1
|
Maravelia P, Frelin L, Ni Y, Caro Pérez N, Ahlén G, Jagya N, Verch G, Verhoye L, Pater L, Johansson M, Pasetto A, Meuleman P, Urban S, Sällberg M. Blocking Entry of Hepatitis B and D Viruses to Hepatocytes as a Novel Immunotherapy for Treating Chronic Infections. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:128-138. [PMID: 31994701 PMCID: PMC7781452 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic hepatitis B and D virus (HBV/HDV) infections can cause cancer. Current HBV therapy using nucleoside analogues (NAs) is life-long and reduces but does not eliminate the risk of cancer. A hallmark of chronic hepatitis B is a dysfunctional HBV-specific T-cell response. We therefore designed an immunotherapy driven by naive healthy T cells specific for the HDV antigen (HDAg) to bypass the need for HBV-specific T cells in order to prime PreS1-specific T cells and PreS1 antibodies blocking HBV entry. Methods Ten combinations of PreS1 and/or HDAg sequences were evaluated for induction of PreS1 antibodies and HBV- and HDV-specific T cells in vitro and in vivo. Neutralization of HBV by PreS1-specific murine and rabbit antibodies was evaluated in cell culture, and rabbit anti-PreS1 were tested for neutralization of HBV in mice repopulated with human hepatocytes. Results The best vaccine candidate induced T cells to PreS1 and HDAg, and PreS1 antibodies blocking HBV entry in vitro. Importantly, adoptive transfer of PreS1 antibodies prevented, or modulated, HBV infection after a subsequent challenge in humanized mice. Conclusions We here describe a novel immunotherapy for chronic HBV/HDV that targets viral entry to complement NAs and coming therapies inhibiting viral maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Maravelia
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Frelin
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yi Ni
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Noelia Caro Pérez
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Ahlén
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Neetu Jagya
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georg Verch
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lieven Verhoye
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Lena Pater
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Johansson
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anna Pasetto
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matti Sällberg
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cai Y, Yin W. The Multiple Functions of B Cells in Chronic HBV Infection. Front Immunol 2020; 11:582292. [PMID: 33381113 PMCID: PMC7767983 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.582292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cai
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenwei Yin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ghozy S, Nam NH, Radwan I, Karimzadeh S, Tieu TM, Hashan MR, Abbas AS, Eid PS, Vuong NL, Khang NV, Elgabalawy E, Sayed AK, Hoa PTL, Huy NT. Therapeutic efficacy of hepatitis B virus vaccine in treatment of chronic HBV infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Med Virol 2019; 30:e2089. [PMID: 31811678 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There is a need for improved treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We reviewed the literature to explore the efficacy of HB vaccines alone or in combination therapy (CT) with antiviral drugs in CHB patients and to meta-analyze data from randomized controlled trials. We conducted a systematic search in ten databases. All studies investigating the efficacy of HBV vaccine in HBV infected patients were included with no restrictions. Among 1359 studies initially identified, 23 studies (n = 1956 patients) were included for the final analysis. CT showed a significant reduction of HBV DNA compared with analogue monotherapy (AM) at the 12-month follow-up period (odds ratio (OR) = 2.835, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.275, 6.306], p = .011). Additionally, CT also remarkably induce HbsAg loss in comparison with AM (OR = 11.736, 95% CI [1.841, 74.794], p = .009). Our pooled data revealed no difference between treatment and control regarding alanine aminotransferase normalization, HBeAg seroconversion, and HBeAg disappearance. In addition, CT using vaccine and NAs resulted in a statistically significant higher incidence of adverse effects than AM. The therapeutic effects of combination therapy for patients with CHB were encouraging, but future studies need to investigate all possible treatment combinations and assess their cost-effectiveness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sherief Ghozy
- Neurosurgery Department, El Sheikh Zayed Specialized Hospital, Giza, Egypt.,Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Nguyen Hai Nam
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Ibrahim Radwan
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sedighe Karimzadeh
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,School of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Thuan Minh Tieu
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammad Rashidul Hashan
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Respiratory and Enteric Infections Department, Infectious Disease Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Alzhraa Salah Abbas
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of Anesthesia, Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospital, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Peter Samuel Eid
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nguyen Lam Vuong
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of Medical Statistics and Informatics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Vinh Khang
