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Publicatie

Humoral immunity in hepatitis B virus infection

Tijdschriftbijdrage - e-publicatie

Ondertitel:rehabilitating the B in HBV
Insight in the immunopathogenesis of chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are fundamental in the quest for novel treatment approaches, aimed at a functional cure. While much has been learned on the inapt HBV-specific T cell responses during persistent HBV replication, B cells have been largely left understudied. An important role for humoral immunity during the natural history of HBV infections, as well as after functional cure, has however been recognized by inadvertent HBV flares following B cell depleting treatments. We here review our current understanding of the role of the humoral immune response in chronic HBV, both at the level of HBV-specific antibody production as the phenotypic and broader functional level of B cells. The recent development of fluorescently labeled HBV proteins have allowed unprecedented insight in the phenotype and function of Hepatitis B surface – and core- specific B cells. This should fuel novel research endeavors into the mechanisms behind dysfunctional HBsAg-specific and fluctuating, possible pathogenic HBcAg-specific B cell responses in chronic HBV. Finally, novel immunomodulatory treatments that partly target B cells are currently in clinical development, but a detailed assessment of their impact on HBV-specific B cell responses is lacking. We plead for a rehabilitation of B cell studies both in the natural history of HBV as in treatment development programs.
Tijdschrift: JHEP Reports
ISSN: 2589-5559
Volume: 4
Jaar van publicatie:2022
Trefwoorden:A1 Journal article
Toegankelijkheid:Open