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Ruli TM, Pollack ED, Lodh A, Evers CD, Price CA, Shoreibah M. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Their Hepatic-Related Side Effects: A Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2042. [PMID: 38893164 PMCID: PMC11171072 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) being the most prevalent type of liver cancer. The prognosis of patients with advanced, unresectable HCC has historically been poor. However, with the emergence of immunotherapy, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), there is reason for optimism. Nevertheless, ICIs do not come without risk, especially when administered in patients with HCC, given their potential underlying poor hepatic reserve. Given their novelty in the management of HCC, there are few studies to date specifically investigating ICI-related side effects on the liver in patients with underlying HCC. This review will serve as a guide for clinicians on ICIs' role in the management of HCC and their potential side effect profile. There will be a discussion on ICI-related hepatotoxicity, the potential for hepatitis B and C reactivation with ICI use, the potential for the development of autoimmune hepatitis with ICI use, and the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding with ICI use. As ICIs become more commonplace as a treatment option in patients with advanced HCC, it is imperative that clinicians not only understand the mechanism of action of such agents but also understand and are able to identify hepatic-related side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M. Ruli
- Internal Medicine Residency Program, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (E.D.P.); (A.L.); (C.A.P.)
| | - Ethan D. Pollack
- Internal Medicine Residency Program, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (E.D.P.); (A.L.); (C.A.P.)
| | - Atul Lodh
- Internal Medicine Residency Program, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (E.D.P.); (A.L.); (C.A.P.)
| | - Charles D. Evers
- Internal Medicine Residency Program, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (E.D.P.); (A.L.); (C.A.P.)
| | - Christopher A. Price
- Internal Medicine Residency Program, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (E.D.P.); (A.L.); (C.A.P.)
| | - Mohamed Shoreibah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
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Watanabe T, Nagaoka K. An RNA-degrading enzyme emerges as a biomarker in a study of human hepatitis virus B. Hepatol Res 2024; 54:220-221. [PMID: 38146795 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.14005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Takehisa Watanabe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Katsuya Nagaoka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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Jiang X, Sun S, Li Z, Chen M. Isolation and Characterization of Targeting-HBsAg VNAR Single Domain Antibodies from Whitespotted Bamboo Sharks ( Chiloscyllium plagiosum). Mar Drugs 2023; 21:md21040237. [PMID: 37103376 PMCID: PMC10146958 DOI: 10.3390/md21040237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunoglobulin new antigen receptor (IgNAR) is a naturally occurring antibody that consists of only two heavy chains with two independent variable domains. The variable binding domain of IgNAR, called variable new antigen receptor (VNAR), is attractive due to its solubility, thermal stability, and small size. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a viral capsid protein found on the surface of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). It appears in the blood of an individual infected with HBV and is widely used as a diagnostic marker for HBV infection. In this study, the whitespotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) were immunized with the recombinant HBsAg protein. Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) of immunized bamboo sharks were further isolated and used to construct a VNAR-targeted HBsAg phage display library. The 20 specific VNARs against HBsAg were then isolated by bio-panning and phage ELISA. The 50% of maximal effect (EC50) of three nanobodies, including HB14, HB17, and HB18, were 4.864 nM, 4.260 nM, and 8.979 nM, respectively. The Sandwich ELISA assay further showed that these three nanobodies interacted with different epitopes of HBsAg protein. When taken together, our results provide a new possibility for the application of VNAR in HBV diagnosis and also demonstrate the feasibility of using VNAR for medical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xierui Jiang
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Quanzhou 362251, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Centre for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Shan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Centre for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Conservation and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Western, Life Science School, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Zengpeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Centre for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Mingliang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Centre for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
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Han HT, Jin WL, Li X. Mesenchymal stem cells-based therapy in liver diseases. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2022; 3:23. [PMID: 35895169 PMCID: PMC9326420 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-022-00088-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple immune cells and their products in the liver together form a complex and unique immune microenvironment, and preclinical models have demonstrated the importance of imbalances in the hepatic immune microenvironment in liver inflammatory diseases and immunocompromised liver diseases. Various immunotherapies have been attempted to modulate the hepatic immune microenvironment for the purpose of treating liver diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a comprehensive and plastic immunomodulatory capacity. On the one hand, they have been tried for the treatment of inflammatory liver diseases because of their excellent immunosuppressive capacity; On the other hand, MSCs have immune-enhancing properties in immunocompromised settings and can be modified into cellular carriers for targeted transport of immune enhancers by genetic modification, physical and chemical loading, and thus they are also used in the treatment of immunocompromised liver diseases such as chronic viral infections and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review, we discuss the immunological basis and recent strategies of MSCs for the treatment of the aforementioned liver diseases. Specifically, we update the immune microenvironment of the liver and summarize the distinct mechanisms of immune microenvironment imbalance in inflammatory diseases and immunocompromised liver diseases, and how MSCs can fully exploit their immunotherapeutic role in liver diseases with both immune imbalance patterns.