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Eman Elgabalawy
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Pham Thi Le Hoa
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Tien Huy
- Evidence Based Medicine Research Group, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.,Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.,Department of Clinical Product Development, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ma Z, Zhang E, Gao S, Xiong Y, Lu M. Toward a Functional Cure for Hepatitis B: The Rationale and Challenges for Therapeutic Targeting of the B Cell Immune Response. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2308. [PMID: 31608073 PMCID: PMC6769125 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The central role of the cellular immune response in the control and clearance of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been well-established. The contribution of humoral immunity, including B cell and antibody responses against HBV, has been investigated for a long time but has attracted increasing attention again in recent years. The anti-HBs antibody was first recognized as a marker of protective immunity after the acute resolution of the HBV infection (or vaccination) and is now defined as a biomarker for the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In this way, therapies targeting HBV-specific B cells and the induction of an anti-HBs antibody response are essential elements of a rational strategy to terminate chronic HBV infection. However, a high load of HBsAg in the blood, which has been proposed to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance, represents a major obstacle to curing CHB. Long-term antiviral treatment by nucleoside analogs, by targeting viral translation by siRNA, by inhibiting HBsAg release via nucleic acid polymers, or by neutralizing HBsAg via specific antibodies could potentially reduce the HBsAg load in CHB patients. A combined strategy including a reduction of the HBsAg load via the above treatments and the therapeutic targeting of B cells by vaccination may induce the appearance of anti-HBs antibodies and lead to a functional cure of CHB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Ma
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ejuan Zhang
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shicheng Gao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Xiong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengji Lu
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lim SG, Agcaoili J, De Souza NNA, Chan E. Therapeutic vaccination for chronic hepatitis B: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Viral Hepat 2019; 26:803-817. [PMID: 30801899 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccines may be promising treatments for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but their clinical efficacy and safety are unclear. We conducted a systematic review of the evidence for the efficacy and safety of therapeutic vaccines in CHB patients. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar from 1990 until present and abstracts from EASL, APASL and AASLD from 2012 to 2017 and selected randomized controlled trials of CHB patients, comparing therapeutic vaccines with no treatment or standard of care. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool v2.0 and GRADE method were used. Analyses were stratified by hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status and the comparator (therapeutic vaccines vs no treatment, or therapeutic vaccines + standard of care vs standard of care). Efficacy outcomes were HBeAg seroconversion, hepatitis B virus DNA reduction and hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) loss, measured at the end of treatment or end of follow-up. Effects were reported as risk differences with 95% confidence intervals using a random effects model. Fifteen studies were included. A wide variety of therapeutic vaccines were tested. For HBeAg clearance at the end of follow-up, when comparing therapeutic vaccines vs no therapy, RD = 0.01, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.07, and when comparing therapeutic vaccines + standard of care vs standard of care, RD = 0.03, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.09. For HBVDNA reduction at the end of follow-up, when comparing therapeutic vaccines vs no therapy, RD = -0.03, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.02, and when comparing therapeutic vaccines + standard of care, RD = 0.15, 95% CI 0.02-0.28. There were only a few studies on HBsAg loss, and hence, the findings were inconclusive. The only efficacy finding was HBVDNA reduction at the end of follow-up for therapeutic vaccines + standard of care vs standard of care; otherwise, therapeutic vaccines do not appear to be efficacious for the treatment of CHB, but were limited by few RCTs, suboptimal therapeutic vaccines and patient selection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seng Gee Lim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Nurun Nisa Amatullah De Souza
- Singapore Clinical Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Cochrane Group, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edwin Chan
