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Allweiss L, Cohen C, Dias J, Fumagalli V, Guo H, Harris JM, Hu J, Iannacone M, Isogawa M, Jeng WJ, Kim KH, Kramvis A, Li W, Lucifora J, Muramatsu M, Neuveut C, Ploss A, Pollicino T, Protzer U, Tan A, Tanaka Y, Tu T, Tsukuda S, Thimme R, Urban S, Watashi K, Yuan Z, Yeh SH, McKeating JA, Revill PA. Highlights from the 2023 International Meeting on the Molecular Biology of Hepatitis B virus. J Gen Virol 2024; 105. [PMID: 38757942 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery in 1965, our understanding of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication cycle and host immune responses has increased markedly. In contrast, our knowledge of the molecular biology of hepatitis delta virus (HDV), which is associated with more severe liver disease, is less well understood. Despite the progress made, critical gaps remain in our knowledge of HBV and HDV replication and the mechanisms underlying viral persistence and evasion of host immunity. The International HBV Meeting is the leading annual scientific meeting for presenting the latest advances in HBV and HDV molecular virology, immunology, and epidemiology. In 2023, the annual scientific meeting was held in Kobe, Japan and this review summarises some of the advances presented at the Meeting and lists gaps in our knowledge that may facilitate the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Allweiss
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Joao Dias
- Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, CNRS Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Valeria Fumagalli
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics; Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James M Harris
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jianming Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Matteo Iannacone
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Masanori Isogawa
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wen-Juei Jeng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kyun-Hwan Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Anna Kramvis
- Anna Kramvis Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Wenhui Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, PR China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Julie Lucifora
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, F-69007, Lyon, France
| | - Masamichi Muramatsu
- Department of Infectious Disease Research, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Christine Neuveut
- Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, CNRS Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Teresa Pollicino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Anthony Tan
- Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yasuhito Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Thomas Tu
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Senko Tsukuda
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany
| | - Stephan Urban
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Koichi Watashi
- Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Zhenghong Yuan
- Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shiou-Hwei Yeh
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jane A McKeating
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter A Revill
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Wagner J, Yuen L, Littlejohn M, Sozzi V, Jackson K, Martin R, Aeschbacher T, Suri V, Tan SK, Feierbach B, Gaggar A, Marcellin P, Buti Ferret M, Janssen HLA, Gane E, Meagher N, Price DJ, Wong D, Thompson AT, Revill PA. Hepatitis B virus haplotype number at baseline is a predictive marker of functional cure during antiviral therapy for patients with genotypes A and D HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2023; 57:509-523. [PMID: 36427857 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17299] [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] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS We investigated associations between hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome-length haplotype number (HN) at baseline in subjects with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and the likelihood of achieving functional cure during direct-acting antiviral therapy METHOD: We analysed 86 HBeAg-positive baseline samples from patients with HBV genotypes A and D who were enrolled in a Phase II trial of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) to determine if HN was a biomarker of HBsAg loss during therapy. Findings were validated using baseline samples from 181 patients with HBV genotypes A and D from an independent clinical trial utilising TDF or tenofovir alafenamide therapy in HBeAg-positive CHB. RESULTS In the HBeAg-positive test cohort, patients with genotypes A or D and ≤2 haplotypes had a minimum of 21-fold higher likelihood of achieving HBsAg loss on TDF. Baseline HN (p < 0.0001) was a stronger predictor of HBsAg loss on therapy than HBsAg titre (p = 0.03), HBeAg titre (p = 0.0002), or the presence of HBV basal core promoter (A1762T, p = 0.0379 and G1764A, p = 0.0176) or G1896A precore mutations (p = 0.0218). This finding was validated in the independent validation cohort. HN was statistically higher in patients with HBV genotypes B or C infection compared to genotypes A and D. CONCLUSION Baseline HN ≤2 predicts which patients with HBV genotypes A or D will more likely progress to functional cure on current direct-acting antiviral therapy, with greater accuracy than current biomarkers including baseline HBsAg and HBeAg titre.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Wagner
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lilly Yuen
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Margaret Littlejohn
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vitina Sozzi
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kathy Jackson
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ross Martin
- Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Anuj Gaggar
- Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, USA