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5
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Joshita S. Toward the accumulation of evidence for a novel high-sensitivity hepatitis B core-related antigen assay in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatol Res 2022; 52:743-744. [PMID: 36047630 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Joshita
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.,Department of Health Promotion Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
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Hagiwara S, Kusumoto S, Inoue T, Ogawa S, Narita T, Ito A, Ri M, Komatsu H, Suzuki T, Matsuura K, Yagi S, Kaneko A, Aoyagi K, Iida S, Tanaka Y. Management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients with resolved HBV infection based on a highly sensitive HB core-related antigen assay. Hepatol Res 2022; 52:745-753. [PMID: 35199427 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation-related hepatitis, we examined the clinical usefulness of a highly sensitive HB core-related antigen (iTACT-HBcrAg) assay in patients with resolved HBV infection after nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) treatment for HBV reactivation. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 27 patients with resolved HBV infection who experienced HBV reactivation (defined as HBV DNA levels of 1.3 log IU/ml or more), and who received systemic chemotherapies for hematological malignancies between 2008 and 2020. iTACT-HBcrAg, HBsAg-HQ, and antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) were measured using samples stored after HBV reactivation. The lower limit of quantification for iTACT-HBcrAg was 2.0 log U/ml. RESULTS HBV reactivation was diagnosed at a median HBV DNA level of 1.8 log IU/ml, and then all patients received NA treatment. No patient had HBV-related hepatitis with a median maximum HBV DNA level of 2.0 log IU/ml. The positivities of iTACT-HBcrAg and HBsAg-HQ were 96% and 52% after HBV reactivation, respectively. Of 25 patients with detectable iTACT-HBcrAg at the initiation of NA treatment, 17 (68%) achieved iTACT-HBcrAg loss. Median durations from NA treatment to HBV DNA loss and iTACT-HBcrAg loss or the last follow-up were 35 and 175 days, respectively. Recurrence of HBV reactivation after NA cessation was not observed in seven of eight patients who achieved iTACT-HBcrAg loss or seropositive for anti-HBs during follow-up, except for one without anti-HBs after allogeneic transplantation. CONCLUSIONS iTACT-HBcrAg could be a potential surrogate marker for diagnosing early-stage HBV reactivation as well as safe cessation of NA treatment in patients with resolved HBV infection after HBV reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Hagiwara
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shigeru Kusumoto
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takako Inoue
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nagoya City University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shintaro Ogawa
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoko Narita
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Asahi Ito
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masaki Ri
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Komatsu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takanori Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kentaro Matsuura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shintaro Yagi
- Department of Research and Development, Advanced Life Science Institute, Inc., Hachioji, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kaneko
- Research and Development Division, Fujirebio Inc., Hachioji, Japan
| | - Katsumi Aoyagi
- Department of Research and Development, Advanced Life Science Institute, Inc., Hachioji, Japan.,Research and Development Division, Fujirebio Inc., Hachioji, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Iida
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Tanaka
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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Li Y, Wang X, Liu Y, Jin W, Tian H, Xie F, Xia K, Zhang X, Fu W, Zhang Y. Flexible Terahertz Metamaterial Biosensor for Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Hepatitis B Viral DNA Based on the Metal-Enhanced Sandwich Assay. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:930800. [PMID: 35992361 PMCID: PMC9388765 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.930800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The high sensitivity and specificity of terahertz (THz) biosensing are both promising and challenging in DNA sample detection. This study produced and refined a flexible THz MM biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of HBV in clinical serum samples based on a gold magnetic nanoparticle-mediated rolling circle amplification (GMNPs@RCA) sandwich assay under isothermal conditions. Typically, solid-phase RCA reactions mediated by circular padlock probes (PLPs) are triggered under isothermal conditions in the presence of HBV DNA, resulting in long single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with high fidelity and specificity. Then, the resultant ssDNA was conjugated with detection probes (DPs) immobilized on gold nanoparticles (DP@AuNPs) to form GMNPs-RCA-AuNPs sandwich complexes. The HBV DNA concentrations were quantified by introducing GMNPs-RCA-AuNPs complexes into the metasurface of a flexible THz metamaterial-based biosensor chip and resulting in a red shift of the resonance peak of the THz metamaterials. This biosensor can lead to highly specific and sensitive detection with one-base mismatch discrimination and a limit of detection (LOD) down to 1.27E + 02 IU/ml of HBV DNA from clinical serum samples. The HBV DNA concentration was linearly correlated with the frequency shift of the THz metamaterials within the range of 1.27E + 02∼1.27E + 07 IU/ml, illustrating the applicability and accuracy of our assay in real clinical samples. This strategy constitutes a promising THz sensing method to identify virus DNA. In the future, it is hoped it can assist with pathogen identification and clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumin Li