- Singapore Clinical Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Cochrane Group, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhao W, Zhao G, Zhang S, Wang X, Yu X, Wang B. Clearance of HBeAg and HBsAg of HBV in mice model by a recombinant HBV vaccine combined with GM-CSF and IFN-α as an effective therapeutic vaccine adjuvant. Oncotarget 2018; 9:34213-34228. [PMID: 30344938 PMCID: PMC6188151 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection is a significant public threat. Current interferon-α (IFN-α) based therapies and anti-viral drugs have failed to clear the infection in the majority of CHB patients and animal models. In our previous study, we established a combined protocol that employed a 3-day pretreatment with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) prior to a standard HBV vaccine. It achieved a 90% reduction of HBsAg level in the HBsAg transgenic mouse model. This protocol, while effective, remains too complex for clinical use. In this study, we formulated a new regimen by combining GM-CSF, IFN-α and a recombinant HBV vaccine (GM-CSF/IFN-α/VACCINE) into a single preparation and tested its efficacy in a HBV infection model. After four vaccinations, both serum HBeAg and HBsAg were cleared, accompanied by a 95% reduction of HBV+ hepatocytes and the presence of a large number of infiltrating CD8+ T cells in the liver. Mechanistically these robust responses were initiated by a vaccine-induced conversion of CCR2-dependent CD11b+Ly6Chi monocytes into CD11b+CD11c+ DCs. This finding sheds light on the potential mechanism of action of the GM-CSF-based vaccine adjuvant and provides definable markers for clinical assessment during future testing of such highly potent vaccine protocols in HBV patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuren Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianzheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueping Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Graziani GM, Angel JB. Evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic HIV vaccines through analytical treatment interruptions. J Int AIDS Soc 2015; 18:20497. [PMID: 26561337 PMCID: PMC4641978 DOI: 10.7448/ias.18.1.20497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The development of an effective therapeutic HIV vaccine that induces immunologic control of viral replication, thereby eliminating or reducing the need for antiretroviral therapy (ART), would be of great value. Besides the obvious challenges of developing a therapeutic vaccine that would generate effective, sustained anti-HIV immunity in infected individuals is the issue of how to best assess the efficacy of vaccine candidates. DISCUSSION This review discusses the various outcome measures assessed in therapeutic HIV vaccine clinical trials involving individuals receiving suppressive ART, with a particular focus on the role of analytical treatment interruption (ATI) as a way to assess the virologic control induced by an immunotherapy. This strategy is critical given that there are otherwise no readily available measures to determine the ability of a vaccine-induced immune response to effectively control HIV replication. The various outcome measures that have been used to assess vaccine efficacy in published therapeutic HIV vaccine clinical trials will also be discussed. Outcome measures have included the kinetics of viral rebound, the new viral set point and changes in the size of the viral reservoir. Clinically relevant outcomes such as the CD4 decline, the time to resume therapy or the time to meet the criterion to resume therapy, the proportion of participants who resume therapy and/or the development of clinical symptoms such as acute retroviral syndrome are also measures of vaccine efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Given the lack of consistency between therapeutic HIV vaccine trials in how efficacy is assessed, comparing vaccines has been difficult. It would, therefore, be beneficial to determine the most clinically relevant measure for use in future studies. Other recommendations for future clinical trials also include studying compartments in addition to blood and replacing ATIs with single-copy assays in situations in which the use of an ATI is not ideal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan B Angel
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Infectious Disease, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Therapeutic vaccines in HBV: lessons from HCV. Med Microbiol Immunol 2015; 204:79-86. [PMID: 25573348 PMCID: PMC4305103 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-014-0376-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Currently, millions of people infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) are committed to decades of treatment with anti-viral therapy to control viral replication. However, new tools for immunotherapy that include both viral vectors and molecular checkpoint inhibitors are now available. This has led to a resurgence of interest in new strategies to develop immunotherapeutic strategies with the aim of inducing HBeAg seroconversion—an end-point that has been associated with a decrease in the rates of disease progression. Ultimately, a true cure will involve the elimination of covalently closed circular DNA which presents a greater challenge for immunotherapy. In this manuscript, I describe the development of immunotherapeutic strategies for HBV that are approaching or currently in clinical studies, and draw on observations of T cell function in natural infection supported by recent animal studies that may lead to additional rational vaccine strategies using checkpoint inhibitors. I also draw on our recent experience in developing potent vaccines for HCV prophylaxis based on simian adenoviral and MVA vectors used in prime–boost strategies in both healthy volunteers and HCV infected patients. I have shown that the induction of T cell immune responses is markedly attenuated when administered to people with persistent HCV viremia. These studies and recently published animal studies using the woodchuck model suggest that potent vaccines based on DNA or adenoviral vectored vaccination represent a rational way forward. However, combining these with drugs to suppress viral replication, alongside checkpoint inhibitors may be required to induce long-term immune control.
