Hepatitis E virus immunosuppressed animal models.

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Hepatology

Background:

• Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen causing significant illness in immunocompromised populations, including solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, cancer patients, and those with HIV.
• Chronic HEV infections are common in these groups, exacerbated by factors like blood transfusions, leading to viral persistence and adaptation.
• Understanding HEV pathogenesis in immunosuppressed individuals is crucial due to increasing SOT procedures and associated risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in immunosuppressed animal models for studying chronic Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection.
• To emphasize the pathogenesis, immune correlates, and liver pathology of chronic HEV in these models.
• To highlight the need for suitable models to understand HEV disease patterns in high-risk patient groups.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on HEV pathogenesis in immunosuppressed animal models.
• Analysis of naturally occurring HEV strains in various animal species with zoonotic potential.
• Focus on studies detailing immune responses and liver pathology in chronic HEV infection.

Main Results:

• Immunosuppression facilitates HEV persistence and chronic infection, allowing viral adaptation and potentially worse disease outcomes.
• Various animal models exist, some naturally infected with HEV strains transmissible to humans, serving as valuable research tools.
• Chronic HEV infection in immunosuppressed hosts leads to distinct liver pathology and altered immune correlates.

Conclusions:

• Immunosuppressed animal models are essential for investigating the complex pathogenesis of chronic HEV infection.
• These models aid in understanding viral adaptation, immune responses, and liver damage in vulnerable patient populations.
• Further research using these models can inform strategies for managing HEV in immunocompromised individuals, especially SOT recipients.