| | | | - Maria Buti Ferret
- Liver Unit, Valle d'Hebron (Ciberehd) University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Harry L A Janssen
- Toronto Center for Liver Diseases, Toronto General Hospital, University: Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ed Gane
- New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Niamh Meagher
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Price
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Darren Wong
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Gastroenterology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alexander T Thompson
- Department of Gastroenterology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter A Revill
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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3
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Fu Y, Fang F, Guo H, Xiao X, Hu Y, Zeng Y, Chen T, Wu S, Lin N, Huang J, Jiang L, Ou Q, Liu C. Compartmentalisation of Hepatitis B virus X gene evolution in hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and the genotype-phenotype correlation of tumorigenicity in HBV-related patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:2486-2501. [PMID: 36102940 PMCID: PMC9621239 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2125344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) exists as quasispecies (QS). However, the evolutionary characteristics of haplotypes of HBV X gene in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) microenvironment remain unclear. Mutations across X gene are essential for the tumorigenicity of HBV X protein (HBx). However, the functional phenotypes of many mutant HBx remain unknown. This study aims to compare the characteristics of X gene evolution between tumour and non-tumour tissues in HCC patients and investigate the tumorigenic phenotype of HBx harbouring mutation T81P/S101P/L123S. This study included 24 HCC patients. Molecular cloning of X gene was performed to analyse characteristics of haplotypes in liver tissues. HCC cell lines stably expressing wild-type or mutant HBx and subcutaneous tumour xenograft mouse model were used to assess HBx-T81P/S101P/L123S tumorigenicity. The mean heterogeneity of HBV QS across X gene in tumour tissues was lower than that in non-tumour tissues. A location bias was observed in X gene clones with genotype C or D in tumour tissues compared to those with genotype B. Mutations in genotype-C or - D clones were mainly clustered in the dimerization region and aa110-aa140 within the transactivation region. A novel mutation combination at residues 81, 101 and 123 was identified in tumour tissues. Further, HBx-T81P/S101P/L123S promotes cell proliferation and increases genomic instability, which was mediated by MYC. This study elucidates the compartmentalized evolution patterns of HBV X gene between intra tumour and non-tumour tissues in HCC patients and provides a new mechanism underlying HBV-driven hepatocarcinogenesis, suggesting a potential viral marker for monitoring HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Fu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fengling Fang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongyan Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xialin Xiao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuhai Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongbin Zeng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tianbin Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Songhang Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ni Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinlan Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qishui Ou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Qishui Ou Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Can Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Can Liu Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Maslac O, Wagner J, Sozzi V, Mason H, Svarovskaia J, Tan S, Gaggar A, Locarnini S, Yuen L, Littlejohn M, Revill PA. Secreted hepatitis B virus splice variants differ by HBV genotype and across phases of chronic hepatitis B infection. J Viral Hepat 2022; 29:604-615. [PMID: 35582878 PMCID: PMC9544302 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is characterized by progression through different phases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and disease. Although not necessary for HBV replication, there is increasing evidence that HBV splice variants are associated with liver disease progression and pathogenesis. However, there have been no studies till date on the frequency or diversity of splice variants for different HBV genotypes across the phases of CHB. Next generation sequencing data from 404 patient samples of HBV genotype A, B, C or D in Phase I, Phase II or Phase IV of CHB was analysed for HBV splice variants using an in house bioinformatics pipeline. HBV splice variants differed in frequency and type by genotype and phase of natural history. Splice variant Sp1 was the most frequently detected (206/404, 51% of patients), followed by Sp13 (151/404 37% of patients). The frequency of variants was generally highest in Phase II (123/165, 75% of patients), a phase typically associated with enhanced immune activation, followed by Phase I (69/99, 70% of patients). Splice variants were associated with reduced hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) levels and statistically reduced likelihood of achieving HBsAg loss (functional cure) in Phase II patients for Sp1 and Sp13 (p = .0014 and .0156, respectively). The frequency of HBV splice variants in patient serum differed markedly by HBV genotype and phase of CHB natural history. The increased levels of HBV splice variants detected in CHB phase II patients compared with the higher replicative Phase I in particular warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Maslac
- Division of Molecular Research and DevelopmentVictorian Infectious Diseases Reference LaboratoryPeter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia,Department of MicrobiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Josef Wagner
