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Hepatitis B is a major public health problem in China. Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues and interferon(IFN) can effectively inhibit the replication of hepatitis B virus, but the treatment effect is still not so effective because cccDNA cannot be completely removed. IFNλ is a newly discovered family of cytokines that induces antiviral, antiproliferative and antitumor effects by activating the Jak-STAT pathway. Recent studies have found that IFNλ is also of great significance in hepatitis B as a therapeutic agent and immunological indicator. IFNλ can effectively inhibit the replication of hepatitis B virus, while the gene polymorphisms of IFNλ are closely related to prognosis and susceptibility to hepatitis B; and IFNλ also shows a certain anti-tumor activity in hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma. IFNλ is expected to be used as a clinical adjuvant treatment for patients with hepatitis B. This article describes the current research progress on IFNλ in hepatitis B.
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Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is an infectious disease characterized by liver damage, which can progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer, threatening the life of patients. CHB patients are prone to be complicated with hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis and other kidney diseases, therefore the renal safety should be fully considered in the antiviral treatment of CHB patients. According to current guidelines, telbivudine, entecavir or tenofovir alafenamide are recommended for CHB patients with renal insufficiency or potential renal injury, but each has its advantages and disadvantages. How to carry out antiviral treatment in CHB patients with renal impairment deserves our attention. At the same time, the renal function should be monitored regularly in the course of antiviral treatment to identify the damage of renal function in the early stage. This article reviews the causes of renal dysfunction in CHB patients, the risk of kidney damage during the antiviral treatment, the choices of antiviral therapy and the monitoring of renal function in the patients.
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Objective:To investigate the changes of liver pathology and its influencing factors in patients with chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection and low level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT).Methods:The clinical data of 135 with chronic HBV infection patients, in whom the serum ALT levels were less than two times of the upper limit of normal (ULN), were collected from the Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University and the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine during July 2017 and July 2019. The result of hepatic histological examination was reviewed, and the risk factors of obvious liver inflammation (G≥2) or fibrosis (S≥2) in patients were analyzed with Logistic regression analysis.Results:The pathological examination of liver tissue revealed G≥2 or S≥2 in 52 cases (38.5%). The univariate analysis showed that age, family history of HBV infection, ALT 1-<2×ULN, aspartate aminotransferase(AST)≥1×ULN, low platelet count(PLT)and prolongation of prothrombin time(PT)were associated with G≥2 or S≥2 in chronic HBV infection patients with low level ALT ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age( OR=1.052, 95% CI 1.007-1.100), family history of HBV infection( OR=5.448, 95% CI 2.191-13.548)and AST( OR=1.042, 95% CI 1.005-1.081)were independent risk factors of G≥2 or S≥2 in chronic HBV infection patients with low level ALT ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Conclusion:Age, family history of HBV infection and AST level can be used to judge the severity of liver pathological changes and necessity of antiviral treatment for patients with chronic HBV infection having ALT<2×ULN.
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Objective@#To observe the efficacy and safety of de novo combination of Lamivudine(LAM) and Adefovir Dipivoxil (ADV) therapy counter to Entecavir (ETV) monotherapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)- related compensated liver cirrhosis.@*Methods@#Patients with chronic hepatitis B-related compensated cirrhosis who were initially treated with LAM and ADV for more than 1 year were randomly assigned to two groups, one half replaced with ETV monotherapy, and the other half continued LAM and ADV co-therapy. Liver biochemistry, renal biochemistry, estimated glomerular filtration rate, alpha-fetoprotein, HBV serology markers and serum HBV DNA were measured every 3 months. Urine β2-microglobulin was measured every 6 months And retinol binding protein, followed up for 3 years. The mean values of the two groups were compared with t-test, and the rate of comparison was analyzed by x2 test.@*Results@#A total of 580 cases were collected, 290 cases were replaced with ETV monotherapy, the other 290 patients continued to LAM and ADV combination therapy. In the ETV group, the rates of HBV DNA negative conversion at 1 year, 2 years and 3 years were 77.6%, 84.5% and 94.5% respectively, while the HBV DNA negative conversion rates at 1, 2 and 3 years in the LAM and ADV combination groups were 69.3%, 73.4% and 80.3% respectively. Among them, the negative rates of HBV DNA in the second year and the third year were P < 0.05, the difference was statistically significant. The 3-year cumulative gene-resistant rate in the ETV group was 1.4%, while the combined treatment was as high as 8.6%, and the difference was statistically significant in the two groups. The estimated value of serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate in ETV group was followed by 3 years, and the baseline level was maintained, in the same group, the serum creatinine was higher than baseline, and the estimated value of glomerular filtration rate decreased. The results showed that there were 6.2%, 12.1%, 22.1% and 0, 0.3%, 1%, respectively, in 1, 2 and 3 years for the group of consecutive treatment and the replacement of ETV Group. The estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased by more than 30% compared with the baseline. The difference was statistically significant; the proportion of serum creatinine in the 1 year, 2 years and 3 years of the combined treatment group was 1.7%, 4.5% and 6.6%, compared with the baseline rise of > 50 μmol/l, and the ETV group was replaced in the 1 year, The values of 2 and 3 years were 0,0,0.7%, of which the 2nd and 3rd years were statistically significant; the proportion of microalbuminuria and retinol-binding protein in patients with combined treatment group was also significantly higher than that of Β2-m ETV Group.@*Conclusion@#The initial combination of LAM and ADV therapy is inferior in terms of ETV monotherapy. Single therapy with ETV increase the rate of viral response, reduce the incidence of drug resistance, and also reduce the incidence of renal impairment in patients with chronic hepatitis B -related compensated liver cirrhosis.
