1
|
Lin N, Yin W, Miller H, Byazrova MG, Herrada AA, Benlagha K, Lee P, Guan F, Lei J, Gong Q, Yan Y, Filatov A, Liu C. The role of regulatory T cells and follicular T helper cells in HBV infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1169601. [PMID: 37275865 PMCID: PMC10235474 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1169601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B has become one of the major global health threats, especially in developing countries and regions. Hepatitis B virus infection greatly increases the risk for liver diseases such as cirrhosis and cancer. However, treatment for hepatitis B is limited when considering the huge base of infected people. The immune response against hepatitis B is mediated mainly by CD8+ T cells, which are key to fighting invading viruses, while regulatory T cells prevent overreaction of the immune response process. Additionally, follicular T helper cells play a key role in B-cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, and formation of germinal centers. The pathogenic process of hepatitis B virus is generally the result of a disorder or dysfunction of the immune system. Therefore, we present in this review the critical functions and related biological processes of regulatory T cells and follicular T helper cells during HBV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nengqi Lin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Yin
- Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Heather Miller
- Department of Research and Development, BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, United States
| | - Maria G. Byazrova
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, National Research Center Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrés A. Herrada
- Lymphatic Vasculature and Inflammation Research Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
| | - Kamel Benlagha
- Université de Paris, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, EMiLy, Paris, France
| | - Pamela Lee
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Fei Guan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiahui Lei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Quan Gong
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
- Clinical Molecular Immunology Center, School of Medicine, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Youqing Yan
- Department of Infectious Disease, Wuhan No.7 Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Alexander Filatov
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, National Research Center Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Chaohong Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Khanam A, Ayithan N, Tang L, Poonia B, Kottilil S. IL-21-Deficient T Follicular Helper Cells Support B Cell Responses Through IL-27 in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B. Front Immunol 2021; 11:599648. [PMID: 33584666 PMCID: PMC7876309 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.599648] [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: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) affects over 350 million people worldwide. Current treatment does result in reduced complications; however, a cure (development of antibodies to the S antigen) is not achieved, requiring life-long therapy. Humoral responses contribute to viral elimination by secreting neutralizing antibodies; though, effective induction of humoral immunity require CD4T cell differentiation into T follicular helper (TFH) cells that support B cell response through interleukin-21 (IL-21). In CHB, mechanism of TFH-B interactions is seldom described. During CHB, TFH cells are defective in producing IL-21 in response to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). However, regardless of low IL-21, TFH cells efficiently support B cell responses by producing interleukin-27 (IL-27), which directs the formation of plasmablasts and plasma cells from memory and naïve B cells by enhancing B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1. IL-27 not only improved total antibody production but HBsAg-specific IgG and IgM secretion that are essential for viral clearance. Importantly, IL-27+TFH cells were significantly associated with HBV DNA reduction. Therefore, these findings imply a novel mechanism of TFH mediated B cell help in CHB and suggest that IL-27 effectively compensate the function of IL-21 by supporting TFH-B cell function, required for protective antibody response and may contribute to viral clearance by providing potential target for achieving a functional cure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arshi Khanam
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Natarajan Ayithan
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lydia Tang
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Bhawna Poonia
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shyam Kottilil
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Teng DK, Liu Y, Lv YF, Wang L, Zhang W, Wang JP, Li Y. Elevated interleukin-35 suppresses liver inflammation by regulation of T helper 17 cells in acute hepatitis B virus infection. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 70:252-259. [PMID: 30851705 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-35 is a responsive anti-inflammatory cytokine implicated in different diseases processes. It has been reported that elevated IL-35 contributed to immunosuppression in chronic hepatitis by modulation of T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cells. However, the role of IL-35 in acute hepatitis B (AHB) was still not completely elucidated. Thus, in the present study, we analyzed the expression and regulatory activity of IL-35 to Th17 cells and inflammatory response during acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in both peripheral blood cells isolated from AHB patients and in hydrodynamic induced HBV-infected mouse model. Plasma IL-35 level and circulating HBV peptides-induced Th17 frequency was significantly elevated in AHB patients, and IL-35 expression negatively correlated with liver inflammation. In vitro IL-35 stimulation to CD4+ T cells purified from AHB patients down-regulated HBV peptides-induced Th17-phenotype, which presented as reduced IL-17 and IL-22 production. In vivo IL-35 administration dampened liver inflammation in HBV plasmid injected mice, however, did not affect HBV antigens production. This process was accompanied by suppression of natural killer cells and down-regulation of HBV peptides-induced Th17 cells in the liver, but did not affect total intrahepatic lymphocytes and other cell subsets numbers or chemokines expression in the liver. In conclusion, the current data indicated that IL-35 might be a novel mediator associated with hepatocytes damage and liver inflammation by regulating HBV peptides-induced Th17 cells during acute HBV infection. The potential anti-inflammatory property of IL-35 might be pivotal for developing new therapeutic approaches for hepatitis B.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deng-Ke Teng
- Department of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130033, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital and The Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710068, China
| | - Yi-Fei Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital and The Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710068, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital and The Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710068, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710032, China
| | - Jiu-Ping Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710032, China.
| | - Yu Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital and The Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710068, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mak LY, Wong DKH, Cheung KS, Seto WK, Lai CL, Yuen MF. Review article: hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg): an emerging marker for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018; 47:43-54. [PMID: 29035003 DOI: 10.1111/apt.14376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cannot be completely eradicated due to the presence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the nuclei of infected hepatocytes. While quantification of intrahepatic cccDNA requires liver biopsies, serological markers can be non-invasive alternatives to reflect intrahepatic viral replicative activity. Recently, hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) has been advocated as a novel serum marker for disease monitoring and prognostication of CHB. AIM To examine the virological aspect and clinical application of HBcrAg with respect to the natural history and treatment of CHB. METHODS We reviewed all papers published in the PubMed journal list and abstracts from major international meetings that included the keyword "HBcrAg" or "hepatitis B core-related antigen" until March 2017. Selected studies were compared and summarised on the basis of existing theories, as well as the authors' experience. RESULTS HBcrAg exhibited good correlation with intrahepatic (ih) cccDNA, ih total hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, serum HBV DNA and to a lesser extent HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). In situations where serum HBV DNA levels become undetectable or HBsAg loss is achieved, HBcrAg can still be detectable. This marker is helpful in differentiation of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis from HBeAg-negative chronic infection, predicting spontaneous or treatment-induced HBeAg seroconversion, sustained response to nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA), risk of HBV reactivation in occult HBV infection under immunosuppressive therapies, and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development as well as post-operative HCC recurrence. CONCLUSIONS HBcrAg is a potential surrogate marker of cccDNA. It may soon become a useful marker for disease monitoring, predicting treatment response and disease outcome of chronic hepatitis B.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L-Y Mak
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - D K-H Wong
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - K-S Cheung
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - W-K Seto
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - C-L Lai
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - M-F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|