1
|
Maqsood Q, Sumrin A, Iqbal M, Younas S, Hussain N, Mahnoor M, Wajid A. Hepatitis C virus/Hepatitis B virus coinfection: Current prospectives. Antivir Ther 2023; 28:13596535231189643. [PMID: 37489502 DOI: 10.1177/13596535231189643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
In endemic areas, hepatitis C virus (HCV)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection is common, and patients with coinfection have a higher risk of developing liver disease such as hepatocellular carcinoma, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In such cases, HCV predominates, and HBV replication is suppressed by HCV. HCV core proteins and interferons that are activated by HCV are responsible for the suppression of HBV. Immunosuppression is also seen in patients with HCV and HBV coinfections. A decrease in HCV-neutralizing antibody response and circulation of Th1-like Tfh cells is observed in patients with HCV and HBV coinfection. Both viruses interacted in the liver, and treatment of HCV/HBV coinfection is genotype-based and complex due to the interaction of both viruses. In HCV-dominant cases, direct-acting antiviral drugs and peg interferon plus ribavirin are used for the treatment, with continuous monitoring of AST and ALT. HBV-dominant cases are less common and are treated with peg interferon and nucleoside nucleotide analogues with monitoring of AST and ALT. The SVR rate in HCV-HBV coinfection is higher than that in monoinfection when treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs. But there is a risk of reactivation of HBV during and after therapy. The rate of reactivation is lower in patients treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs as compared to those treated with peg interferon plus ribavirin. Biomarkers of HBV such as HBcrAg, HBV DNA and HBVpg RNA are not effective in the prediction of HBV reactivation; only the hepatitis B surface antigen titre can be used as a biomarker for HBV reactivation. HCV can also be reactive, but this is found in very rare cases in which HBV is present and is treated first.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quratulain Maqsood
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Aleena Sumrin
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Maryam Iqbal
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Saima Younas
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Nazim Hussain
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammada Mahnoor
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Wajid
- Department of Biotechnology, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Science, Quetta, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li QY, Gong T, Huang YK, Kang L, Warner CA, Xie H, Chen LM, Duan XQ. Role of noncoding RNAs in liver fibrosis. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:1446-1459. [PMID: 36998425 PMCID: PMC10044853 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i9.1446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response following chronic liver injury caused by hepatitis virus infection, obesity, or excessive alcohol. It is a dynamic and reversible process characterized by the activation of hepatic stellate cells and excess accumulation of extracellular matrix. Advanced fibrosis could lead to cirrhosis and even liver cancer, which has become a significant health burden worldwide. Many studies have revealed that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs and circular RNAs, are involved in the pathogenesis and development of liver fibrosis by regulating signaling pathways including transforming growth factor-β pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway. NcRNAs in serum or exosomes have been reported to tentatively applied in the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis and combined with elastography to improve the accuracy of diagnosis. NcRNAs mimics, ncRNAs in mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, and lipid nanoparticles-encapsulated ncRNAs have become promising therapeutic approaches for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we update the latest knowledge on ncRNAs in the pathogenesis and progression of liver fibrosis, and discuss the potentials and challenges to use these ncRNAs for diagnosis, staging and treatment of liver fibrosis. All these will help us to develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of ncRNAs in liver fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Yuan Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Department of Clinical Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yi-Ke Huang
- Center for Transfusion-transmitted Infectious Diseases, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu 610052, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Lan Kang
- Center for Transfusion-transmitted Infectious Diseases, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu 610052, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Charlotte A Warner
- Liver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - He Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Hospital of Xidian Group, Xi’an 710077, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Li-Min Chen
- Center for Transfusion-transmitted Infectious Diseases, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu 610052, Sichuan Province, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Hospital of Xidian Group, Xi’an 710077, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiao-Qiong Duan
- Center for Transfusion-transmitted Infectious Diseases, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu 610052, Sichuan Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
A Comprehensive Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive Patient-Centered Screening and Linkage to Care Strategies Targeting Microelimination of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Chongqing, China. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 2022:9644576. [PMID: 36606100 PMCID: PMC9810400 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9644576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The likelihood of coinfection increases in regions where HBV is endemic because of the similar transmission route. China is another endemic nation, with 5.9% of the population being HBsAg-positive. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HCV antibody positivity in HBsAg-positive subjects, HCV RNA positivity in anti-HCV positive subjects, and HBV/HCV coinfection with the hope of exploring hepatitis C microelimination using currently available therapies. METHOD 12,500 HBsAg-positive serum samples were collected. All samples were screened for anti-HCV. Furthermore, positive samples were screened for HCV RNA. All patients with positive HCV RNA were followed up for suspicious transmission routes of HCV and linkage to care. RESULTS 44 out of 10,560 (0.4%) patients with positive HBsAg had detectable anti-HCV. There were 32 males and 12 females, with a statistical difference. 17 out of 44 were HCV RNA positive. Among them, 15 out of 38 patients were HCV RNA positive; 8 patients had started anti-HCV treatment with the DAA regimen, while the other 7 patients had not. After patient education, one patient had begun treatment and reached SVR12, while three patients still refused anti-HCV treatment. CONCLUSION The HCV/HBV coinfection prevalence was found to be lower in this study. Even though HBV and HCV share a somewhat similar transmission route, HBsAg-positive subjects may not be at high risk for HCV infection. The process of hepatitis C's microelimination could be accelerated by increasing patient awareness and education. This trail is registered with NCT03794791.