Collapse
|
9
|
Kutscher S, Bauer T, Dembek C, Sprinzl M, Protzer U. Design of therapeutic vaccines: hepatitis B as an example. Microb Biotechnol 2012; 5:270-82. [PMID: 21958338 PMCID: PMC3815787 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-7915.2011.00303.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Revised: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 08/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccines are currently developed for chronic viral infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpesvirus and hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infections. As an alternative to antiviral treatment or to support only partially effective therapy a therapeutic vaccine shall activate the patient's immune system to fight and finally control or ideally even eliminate the virus. Whereas the success of prophylactic vaccination is based on rapid neutralization of the invading pathogen by antibodies, virus control and elimination of infected cells require T cells. Therefore, induction of a multi-specific and multifunctional T-cell response against key viral antigens is a paradigm of therapeutic vaccination--besides activation of a humoral immune response to limit virus spread. In this review, we describe options to develop a therapeutic vaccine for chronic viral infections using HBV as a promising example.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Trogerstr. 30, 81675 München, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hong Y, Peng Y, Mi M, Xiao H, Munn DH, Wang GQ, He Y. Lentivector expressing HBsAg and immunoglobulin Fc fusion antigen induces potent immune responses and results in seroconversion in HBsAg transgenic mice. Vaccine 2011; 29:3909-16. [PMID: 21421003 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2010] [Revised: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Even though hepatitis B virus(HBV) vaccines effectively prevent new cases of HBV infection, with approximately 350 million patients worldwide, chronic HBV infection remains a major health problem because of the associated complications (such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and the limited treatment options. Immunotherapy has the potential to effectively control HBV replication. In this current study, we found that recombinant lentivectors could induce potent HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) specific T cell responses and humoral immune responses. Tagging the HBsAg with immunoglobulin Fc fragment further substantially increased the HBsAg specific immune responses. Remarkably, the HBS-Fc-lv lentivector could effectively break immune tolerance and induce potent HBsAg specific adaptive immune responses in HBsAg transgenic (Tg) mice with low serum level of HBsAg. More importantly, the induction of HBsAg specific immune responses in Tg mice accompanied seroconversion from HBsAg to anti-HBsAg antibody (anti-HBsAb). Our study demonstrated the potential of utilizing lentivector to treat chronic HBV infection following reduction of viral load with antiviral drug therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Hong
- Immunology/Immunotherapy Program, MCG Cancer Center, Georgia Health Science University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cavenaugh JS, Awi D, Mendy M, Hill AVS, Whittle H, McConkey SJ. Partially randomized, non-blinded trial of DNA and MVA therapeutic vaccines based on hepatitis B virus surface protein for chronic HBV infection. PLoS One 2011; 6:e14626. [PMID: 21347224 PMCID: PMC3039644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2008] [Accepted: 11/25/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic HBV infects 350 million people causing cancer and liver failure. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of plasmid DNA (pSG2.HBs) vaccine, followed by recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA.HBs), encoding the surface antigen of HBV as therapy for chronic HBV. A secondary goal was to characterize the immune responses. METHODS Firstly 32 HBV e antigen negative (eAg(-)) participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: to receive vaccines alone, lamivudine (3TC) alone, both, or neither. Later 16 eAg(+) volunteers in two groups received either 3TC alone or both 3TC and vaccines. Finally, 12 eAg(-) and 12 eAg(+) subjects were enrolled into higher-dose treatment groups. Healthy but chronically HBV-infected males between the ages of 15-25 who lived in the western part of The Gambia were eligible. Participants in some groups received 1 mg or 2 mg of pSG2.HBs intramuscularly twice followed by 5×10(7) pfu or 1.5×10(8) pfu of MVA.HBs intradermally at 3-weekly intervals with or without concomitant 3TC for 11-14 weeks. Intradermal rabies vaccine was administered to a negative control group. Safety was assessed clinically and biochemically. The primary measure of efficacy was a quantitative PCR assay of plasma HBV. Immunity was assessed by IFN-γ ELISpot and intracellular cytokine staining. RESULTS Mild local and systemic adverse events were observed following the vaccines. A small shiny scar was observed in some cases after MVA.HBs. There were no significant changes in AST or ALT. HBeAg was lost in one participant in the higher-dose group. As expected, the 3TC therapy reduced viraemia levels during therapy, but the prime-boost vaccine regimen did not reduce the viraemia. The immune responses were variable. The majority of IFN-γ was made by antigen non-specific CD16(+) cells (both CD3(+) and CD3(-)). CONCLUSIONS The vaccines were well tolerated but did not control HBV infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN ISRCTN67270384.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James S. Cavenaugh
- Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul,
The Gambia
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical
Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and
Immunology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester,
Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Dorka Awi
- Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul,
The Gambia
