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He J, Miao R, Chen Y, Wang H, Liu M. The dual role of regulatory T cells in hepatitis B virus infection and related hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunology 2024; 171:445-463. [PMID: 38093705 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13738] [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] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major contributor to cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major etiologic factor leading to HCC. While there have been significant advancements in controlling HBV replication, achieving a complete cure for HBV-related HCC (HBV-HCC) remains an intricate challenge. HBV persistence is attributed to a myriad of mechanisms, encompassing both innate and adaptive immune responses. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are pivotal in upholding immune tolerance and modulating excessive immune activation. During HBV infection, Tregs mediate specific T cell suppression, thereby contributing to both persistent infection and the mitigation of liver inflammatory responses. Studies have demonstrated an augmented expression of circulating and intrahepatic Tregs in HBV-HCC, which correlates with impaired CD8+ T cell function. Consequently, Tregs play a dual role in the context of HBV infection and the progression of HBV-HCC. In this comprehensive review, we discuss pertinent studies concerning Tregs in HBV infection, HBV-related cirrhosis and HCC. Furthermore, we summarize Treg responses to antiviral therapy and provide Treg-targeted therapies specific to HBV and HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinan He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Miao
- Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Northeast Yunnan Regional Central Hospital, Zhaotong, Yunan, China
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Jacobs R, Dogbey MD, Mnyandu N, Neves K, Barth S, Arbuthnot P, Maepa MB. AAV Immunotoxicity: Implications in Anti-HBV Gene Therapy. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2985. [PMID: 38138129 PMCID: PMC10745739 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122985] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has afflicted humankind for decades and there is still no treatment that can clear the infection. The development of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based gene therapy for HBV infection has become important in recent years and research has made exciting leaps. Initial studies, mainly using mouse models, showed that rAAVs are non-toxic and induce minimal immune responses. However, several later studies demonstrated rAAV toxicity, which is inextricably associated with immunogenicity. This is a major setback for the progression of rAAV-based therapies toward clinical application. Research aimed at understanding the mechanisms behind rAAV immunity and toxicity has contributed significantly to the inception of approaches to overcoming these challenges. The target tissue, the features of the vector, and the vector dose are some of the determinants of AAV toxicity, with the latter being associated with the most severe adverse events. This review discusses our current understanding of rAAV immunogenicity, toxicity, and approaches to overcoming these hurdles. How this information and current knowledge about HBV biology and immunity can be harnessed in the efforts to design safe and effective anti-HBV rAAVs is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridhwaanah Jacobs
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, South Africa
| | - Makafui Dennis Dogbey
- Medical Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa; (M.D.D.)
| | - Njabulo Mnyandu
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, South Africa
| | - Keila Neves
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, South Africa
| | - Stefan Barth
- Medical Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa; (M.D.D.)
- South African Research Chair in Cancer Biotechnology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Patrick Arbuthnot
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, South Africa
| | - Mohube Betty Maepa
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, South Africa
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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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
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