- Medical Laboratory of the Third affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Weidong Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Huiyan Tian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Fengxin Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ke Xia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Xiuming Zhang
- Medical Laboratory of the Third affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Xiuming Zhang, ; Weiling Fu, ; Yang Zhang,
| | - Weiling Fu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiuming Zhang, ; Weiling Fu, ; Yang Zhang,
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiuming Zhang, ; Weiling Fu, ; Yang Zhang,
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8
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Suzuki T, Inoue T, Matsuura K, Kusumoto S, Hagiwara S, Ogawa S, Yagi S, Kaneko A, Fujiwara K, Watanabe T, Aoyagi K, Urata Y, Tamori A, Kataoka H, Tanaka Y. Clinical usefulness of a novel high-sensitivity hepatitis B core-related antigen assay to determine the initiation of treatment for HBV reactivation. J Gastroenterol 2022; 57:486-494. [PMID: 35478052 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-022-01872-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS A fully automated, novel, high-sensitivity hepatitis B core-related antigen assay (iTACT-HBcrAg) has been developing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of measuring HBcrAg, using that assay, to diagnose HBV reactivation in a multi-center setting, compared with ultra-high-sensitivity HBsAg (iTACT-HBsAg) and HBV DNA assays. METHODS Forty-four patients with HBV reactivation from 2008 to 2020 were enrolled in four hospitals. Serial serum specimens from the patients were assessed retrospectively for their HBcrAg levels by iTACT-HBcrAg (lower limit of detection; 2.0 log U/mL) and HBsAg levels by iTACT-HBsAg (lower limit of detection; 0.0005 IU/mL); these were compared to the HBV DNA levels. HBV reactivation was defined as detection of serum HBV DNA, including unquantifiable detection. RESULTS At HBV reactivation and/or thereafter, HBV DNA levels were quantified (≥ 1.3 log IU/mL) in the sera of 27 patients, and were below the level of quantification (< 1.3 log IU/mL) in the sera of 17 patients. Of the 27 patients with HBV reactivation and whose serum HBV DNA was quantified, the sera of 26 and 24 patients (96.3% and 88.9%) were positive by iTACT-HBcrAg and iTACT-HBsAg, respectively. HBcrAg was detectable by iTACT-HBcrAg before HBV DNA was quantifiable in 15 of the 27 patients. Of the 11 patients with HBV reactivation and undetectable HBcrAg by iTACT-HBcrAg at HBV reactivation and/or thereafter, 10 had unquantifiable HBV DNA and none developed HBV reactivation-related hepatitis. CONCLUSIONS The iTACT-HBcrAg assay is useful for monitoring HBV reactivation to determine the initiation of treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Suzuki
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takako Inoue
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kentaro Matsuura
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shigeru Kusumoto
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shinya Hagiwara
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shintaro Ogawa
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shintaro Yagi
- Advanced Life Science Institute, Inc., Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Kei Fujiwara
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takehisa Watanabe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Katsumi Aoyagi
- Advanced Life Science Institute, Inc., Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.,Fujirebio Inc, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukitomo Urata
- Tsugaru General Hospital, United Municipalities of Tsugaru, Aomori, Japan
| | - Akihiro Tamori
- Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiromi Kataoka
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Tanaka
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. .,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
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Watanabe T, Hayashi S, Tanaka Y. Drug Discovery Study Aimed at a Functional Cure for HBV. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071393. [PMID: 35891374 PMCID: PMC9321005 DOI: 10.3390/v14071393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute and, most importantly, chronic hepatitis B worldwide. Antiviral treatments have been developed to reduce viral loads but few patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) achieve a functional cure. The development of new therapeutic agents is desirable. Recently, many novel agents have been developed, including drugs targeting HBV-DNA and HBV-RNA. This review provides an overview of the developmental status of these drugs, especially direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs). Serological biomarkers of HBV infection are essential for predicting the clinical course of CHB. It is also important to determine the amount and activity of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the nuclei of infected hepatocytes. Hepatitis B core-associated antigen (HBcrAg) is a new HBV marker that has an important role in reflecting cccDNA in CHB, because it is associated with hepatic cccDNA, as well as serum HBV DNA. The highly sensitive HBcrAg (iTACT-HBcrAg) assay could be a very sensitive HBV activation marker and an alternative to HBV DNA testing for monitoring reactivation. Many of the drugs currently in clinical trials have shown efficacy in reducing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels. Combination therapies with DAAs and boost immune response are also under development; finding the best combinations will be important for therapeutic development.
