Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2025
Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice
Published on: September 25, 2019
Hepatocyte-Derived L-Carnitine Restricts Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Loss Through an Immunosuppressive Effect on
Shuqin Gu1, Weibin Wang1, Guofu Ye1
1State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
The outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is significantly affected by host immune response; herein, we aim to dissect the effect of L-carnitine (L-Cn) on germinal center (GC)-related immune cells and the influence on the prognosis of HBV infection.
Methods:
In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed in patients with chronic HBV infection and a hydrodynamic injection mouse model.
Results:
In vitro assays revealed that L-Cn significantly reduced GC-related immune responses and enhanced immunosuppressive profiles. Intriguingly, L-Cn released from lysed hepatocytes was associated with the degree of liver damage. Besides, the administration of L-Cn in an HBV mouse model resulted in delayed clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum and decreased GC formation in the spleen. Notably, patients with HBsAg loss showed decreased plasma L-Cn levels, and longitudinal observations found that low baseline levels of L-Cn were associated with a favorable treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Conclusions:
The suppressive effect of hepatocyte-derived L-Cn on GC-related immune cells may contribute to the inability of HBsAg clearance in chronic HBV infection, indicating that L-Cn might serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HBV infection.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Liver Regeneration
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are...
01:17Hepatic Drug Excretion: Enterohepatic Cycling
Post-release drugs and metabolites can be reabsorbed into the body from the intestine. For conjugated metabolites like glucuronides, reabsorption requires enzymatic hydrolysis by intestinal microflora. This...