- Division of Molecular Research and DevelopmentVictorian Infectious Diseases Reference LaboratoryPeter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Vitina Sozzi
- Division of Molecular Research and DevelopmentVictorian Infectious Diseases Reference LaboratoryPeter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Hugh Mason
- Division of Molecular Research and DevelopmentVictorian Infectious Diseases Reference LaboratoryPeter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | | | | | | | - Stephen Locarnini
- Division of Molecular Research and DevelopmentVictorian Infectious Diseases Reference LaboratoryPeter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Lilly Yuen
- Division of Molecular Research and DevelopmentVictorian Infectious Diseases Reference LaboratoryPeter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Margaret Littlejohn
- Division of Molecular Research and DevelopmentVictorian Infectious Diseases Reference LaboratoryPeter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia,Department of Infectious DiseasesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Peter A. Revill
- Division of Molecular Research and DevelopmentVictorian Infectious Diseases Reference LaboratoryPeter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia,Department of MicrobiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia,Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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5
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Wang Y, Li Y, Zai W, Hu K, Zhu Y, Deng Q, Wu M, Li Y, Chen J, Yuan Z. HBV covalently closed circular DNA minichromosomes in distinct epigenetic transcriptional states differ in their vulnerability to damage. Hepatology 2022; 75:1275-1288. [PMID: 34779008 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a major obstacle for a cure of chronic hepatitis B. Accumulating evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications regulate the transcriptional activity of cccDNA minichromosomes. However, it remains unclear how the epigenetic state of cccDNA affects its stability. APPROACHES AND RESULTS By using HBV infection cell models and in vitro and in vivo recombinant cccDNA (rcccDNA) and HBVcircle models, the reduction rate of HBV cccDNA and the efficacy of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit 3A (APOBEC3A)-mediated and CRISPR/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9)-mediated cccDNA targeting were compared between cccDNAs with distinct transcriptional activities. Interferon-α treatment and hepatitis B x protein (HBx) deletion were applied as two strategies for cccDNA repression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and micrococcal nuclease assays were performed to determine the epigenetic pattern of cccDNA. HBV cccDNA levels remained stable in nondividing hepatocytes; however, they were significantly reduced during cell division, and the reduction rate was similar between cccDNAs in transcriptionally active and transcriptionally repressed states. Strikingly, HBV rcccDNA without HBx expression exhibited a significantly longer persistence in mice. The cccDNA with low transcriptional activity exhibited an epigenetically inactive pattern and was more difficult to access by APOBEC3A and engineered CRISPR-Cas9. The epigenetic regulator activating cccDNA increased its vulnerability to APOBEC3A. CONCLUSIONS HBV cccDNA minichromosomes in distinct epigenetic transcriptional states showed a similar reduction rate during cell division but significantly differed in their accessibility and vulnerability to targeted nucleases and antiviral agents. Epigenetic sensitization of cccDNA makes it more susceptible to damage and may potentially contribute to an HBV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yumeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wenjing Zai
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Kongying Hu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yuanfei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qiang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina.,Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus InfectionChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghaiChina.,Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and InfectionShanghaiChina
| | - Min Wu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical CenterFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yaming Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jieliang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina.,Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus InfectionChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghaiChina.,Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and InfectionShanghaiChina
| | - Zhenghong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina.,Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus InfectionChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghaiChina.,Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and InfectionShanghaiChina
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6
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Management and Treatment of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B: Towards Personalized Medicine. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040701. [PMID: 35458431 PMCID: PMC9027850 DOI: 10.3390/v14040701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The currently available antiviral treatments (Peg-Interferon-α and Nucleos(t)ide Analogues, NA) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) achieve a functional cure (serum HBsAg and HDV-DNA clearance) of HBV infection in a limited number of patients. Nevertheless, the continuous pharmacological suppression of viral replication by NA halts liver disease progression lowering the risk of HCC development and improving the survival. In the near future, to fully exploit the potential of old and new drugs for HBV treatment a personalized approach to the patients will be required according to an accurate definition of their virologic, immunologic and clinical profile.