Collapse
|
4
|
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B. Dig Dis Sci 2022; 67:3412-3425. [PMID: 34476661 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-021-07157-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of CVD in patients with CHB. METHODS Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2008-2011 were analyzed. Significant liver fibrosis was defined as the highest nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score quartile, highest Forns index quintile, or fibrosis-4 ≥ 2.67. The CVD risk was calculated using the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score from the 2013 ACC/AHA Guidelines. RESULTS Among the 506 subjects with CHB, 15 (3.0%) and 150 (29.6%) patients had a CVD history and significant liver fibrosis, respectively. Patients with CVD history were significantly older; showed a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and significant liver fibrosis; and had a significantly higher platelet count, lower aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels, higher triglyceride level, lower high-density lipoprotein level, and higher ASCVD risk than those without (all p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, higher ASCVD risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.090) and significant liver fibrosis (OR = 4.341) independently predicted the risk of CVD history (p < 0.05). The prevalence of CVD risk (6.7% vs. 1.4%; OR = 5.014) and high ASCVD risk (> 15%) (34.0% vs. 7.3%; OR = 6.538) was significantly higher in patients with significant liver fibrosis than in those without (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Significant liver fibrosis was independently associated with the risk of CVD history in patients with CHB. Prospective studies are needed to validate the longitudinal association between fibrotic burden and CVD development in patients with CHB.
Collapse
|
5
|
Tseng CW, Wu SF, Chen CY, Ho YC, He YT, Tseng KC. Characteristics of regulatory T-cell function in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C coinfection. J Viral Hepat 2020; 27:800-809. [PMID: 32243022 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) affect the pathogenesis and disease progression of chronic viral hepatitis. This study evaluated the frequency and function of Tregs in patients with chronic HBV/HCV coinfection. Seventy-four untreated HBV/HCV co-infected patients were enrolled in this study. These subjects were divided into four subgroups: HBV-active/HCV-active (BACA), HBV-inactive/HCV-active (BICA), HBV-active/HCV-inactive (BACI) and HBV-inactive/HCV-inactive (BICI). Treg frequency was calculated as the fraction of CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells among CD4+ T cells. Treg-mediated inhibition was measured as percent of inhibition of T-cell proliferation. The expression of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-10 with/without Treg inhibition was also studied. Among the patients, there were 8 cases of BACA (10.8%), 38 of BICA (51.4%), 14 of BACI (18.9%) and 14 of BICI (18.9%). The frequency of CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells was comparable between the four groups. The inhibitory function of Tregs among the patients in the BACA and BICA was higher than that in the BICI (BACA vs BICI, P = .0210; BICA vs BICI, P = .0301). Patients in the BACA and BICA had higher fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores and serum ALT levels and lower serum albumin levels than those of the other groups. ALT abnormality was significantly and independently associated with a higher Treg immunosuppressive ability. The IFN-γ expression of the effector T cells in the BACA was higher than that of the other groups. In conclusion, the inhibitory function of Tregs is higher among the HBV/HCV co-infected patients with active HCV infection. ALT abnormality plays a dominant role in Treg function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Wei Tseng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Tzuchi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Fen Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Yi Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical FoundationChia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Che Ho
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ting He
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Chih Tseng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Tzuchi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shih YF, Liu CJ. Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatitis B Virus Co-Infection. Viruses 2020; 12:E741. [PMID: 32664198 PMCID: PMC7412310 DOI: 10.3390/v12070741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection can be encountered in either virus endemic countries. Co-infection can also be found in populations at risk of parenteral transmission. Previous studies demonstrated a high risk of liver disease progression in patients with HCV/HBV co-infection; thus, they should be treated aggressively. Previous evidence recommended therapy combining peginterferon (pegIFN) alfa and ribavirin for co-infected patients with positive HCV RNA. Recent trials further advise using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for the clearance of HCV in the co-infected patients. Reactivation of HBV has been observed in patients post-intervention, with higher risks and earlier onset in those having had HCV cured by DAA- versus pegIFN-based therapy. The mechanism of HBV reactivation is an interesting but unsolved puzzle. Our recent study revealed that in vitro HBV replication was suppressed by HCV co-infection; HBV suppression was attenuated when interferon signaling was blocked. In vivo, the HBV viremia, initially suppressed by the presence of HCV super-infection, rebounded following HCV clearance by DAA treatment and was accompanied by a reduced hepatic interferon response. In summary, major achievements in the treatment of HCV/HBV co-infection have been accomplished over the past 20 years. Future clinical trials should address measures to reduce or prevent HBV reactivation post HCV cure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fen Shih
- Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan;
| | - Chun-Jen Liu
- Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|