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Gopalakrishna H, Mironova M, Dahari H, Koh C, Heller T. Advances and Challenges in Managing Hepatitis D Virus: Evolving Strategies. Curr Hepatol Rep 2024; 23:32-44. [PMID: 38533303 PMCID: PMC10965034 DOI: 10.1007/s11901-024-00643-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Hepatitis D Virus (HDV), although a small defective virus, poses a substantial public health challenge due to lack of awareness, underrecognized prevalence, and limited treatment options. Universal HDV screening within hepatitis B virus (HBV) cohorts is essential to address this issue. Despite its aggressive nature, effective HDV therapies have remained elusive for over four decades. Recent Findings Advances in understanding HDV's biology and clinical behavior offer potential therapeutic breakthroughs, fostering optimism. As insights grow, effective and targeted therapies are being developed to improve HDV management. Summary This review delves into HDV's intricate structure and biology, highlighting formidable hurdles in antiviral development. It emphasizes the importance of widespread screening, exploring noninvasive diagnostics, and examining current and emerging innovative therapeutic strategies. Moreover, the review explores models for monitoring treatment response. In essence, this review simplifies the complexities of effectively combating HDV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Gopalakrishna
- Liver Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maria Mironova
- Liver Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Harel Dahari
- The Program for Experimental & Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Christopher Koh
- Liver Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Theo Heller
- Liver Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Translational Hepatology Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 4-5722, Bethesda, MD 20892-1800, USA
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Shekhtman L, Cotler SJ, Degasperi E, Anolli MP, Uceda Renteria SC, Sambarino D, Borghi M, Perbellini R, Facchetti F, Ceriotti F, Lampertico P, Dahari H. Modelling HDV kinetics under the entry inhibitor bulevirtide suggests the existence of two HDV-infected cell populations. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:100966. [PMID: 38274491 PMCID: PMC10808955 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Bulevirtide (BLV) was approved for the treatment of compensated chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection in Europe in 2020. However, research into the effects of the entry inhibitor BLV on HDV-host dynamics is in its infancy. Methods Eighteen patients with HDV under nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment for hepatitis B, with compensated cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension, received BLV 2 mg/day. HDV RNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were measured at baseline, weeks 4, 8 and every 8 weeks thereafter. A mathematical model was developed to account for HDV, HBsAg and ALT dynamics during BLV treatment. Results Median baseline HDV RNA, HBsAg, and ALT were 4.9 log IU/ml [IQR: 4.4-5.8], 3.7 log IU/ml [IQR: 3.4-3.9] and 106 U/L [IQR: 81-142], respectively. During therapy, patients fit into four main HDV kinetic patterns: monophasic (n = 2), biphasic (n = 10), flat-partial response (n = 4), and non-responder (n = 2). ALT normalization was achieved in 14 (78%) patients at a median of 8 weeks (range: 4-16). HBsAg remained at pre-treatment levels. Assuming that BLV completely (∼100%) blocks HDV entry, modeling indicated that two HDV-infected cell populations exist: fast HDV clearing (median t1/2 = 13 days) and slow HDV clearing (median t1/2 = 44 days), where the slow HDV-clearing population consisted of ∼1% of total HDV-infected cells, which could explain why most patients exhibited a non-monophasic pattern of HDV decline. Moreover, modeling explained ALT normalization without a change in HBsAg based on a non-cytolytic loss of HDV from infected cells, resulting in HDV-free HBsAg-producing cells that release ALT upon death at a substantially lower rate compared to HDV-infected cells. Conclusion The entry inhibitor BLV provides a unique opportunity to understand HDV, HBsAg, ALT, and host dynamics. Impact and implications Mathematical modeling of hepatitis D virus (HDV) treatment with the entry inhibitor bulevirtide (BLV) provides a novel window into the dynamics of HDV RNA and alanine aminotransferase. Kinetic data from patients treated with BLV monotherapy can be explained by hepatocyte populations with different basal HDV clearance rates and non-cytolytic clearance of infected cells. While further studies are needed to test and refine the kinetic characterization described here, this study provides a new perspective on viral dynamics, which could inform evolving treatment strategies for HDV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Shekhtman
- The Program for Experimental & Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
- Department of Information Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Scott J. Cotler
- The Program for Experimental & Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Elisabetta Degasperi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Anolli
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Dana Sambarino
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Borghi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Perbellini
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Floriana Facchetti
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Ferruccio Ceriotti
- Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Virology Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- CRC “A. M. and A. Migliavacca” Center for Liver Disease, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Harel Dahari
- The Program for Experimental & Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
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Shekhtman L, Duehren S, Etzion O, Cotler SJ, Dahari H. Hepatitis D Virus and HBsAg Dynamics in the era of new Antiviral Treatments. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 2023; 25:401-412. [PMID: 37819559 PMCID: PMC10842234 DOI: 10.1007/s11894-023-00901-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis, with no FDA-approved therapy. Progress in the development of effective HDV treatments is accelerating. This review highlights how mathematical modeling is improving understanding of HDV-HBsAg-host dynamics during antiviral therapy and generating insights into the efficacy and modes of action (MOA) of new antiviral agents. RECENT FINDINGS Clinical trials with pegylated-interferon-λ, bulevertide, nucleic acid polymers, and/or lonafarnib against various steps of the HDV-life cycle have revealed new viral-kinetic patterns that were not observed under standard treatment with pegylated-interferon-α. Modeling indicated that the half-lives of circulating HDV and HBsAg are ~ 1.7 d and ~ 1.3 d, respectively, estimated the relative response of HDV and HBsAg during different antiviral therapies, and provided insights into the efficacy and MOA of drugs in development for treating HDV, which can inform response-guided therapy to individualize treatment duration. Mathematical modeling of HDV and HBsAg kinetics provides a window into the HDV virus lifecycle, HDV-HBsAg-host dynamics during antiviral therapy, and the MOA of new drugs for HDV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Shekhtman
- The Program for Experimental & Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA
- Department of Information Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Sarah Duehren
- The Program for Experimental & Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Ohad Etzion
- Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Scott J Cotler
- The Program for Experimental & Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Harel Dahari
- The Program for Experimental & Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.
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Sausen DG, Shechter O, Bietsch W, Shi Z, Miller SM, Gallo ES, Dahari H, Borenstein R. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D Viruses: A Comprehensive Update with an Immunological Focus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23. [PMID: 36555623 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) are highly prevalent viruses estimated to infect approximately 300 million people and 12-72 million people worldwide, respectively. HDV requires the HBV envelope to establish a successful infection. Concurrent infection with HBV and HDV can result in more severe disease outcomes than infection with HBV alone. These viruses can cause significant hepatic disease, including cirrhosis, fulminant hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and represent a significant cause of global mortality. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these viruses and the immune response they generate is essential to enhance disease management. This review includes an overview of the HBV and HDV viruses, including life cycle, structure, natural course of infection, and histopathology. A discussion of the interplay between HDV RNA and HBV DNA during chronic infection is also included. It then discusses characteristics of the immune response with a focus on reactions to the antigenic hepatitis B surface antigen, including small, middle, and large surface antigens. This paper also reviews characteristics of the immune response to the hepatitis D antigen (including small and large antigens), the only protein expressed by hepatitis D. Lastly, we conclude with a discussion of recent therapeutic advances pertaining to these viruses.
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Reinharz V, Churkin A, Dahari H, Barash D. Advances in Parameter Estimation and Learning from Data for Mathematical Models of Hepatitis C Viral Kinetics. Mathematics 2022; 10:2136. [DOI: 10.3390/math10122136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mathematical models, some of which incorporate both intracellular and extracellular hepatitis C viral kinetics, have been advanced in recent years for studying HCV–host dynamics, antivirals mode of action, and their efficacy. The standard ordinary differential equation (ODE) hepatitis C virus (HCV) kinetic model keeps track of uninfected cells, infected cells, and free virus. In multiscale models, a fourth partial differential equation (PDE) accounts for the intracellular viral RNA (vRNA) kinetics in an infected cell. The PDE multiscale model is substantially more difficult to solve compared to the standard ODE model, with governing differential equations that are stiff. In previous contributions, we developed and implemented stable and efficient numerical methods for the multiscale model for both the solution of the model equations and parameter estimation. In this contribution, we perform sensitivity analysis on model parameters to gain insight into important properties and to ensure our numerical methods can be safely used for HCV viral dynamic simulations. Furthermore, we generate in-silico patients using the multiscale models to perform machine learning from the data, which enables us to remove HCV measurements on certain days and still be able to estimate meaningful observations with a sufficiently small error.
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