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7
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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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Wang M, Chen L, Dong M, Li J, Zhu B, Yang Z, Gong Q, Han Y, Yu D, Zhang D, Zoulim F, Zhang J, Zhang X. Viral quasispecies quantitative analysis: a novel approach for appraising the immune tolerant phase of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:842-851. [PMID: 33870846 PMCID: PMC8812768 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1919033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Few non-invasive models were established for precisely identifying the immune tolerant (IT) phase from chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to develop a novel approach that combined next-generation sequencing (NGS) and machine learning algorithms using our recently published viral quasispecies (QS) analysis package. 290 HBeAg positive patients from whom liver biopsies were taken were enrolled and divided into a training group (n = 148) and a validation group (n = 142). HBV DNA was extracted and QS sequences were obtained by NGS. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) based on viral operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were performed to explore the correlations among QS and clinical phenotypes. Three machine learning algorithms, including K-nearest neighbour, support vector machine, and random forest algorithm, were used to construct diagnostic models for IT phase classification. Based on histopathology, 90 IT patients and 200 CHB patients were diagnosed. HBsAg titres for IT patients were higher than those of CHB patients (p < 0.001). HCA and PCA analysis grouped IT and CHB patients into two distinct clusters. The relative abundance of viral OTUs differed mainly within the BCP/precore/core region and was significantly correlated with liver inflammation and fibrosis. For the IT phase classification, all machine-learning models showed higher AUC values compared to models based on HBsAg, APRI, and FIB-4. The relative abundance of viral OTUs reflects the severity of liver inflammation and fibrosis. The novel QS quantitative analysis approach could be used to diagnose IT patients more precisely and reduce the need for liver biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - MinHui Dong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOH & MOE), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Beidi Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOH & MOE), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhitao Yang
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiming Gong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Han
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Demin Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Donghua Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France
| | - Jiming Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOH & MOE), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Velkov S, Protzer U, Michler T. Global Occurrence of Clinically Relevant Hepatitis B Virus Variants as Found by Analysis of Publicly Available Sequencing Data. Viruses 2020; 12:v12111344. [PMID: 33238650 PMCID: PMC7700573 DOI: 10.3390/v12111344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Several viral factors impact the natural course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the sensitivity of diagnostic tests, or treatment response to interferon-α and nucleos(t)ide analogues. These factors include the viral genotype and serotype but also mutations affecting the HBV surface antigen, basal core promoter/pre-core region, or reverse transcriptase. However, a comprehensive overview of the distribution of HBV variants between HBV genotypes or different geographical locations is lacking. To address this, we performed an in silico analysis of publicly available HBV full-length genome sequences. We found that not only the serotype frequency but also the majority of clinically relevant mutations are primarily associated with specific genotypes. Distinct mutations enriched in certain world regions are not explained by the local genotype distribution. Two HBV variants previously identified to confer resistance to the nucleotide analogue tenofovir in vitro were not identified, questioning their translational relevance. In summary, our work elucidates the differences in the clinical manifestation of HBV infection observed between genotypes and geographical locations and furthermore helps identify suitable diagnostic tests and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stoyan Velkov
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Trogerstrasse 30, D-81675 München, Germany; (S.V.); (U.P.)
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Trogerstrasse 30, D-81675 München, Germany; (S.V.); (U.P.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich Partner Site, D-81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Michler
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Trogerstrasse 30, D-81675 München, Germany; (S.V.); (U.P.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich Partner Site, D-81675 Munich, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-89-4140-6814
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