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health,
University of Port Harcourt, Post Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Maimuna Mendy
- Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul,
The Gambia
- International Agency for Research on Cancer,
Lyon, France
| | - Adrian V. S. Hill
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical
Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics,
Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Hilton Whittle
- Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul,
The Gambia
| | - Samuel J. McConkey
- Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul,
The Gambia
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical
Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of International Health and
Tropical Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin,
Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gérolami R, Borentain P, Colson P, Norguet E, Gérolami A, Tamalet C. Efficacy of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in treating lamivudine-resistant HBV reactivation following hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion. Liver Int 2007; 27:1417-21. [PMID: 18036104 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01541.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HBsAg vaccination might help to control HBV replication following nucleos(t)ide analog therapy. We tested HBsAg vaccine in a patient who developed lamivudine resistance. PATIENT AND RESULTS An HBeAg negative HBV chronically-infected patient developed HBsAg seroconversion after 3 years of treatment by lamivudine. However, the control of HBV replication was transient and HBV DNA could be detected in the serum one year after lamivudine was stopped. Concurrently, the anti-HBs antibodies (HBsAb) titre had decreased from more than 100 IU/L to 23 IU/L. Due to the presence of rtM204V resistance mutation, lamivudine was not reintroduced and the patient was treated by HBsAg vaccination. After three injections, HBV DNA was no more detectable and the HBsAb titre reached more than 200 IU/L. CONCLUSION This observation suggests that a regular follow up of patients presenting HBsAg seroconversion following lamivudine therapy is necessary. In these patients, a low titre of HBsAb may not prevent from lamivudine-resistant HBV reactivation. Evaluation of HBsAg vaccination to maintain HBsAb at a high titre in these patients deserves further studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- René Gérolami
- Service d'Hépato-gastroentérologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Conception, Marseille, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pardo M, Bartolomé J, Carreño V. Current therapy of chronic hepatitis B. Arch Med Res 2007; 38:661-77. [PMID: 17613358 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2006.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2006] [Accepted: 12/04/2006] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Pardo
- Fundación para el Estudio de las Hepatitis Virales, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ochoa-Callejero L, Berraondo P, Crettaz J, Olagüe C, Vales A, Ruiz J, Prieto J, Tennant BC, Menne S, González-Aseguinolaza G. Woodchuck dendritic cells generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and transduced with recombinant human adenovirus serotype 5 induce antigen-specific cellular immune responses. J Med Virol 2007; 79:522-9. [PMID: 17385694 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.20808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Woodchucks infected with the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) is the best available animal model for testing the immunotherapeutic effects of dendritic cells (DCs) in the setting of a chronic infection, as woodchucks develop a persistent infection resembling that seen in humans infected with the hepatitis B virus. In the present study, DCs were generated from woodchuck peripheral blood mononuclear cells (wDCs) in the presence of human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) and human interleukin 4 (hIL-4). After 7 days of culture, cells with morphology similar to DCs were stained positively with a cross-reactive anti-human CD86 antibody. Functional analysis showed that uptake of FITC-dextran by wDCs was very efficient and was partially inhibited after LPS-induced maturation. Furthermore, wDCs stimulated allogenic lymphocytes and induced proliferation. Moreover, wDCs were transduced efficiently with a human adenovirus serotype 5 for the expression of beta-galactosidase. Following transduction and in vivo administration of such DCs into woodchucks, an antigen-specific cellular immune response was induced. These results demonstrate that wDCs can be generated from the peripheral blood. Following transfection with a recombinant adenovirus wDCs can be used as a feasible and effective tool for eliciting WHV-specific T-cell responses indicating their potential to serve as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ochoa-Callejero
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Viral Hepatitis, Division of Gene Therapy and Hepatology, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Betancourt AA, Delgado CAG, Estévez ZC, Martínez JC, Ríos GV, Aureoles-Roselló SRM, Zaldívar RA, Guzmán MA, Baile NF, Reyes PAD, Ruano LO, Fernández AC, Lobaina-Matos Y, Fernández AD, Madrazo AIJ, Martínez MIA, Baños ML, Alvarez NP, Baldo MD, Mestre RES, Pérez MVP, Martínez MEP, Escobar DA, Guanche MJC, Cáceres LM, Betancourt RS, Rando EH, Nieto GEG, González VLM, Rubido JCA. Phase I clinical trial in healthy adults of a nasal vaccine candidate containing recombinant hepatitis B surface and core antigens. Int J Infect Dis 2007; 11:394-401. [PMID: 17257877 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2006.