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Chronic hepatitis B ( CHB), characterized by recurrent liver inflammation caused by hepatitis B virus(HBV), can further develop into decompensated liver cirrhosis ,liver cancer or liver failure. The currently used therapeutic drugs nucleos ( t) ide analogues and interferon can effectively inhibit virus replication, but it is difficult to achieve functional cure ( clinical cure) because of their inability to destroy covalently closed ring DNA ( cccDNA).So we are still facing problems of low HBsAg clearance rate and high recurrence rate after drug withdraw.In recent years, the emerging of new drugs and biological agents provide novel ideas and directions for the functional cure of CHB.This article briefly reviews the new therapeutic methods and strategies for functional cure of CHB.
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Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is still a global public health problem, resulting in the high risk of decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.At present, there are no single available medications that can induce both potent HBV DNA suppression, and high rates of HBeAg and HBsAg clearance.Therefore, there is great interest in developing combination therapies for patients with chronic HBV infection, which can achieve sustained viral suppression and HBsAg negative inversion after a finite course of treatment leading to clinical cure.This article reviews the current status and advances of combination therapy for CHB.
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Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of interferon(IFN) α-2b,adefovir dipivoxil (ADV),granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and hepatitis B vaccine in the treatment of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods Two hundredand forty HBeAg-positive CHB patients admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine during November 2013 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.They were randomly assigned to four groups with 60 cases in each group,to receive IFNα-2b (group A),IFNα-2b + ADV (group B),IFNα-2b + ADV + GM-CSF (group C) or IFNoα-2b + ADV + GM-CSF + hepatitis B vaccine (group D) for treatment,respectively.All patients were treated for 48 wks and then followed up for 24 wks.The HBsAg serological response,HBeAg serological response,virological response,biochemical response,histological response and adverse effects were compared among 4 groups.Results After 48-wk treatment,the HBsAg negative conversion rate of group D was significantly higher than that of group A and B (x2 =8.634 and 8.634,both P ＜ 0.01);the seroconversion rate of HBsAg in group D was significantly higher than that in group A and group B (x2 =7.149 and 7.149,both P ＜0.01).The baseline drop rate of HBsAg in group C and D was higher than that in group A (t =4.194 and 4.508,both P ＜0.01).In 24-wk follow-up,HBsAg negative conversion rate was as same as that after 48-wk treatment;the seroconversion rate of HBsAg in group D was significantly higher than that in group A and B (x2 =8.634 and 8.634,both P ＜0.01).The baseline drop rate of HBsAg in group C and group D was higher than that in group A (t =4.546 and 4.969,both P ＜0.01).After 48-wk treatment,the HBeAg negative conversion rate in group D was significantly higher than that in group A (x2 =8.792,P ＜ 0.01);the HBeAg seroconversion rate of group C and D was higher than that of group A (x2 =7.064 and 10.159,P ＜0.01).In 24-wk follow-up,the HBeAg negative conversion rate in group C and D was higher than that in group A (x2 =10.159 and 13.713,P ＜0.01);the HBeAg negative conversion rate in group D was higher than that in group B (x2 =8.155,P ＜0.01);the seroconversion rate of HBeAg in group C and D was higher than that in group A (x2 =10.506 and 12.857,P ＜ 0.01).After 48-wk treatment,the negative rate of HBV DNA in group B,C and D was significantly higher than that in group A (x2 =12.452,17.062 and 20.670,all P ＜0.01).In the 24-wk follow-up,the negative rate of HBV DNA in group B,C and D was also significantly higher than that in group A (x2 =21.121,26.880 and 33.611,all P ＜ 0.01).After 48-wk treatment,the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rate of the group of C and D was significantly higher than that in group A (x2 =8.711 and 8.711,both P ＜0.01).In the 24-wk follow-up,the ALT normalization rate in group C and D was significantly higher than that in group A (x2 =8.076 and 9.624,P ＜0.01).After 48-wk treatment,the improvement rate of inflammation or fibrosis in the group of A,B and C was significantly higher than that in the group A (x2 =8.543,13.348 and 16.205,all P ＜ 0.01).There were no half-way withdrawal and no serious adverse reactions.The main adverse reactions were fever,headache and fatigue,and no significant difference of above reaction was observed among 4 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The new anti-virus/immunoregulation therapy containing IFNα-2b + ADV + GM-CSF + hepatitis B vaccine has a better therapeutic effect for patients with HBeAg-positive CHB.
