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A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target
Published on: May 10, 2022
New directions in hepatitis B therapy research
Marta Lewandowska1, Anna Piekarska1
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University in Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Insights
Current chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatments suppress the virus but rarely clear HBsAg or target cccDNA. New therapies are urgently needed to eradicate HBV and prevent severe liver disease complications.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatments offer long-term disease control but rarely achieve HBsAg clearance or target the persistent cccDNA.
- Existing therapies reduce complications like liver failure and cancer but do not eliminate the risk, even post-HBsAg seroclearance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current landscape of CHB therapeutics.
- To highlight the limitations of existing treatments and the urgent need for novel approaches targeting cccDNA and immune restoration.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent experimental approaches and novel antiviral strategies.
- Analysis of therapeutic targets including different phases of the HBV life cycle, cccDNA, and host immune responses.
Main Results:
- Experimental therapies show promise against HBV infection by targeting cccDNA and modulating immune responses.
- Promising in vitro and animal model results do not always translate to human clinical efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Despite challenges, the development of multiple novel antivirals offers hope for effective CHB eradication.
- Future therapies may relieve patients from the burden of chronic hepatitis B, a potentially fatal liver disease.
Abstract:
Chronic hepatitis B treatment is available for a long period, allowing disease control and infection suppression, but it is rarely responsible for HBsAg clearance. None of the drugs available aim at cccDNA, the obstacle in HBV infection eradication. Complications related to CHB, such as liver insufficiency, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma are reduced in conditions of good viremia suppression, but still exist even after HBsAg seroclearance, what makes a need for urgent forthcoming of new therapeutics. Recent years brought promising and interesting results of experimental approaches, which are directed against different phases of HBV life cycle, target ccc DNA, or boost, and restore host immune response. Unfortunately, encouraging results in vitro and on animal models are not always reflected in human. Nevertheless, the multiplicity of novel antivirals allows to expect that at least some of them will enter clinical practice and relieve patients from chronic hepatitis B, fatal and devastating disease.
