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Clinical impact of hepatitis B and C virus envelope glycoproteins

Hélène Jeulin1, Aurélie Velay, John Murray

  • 1Virology Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, F-54511, France.

World Journal of Gastroenterology
|February 23, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections share risks for liver cirrhosis and cancer due to high genetic variability in surface proteins. Understanding this variability is crucial for diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections share epidemiological traits and risks for severe liver complications like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Both viruses exhibit significant genetic variability, particularly in genes encoding surface proteins essential for host immune response and viral entry.
  • Viral envelope proteins are critical for viral entry into hepatocytes and are targets for antibody-mediated neutralization and vaccine development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize the properties of HBV and HCV envelope proteins concerning viral entry and antigenicity.
  • To explore the clinical impact of viral variability in the context of diagnostics, vaccination, and treatment strategies.
  • To highlight the importance of investigating envelope protein variability due to selective pressures and functional roles.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on HBV and HCV envelope protein functions.
  • Analysis of viral entry mechanisms involving multiple host cell cofactors.
  • Examination of antibody-mediated neutralization and in vivo prevention strategies.
  • Discussion of antiviral drug resistance patterns and treatment-induced mutations.

Main Results:

  • HBV and HCV envelope proteins (HBsAg, E1/E2) are key targets for immune response and viral entry.
  • HCV entry is a complex, multi-step process involving numerous cell cofactors interacting with E1/E2 glycoproteins.
  • Vaccination and therapeutic interventions can drive viral variability, impacting antigenicity and drug resistance.
  • HBV pol/S gene overlap complicates resistance patterns, with pol mutations potentially affecting S antigenicity and cancer induction.

Conclusions:

  • The high variability of HBV and HCV envelope proteins, coupled with their crucial roles in viral entry and antigenicity, necessitates further investigation.
  • Understanding this variability is essential for developing effective diagnostic tools, vaccines, and antiviral therapies.
  • Targeting viral envelope properties offers a promising avenue for controlling HBV and HCV infections and preventing severe liver disease.

Keywords:
Clinical outcomeHepatitis BHepatitis CViral envelope glycoproteins

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