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Hasegawa Y, Obara H, Chu PS, Shinoda M, Kitago M, Abe Y, Yagi H, Matsubara K, Nakamoto N, Kitagawa Y. Patients with liver cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis have lesser chances for liver transplantation. JOURNAL OF HEPATO-BILIARY-PANCREATIC SCIENCES 2022; 29:562-569. [PMID: 35088543 DOI: 10.1002/jhbp.1119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main causes of liver cirrhosis have changed over the past decade. In Japan, the number of deceased donors is increasing but is still insufficient relative to the number of patients awaiting a liver transplant. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of candidates for liver transplantation. METHODS This was a retrospective study of adult patients who visited our department for consultation regarding liver transplantation from January 2009 to December 2020. Of a total of 601 patients, 336 were followed-up. The following data were collected and analyzed: patient's characteristics, liver etiology, Child-Pugh and MELD scores, and the eventual outcome, that is, whether liver transplantation was performed. RESULTS Only 153 of 336 (45.5%) patients underwent liver transplantation, of which 42 (27.5%) received deceased donor liver transplantation, and 129 (38.4%) died without transplantation. The proportion of patients who underwent liver transplantation was low among patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (10.7%) (P<0.001). The rate of qualified living donors was the lowest for patients with NASH (28.6%) and that for the other etiologies ranged from 55.6% to 67.4% (P=0.050). CONCLUSION Patients with liver cirrhosis due to NASH may have a lesser chance of undergoing liver transplantation from both living and deceased donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Hasegawa
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideaki Obara
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Po-Sung Chu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shinoda
- Digestive Diseases Center, International University of Health and Welfare, Mita Hospital, 1-4-3 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8329, Japan
| | - Minoru Kitago
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yuta Abe
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yagi
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kentaro Matsubara
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nakamoto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yuko Kitagawa
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
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Hayashi S, Nagaoka K, Tanaka Y. Blood-Based Biomarkers in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Including the Viral Genome and Glycosylated Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011051. [PMID: 34681709 PMCID: PMC8540379 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and is a global public health issue. High performance biomarkers can aid the early detection of HCC development in HBV-infected individuals. In addition, advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of HBV infection and in clinical laboratory techniques have enabled the establishment of disease-specific tests, prediction of the progression of liver diseases, including HCC, and auxiliary diagnosis of HCC, using blood-based methods instead of biopsies of liver or HCC tissues. Viral factors such as the HBV genotype, HBV genetic mutations, HBV DNA, and HBV-related antigens, as well as host factors, such as tumor-associated proteins and post-translational modifications, especially glycosylated proteins, can be blood-based, disease-specific biomarkers for HCC development in HBV-infected patients. In this review, we describe the clinical applications of viral biomarkers, including the HBV genome and glycosylated proteins, for patients at a risk of HBV-related HCC, based on their molecular mechanisms. In addition, we introduce promising biomarker candidates for practical use, including colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), extracellular vesicles, and cell-free, circulating tumor DNA. The clinical use of such surrogate markers may lead to a better understanding of the risk of disease progression and early detection of HCC in HBV-infected patients, thereby improving their prognosis.
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