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Naully PG, Tan MI, Agustiningsih A, Sukowati C, Giri-Rachman EA. cccDNA epigenetic regulator as target for therapeutical vaccine development against hepatitis B. Ann Hepatol 2024; 30:101533. [PMID: 39147134 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2024.101533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB) remains a global health concern, with currently available antiviral therapies demonstrating limited effectiveness in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Two primary challenges in CHB treatment include the persistence of the minichromosome, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and the failure of the host immune response to eliminate cccDNA. Recent findings indicate several host and HBV proteins involved in the epigenetic regulation of cccDNA, including HBV core protein (HBc) and HBV x protein (HBx). Both proteins might contribute to the stability of the cccDNA minichromosome and interact with viral and host proteins to support transcription. One potential avenue for CHB treatment involves the utilization of therapeutic vaccines. This paper explores HBV antigens suitable for epigenetic manipulation of cccDNA, elucidates their mechanisms of action, and evaluates their potential as key components of epigenetically-driven vaccines for CHB therapy. Molecular targeted agents with therapeutic vaccines offer a promising strategy for addressing CHB by targeting the virus and enhancing the host's immunological response. Despite challenges, the development of these vaccines provides new hope for CHB patients by emphasizing the need for HBV antigens that induce effective immune responses without causing T cell exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Gita Naully
- School of Life Science and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia; Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Jenderal Achmad Yani University, Cimahi 40525, Indonesia
| | - Marselina Irasonia Tan
- School of Life Science and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Agustiningsih Agustiningsih
- Eijkman Research Center for Molecular Biology, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN), Jakarta Pusat 10340, Indonesia
| | - Caecilia Sukowati
- Eijkman Research Center for Molecular Biology, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN), Jakarta Pusat 10340, Indonesia; Liver Cancer Unit, Fondazione Italiana Fegato ONLUS, AREA Science Park, Basovizza 34049, Trieste, Italy
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Mahmood F, Xu R, Awan MUN, Song Y, Han Q, Xia X, Wei J, Xu J, Peng J, Zhang J. HBV Vaccines: Advances and Development. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1862. [PMID: 38140265 PMCID: PMC10747071 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121862] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem that is closely related to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prevalence of acute and chronic HBV infection, liver cirrhosis, and HCC has significantly decreased as a result of the introduction of universal HBV vaccination programs. The first hepatitis B vaccine approved was developed by purifying the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from the plasma of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. Subsequently, recombinant DNA technology led to the development of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Although there are already several licensed vaccines available for HBV infection, continuous research is essential to develop even more effective vaccines. Prophylactic hepatitis B vaccination has been important in the prevention of hepatitis B because it has effectively produced protective immunity against hepatitis B viral infection. Prophylactic vaccines only need to provoke neutralizing antibodies directed against the HBV envelop proteins, whereas therapeutic vaccines are most likely needed to induce a comprehensive T cell response and thus, should include other HBV antigens, such as HBV core and polymerase. The existing vaccines have proven to be highly effective in preventing HBV infection, but ongoing research aims to improve their efficacy, duration of protection, and accessibility. The routine administration of the HBV vaccine is safe and well-tolerated worldwide. The purpose of this type of immunization is to trigger an immunological response in the host, which will halt HBV replication. The clinical efficacy and safety of the HBV vaccine are affected by a number of immunological and clinical factors. However, this success is now in jeopardy due to the breakthrough infections caused by HBV variants with mutations in the S gene, high viral loads, and virus-induced immunosuppression. In this review, we describe various types of available HBV vaccines, along with the recent progress in the ongoing battle to develop new vaccines against HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Mahmood
- Molecular Medicine Research Centre of Yunnan Province, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (F.M.); (R.X.); (Y.S.); (Q.H.); (X.X.)
- Central Laboratory, Liver Disease Research Center and Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming 650021, China;
| | - Ruixian Xu
- Molecular Medicine Research Centre of Yunnan Province, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (F.M.); (R.X.); (Y.S.); (Q.H.); (X.X.)
| | - Maher Un Nisa Awan
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, No. 176 Qingnian Road, Kunming 650021, China; (M.U.N.A.); (J.X.)
| | - Yuzhu Song
- Molecular Medicine Research Centre of Yunnan Province, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (F.M.); (R.X.); (Y.S.); (Q.H.); (X.X.)
| | - Qinqin Han
- Molecular Medicine Research Centre of Yunnan Province, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (F.M.); (R.X.); (Y.S.); (Q.H.); (X.X.)
| | - Xueshan Xia
- Molecular Medicine Research Centre of Yunnan Province, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (F.M.); (R.X.); (Y.S.); (Q.H.); (X.X.)
| | - Jia Wei
- Central Laboratory, Liver Disease Research Center and Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming 650021, China;
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, No. 176 Qingnian Road, Kunming 650021, China; (M.U.N.A.); (J.X.)
| | - Juan Peng
- The Obstetrical Department, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650032, China;
| | - Jinyang Zhang
- Molecular Medicine Research Centre of Yunnan Province, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (F.M.); (R.X.); (Y.S.); (Q.H.); (X.X.)
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