe (stage C). The differential infiltrations of CD3+ (T lymphocytes), CD4+ (helper T lymphocytes), CD8+ (cytotoxic T lymphocytes), CD20+ (B lymphocytes), CD68+ (macrophages) and CD138+ (plasma cells) cells and the expression of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) and human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR) were compared among the three groups. Results: CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD20+, CD138+ and CD68+ cells infiltrations, IL-2R and HLA-DR expression were positive in the BKVN patients. Moreover, with increasing stages of BKVN, the numbers of positively stained inflammatory cells and the expression of IL-2R were significantly increased in the severe group compared to the mild group, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed with regard to HLA-DR expression. Eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration could also be observed in moderate to advanced BKVN. Conclusion: Renal allograft damage caused by BKVN involved T lymphocyte-, B lymphocyte- and mononuclear macrophage-mediated immune responses. Inflammatory cell infiltrations in the renal allograft were probably the driving force for BKVN progression. Additionally, eosinophils and neutrophils may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of BKVN.

Comprehensive Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus Promoter Region Mutations

Over 250 million people are infected chronically with hepatitis B virus (HBV), the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide. HBV persists, due, in part, to its compact, stable minichromosome, the covalently-closed, circular DNA (cccDNA), which resides in the hepatocytes' nuclei. Current therapies target downstream replication products, however, a true virological cure will require targeting the cccDNA. Finding targets on such a small, compact genome is challenging. For HBV, to remain replication-competent, it needs to maintain nucleotide fidelity in key regions, such as the promoter regions, to ensure that it can continue to utilize the necessary host proteins. HBVdb (HBV database) is a repository of HBV sequences spanning all genotypes (A⁻H) amplified from clinical samples, and hence implying an extensive collection of replication-competent viruses. Here, we analyzed the HBV sequences from HBVdb using bioinformatics tools to comprehensively assess the HBV core and X promoter regions amongst the nearly 70,000 HBV sequences for highly-conserved nucleotides and variant frequencies. Notably, there is a high degree of nucleotide conservation within specific segments of these promoter regions highlighting their importance in potential host protein-viral interactions and thus the virus' viability. Such findings may have key implications for designing antivirals to target these areas.

Immunization with a suicidal DNA vaccine expressing the E glycoprotein protects ducklings against duck Tembusu virus

BACKGROUD

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV), a pathogenic flavivirus, emerged in China since 2010 and causing huge economic loss in the Chinese poultry industry. Although several vaccines have been reported to control DTMUV disease, few effective vaccines are available and new outbreaks were continuously reported. Thus, it is urgently to develop a new effective vaccine for prevention of this disease.

METHODS

In this study, a suicidal DNA vaccine based on a Semliki Forest virus (SFV) replicon and DTMUV E glycoprotein gene was constructed and the efficacy of this new vaccine was assessed according to humoral and cell-mediated immune responses as well as protection against the DTMUV challenge in ducklings.

RESULTS

Our results showed that the recombinant SFV replicon highly expressed E glycoprotein in DEF cells. After intramuscular injection of this new DNA vaccine in ducklings, robust humoral and cellular immune responses were observed in all immunized ducklings. Moreover, all ducklings were protected against challenge with the virulent DTMUV AH-F10 strain.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, we demonstrate that this suicidal DNA vaccine is a promising candidate facilitating the prevention of DTMUV infection.

Serum NOX2 as a new biomarker candidate for HBV-related disorders

Growing evidence supports the notion that serum NAPDH oxidase 2 (NOX2) is an important regulator that contributes to the initiation and progression of various types of diseases. However, so far, it remains elusive about the relationship between levels of serum NOX2 and HBV-related diseases. The overall purpose of the study is to get a better insight into whether or not serum NOX2 is involved in HBV-related disorders. Serum levels of NOX2, from 105 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 58 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis, 48 patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma and 104 healthy individuals, were measured with sandwich ELISA kits that we developed. In this study, we found that NOX2 values were significantly higher in patients compared to healthy control (P < 0.01) and that the levels of serum NOX2 were significantly correlated with the serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in chronic hepatitis B, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Interestingly, we found that a significant positive correlation between NOX2 and HBV viral load only in patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis. Therefore, Serum NOX2 levels maybe an important indicator of the pathogenesis of progression of HBV-related disorders.

The Role of BAFF System Molecules in Host Response to Pathogens

The two ligands B cell-activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and the three receptors BAFF receptor (BAFF-R), transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), and B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) are members of the "BAFF system molecules." BAFF system molecules are primarily involved in B cell homeostasis. The relevance of BAFF system molecules in host responses to microbial assaults has been investigated in clinical studies and in mice deficient for each of these molecules. Many microbial products modulate the expression of these molecules. Data from clinical studies suggest a correlation between increased expression levels of BAFF system molecules and elevated B cell responses. Depending on the pathogen, heightened B cell responses may strengthen the host response or promote susceptibility. Whereas pathogen-mediated increases in the expression levels of the ligands and/or the receptors appear to promote microbial clearance, certain pathogens have evolved to ablate B cell responses by suppressing the expression of TACI and/or BAFF-R on B cells. Other than its well-established role in B cell responses, the TACI-mediated activation of macrophages is also implicated in resistance to intracellular pathogens. An improved understanding of the role that BAFF system molecules play in infection may assist in devising novel strategies for vaccine development.