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2006] [Revised: 09/06/2006] [Accepted: 09/13/2006] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nasal vaccine candidate (NASVAC), comprising hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface (HBsAg) and core antigens (HBcAg), has been shown to be highly immunogenic in animal models. METHODS A phase I double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was carried out in 19 healthy male adults with no serologic markers of immunity/infection to HBV. This study was aimed at exploring the safety and immunogenic profile of nasal co-administration of both HBV recombinant antigens. The trial was performed according to Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 45 years and were randomly allocated to receive a mixture of 50 microg HBsAg and 50 microg HBcAg or 0.9% physiologic saline solution, as a placebo, via nasal spray in a five-dose schedule at 0, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days. A total volume of 0.5 ml was administered in two dosages of 125 microl per nostril. Adverse events were actively recorded 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 7 days and 30 days after each dose. Anti-HBs and anti-HBc titers were evaluated using corresponding ELISA kits at days 30 and 90. RESULTS The vaccine candidate was safe and well tolerated. Adverse reactions included sneezing (34.1%), rhinorrhea (12.2%), nasal stuffiness (9.8%), palate itching (9.8%), headache (9.8%), and general malaise (7.3%). These reactions were all self-limiting and mild in intensity. No severe or unexpected events were recorded during the trial. The vaccine elicited anti-HBc seroconversion in 100% of subjects as early as day 30 of the immunization schedule, while a seroprotective anti-HBs titer (>or=10 IU/l) was at a maximum at day 90 (75%). All subjects in the placebo group remained seronegative during the trial. CONCLUSION The HBsAg-HBcAg vaccine candidate was safe, well tolerated and immunogenic in this phase I study in healthy adults. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of safety and immunogenicity for a nasal vaccine candidate comprising HBV antigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arístides Aguilar Betancourt
- Vaccine Division, Vaccine Clinical Trials Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, PO Box 6162, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana City, Cuba.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Li X, Yang X, Jiang Y, Liu J. A novel HBV DNA vaccine based on T cell epitopes and its potential therapeutic effect in HBV transgenic mice. Int Immunol 2005; 17:1293-302. [PMID: 16113237 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxh305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccination represents a novel therapeutic strategy for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Recently, some HBV DNA vaccines have been used in the preliminary clinical trials and exhibited exciting results in chronic HBV carriers. But these vaccines only encoded the single viral antigen, the S or the PreS2/S antigen. In this study, we designed a polytope DNA vaccine encoding multiple T cell epitopes. We found that it induced stronger CTL responses than the vaccine encoding the single antigen in H-2d and H-2b mice, although the CTL response to Ld-restricted epitope suppressed the CTLs to other epitopes in H-2d-restricted mice. Interestingly, heat shock protein 70 as an adjuvant not only enhanced CTL response to the viral antigen but also overcame this epitope suppression. Furthermore, the polytope DNA vaccine resulted in a long-term down-regulation of hepatitis B virus surface antigen and inhibition of HBV DNA replication in a HBV transgenic mouse model. Therefore, our research indicates that it is practicable and feasible to design a polytope DNA vaccine for chronic hepatitis B immunotherapy.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Cell Proliferation
- Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/administration & dosage
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Female
- Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage
- Genetic Vectors/immunology
- Hepatitis B/immunology
- Hepatitis B/prevention & control
- Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Hepatitis B Vaccines/genetics
- Hepatitis B Vaccines/immunology
- Hepatitis B virus/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Molecular Sequence Data
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangming Li
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Aguilar JC, Lobaina Y, Muzio V, García D, Pentón E, Iglesias E, Pichardo D, Urquiza D, Rodríguez D, Silva D, Petrovsky N, Guillén G. Development of a nasal vaccine for chronic hepatitis B infection that uses the ability of hepatitis B core antigen to stimulate a strong Th1 response against hepatitis B surface antigen. Immunol Cell Biol 2005; 82:539-46. [PMID: 15479440 DOI: 10.1111/j.0818-9641.2004.01278.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
There are estimated to be 350 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B infection worldwide. Patients with chronic hepatitis B are at risk of liver cirrhosis with associated mortality because of hepatocellular carcinoma and other complications. An important goal, therefore, is the development of an effective therapeutic vaccine against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). A major barrier to the development of such a vaccine is the impaired immune response to HBV antigens observed in the T cells of affected patients. One strategy to overcome these barriers is to activate mucosal T cells through the use of nasal vaccination because this may overcome the systemic immune downregulation that results from HBV infection. In addition, it may be beneficial to present additional HBV epitopes beyond those contained in the traditional hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) vaccine, for example, by using the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). This is advantageous because HBcAg has a unique ability to act as a potent Th1 adjuvant to HbsAg, while also serving as an immunogenic target. In this study we describe the effect of coadministration of HBsAg and HBcAg as part of a strategy to develop a more potent and effective HBV therapeutic vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J C Aguilar
- Biomedical Branch, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|