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Objective To compare the pre-existing mutations in reverse transcription region of HBV in patients with different HBV infection stages.Methods Totally 474 patients with chronic HBV infections,including 205 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB),153 with liver cirrhosis and 116 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),were enrolled from the People' s Hospital of Shangyu and the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University during January 2011 and June 2013.All patients had not received nucleos (t)ide analogues treatment.HBV RT region mutations and genotypes were determined by PCR followed by sequencing.SPSS14.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results There were 387 (81.6％) patients with HBV genotype B,in which 156 were with CHB,124 were with liver cirrhosis,and 107 were with HCC.Nucleos(t)ide analogues-related mutations were observed in all the above 387 patients.rtS106C mutation was more popular in CHB and liver cirrhosis (14.1％ and 14.5％) patients than that in patients with HCC (4.7％) (x2 =6.126,6.207,P ＜0.05); And the positive rates of rtD134E/G/N/S mutations were also higher in CHB and cirrhotic patients (21.8％ and 20.2％) than that in HCC patients (10.3％,x2 =5.933,4.263,P ＜ 0.05).rtD134E/G/N/S and rtS106C mutations were correlated with HBeAg (P ＜0.01) and gender (P ＜ 0.05),but not with HBV virus load and age (P ＞ 0.05).The mutation frequencies in A-B interdomain were higher in CHB and cirrhotic patients (5.3％ and 5.6％) than that in HCC patients (3.5％,x2 =9.018,11.018,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Nucleos (t) ide analogues-related mutations exist in various HBV infection stages.rtSl06C and rtD134E/G/N/S mutations may be involved in necro-inflammation,and A-B interdomain mutations may be correlated with necro-inflammation,immune response and fibrosis in chronic liver diseases.
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Objective To compare the efficacy of add-on adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) therapy and switch-to entecavir (ETV) monotherapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with suboptimal response to lamivudine (LAM).Methods A prospective study was performed in 120 CHB patients from Zhuji People' s Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine during June 2010 and June 2011.All patients previously received more than 24 weeks LAM treatment,but HBV DNA was still positive.Patients were randomized assigned to two groups:60 patients received add-on ADV therapy and another 60 switched to ETV monotherapy.Both groups were treated for 48 weeks.Liver and kidney function,alpha-fetal protein (AFP),HBV serum markers,HBV DNA and prothrombin time (PT) were examined,and ultrasonography or CT scan of liver was performed every 1-3 months.x2 test was used to compare the HBV DNA negative rates,HBeAg seroconversion rates,resistance rates and adverse reaction at week 48 between two groups.Results Thirty-three out of 38 patients (86.8％) with baseline HBV DNA 103-105 copies/mL became HBV DNA negative after add-on ADV treatment for 48 weeks,twenty-seven out of 39 patients (69.2％) with baseline HBV DNA 103-105 copies/ml became HBV DNA negative after switch-to ETV treatment.There was a statistical difference between two groups (x2 =4.578,P ＜ 0.05).Sixteen out of 22 patients (72.7％) with baseline HBV DNA ＞ 105 copies/mL became HBV DNA negative after add-on ADV treatment for 48 weeks,while only 52.4％ (11/21) patients achieved HBV DNA negative in the switch-to ETV group.There was also a statistical difference between two groups (x2 =4.865,P ＜0.05).None of patients in add-on group developed virological breakthrough and resistance,while 5 patients in switch-to ETV group developed virogical breakthrough and 3 patients developed genetic mutation.Among them,rtM204V + rtL180M + rtS202G mutation was detected in 2 patients,and rtM204V + rtL180M +rtT184A mutation was detected in 1 patient; all mutations happened in the baseline HBV DNA ＞ 105 copies/mL group.Conclusion The add-on ADV therapy is better in viral inhibition than switch-to ETV therapy for CHB patients with suboptimal response to LAM,and it can reduce the occurrence of drug resistance.
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Objective To compare the 2-year efficacy of de novo combination therapy with lamivudine (LAM) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) to that of entecavir (ETV) monotherapy in treatment of patients with hepatitis B virus ( HBV )-related decompensated cirrhosis.Methods A total of 120 naive patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis admitted to Shangyu People's Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from January 2007 to April 2008 were enrolled,in which 60 were treated with LAM and ADV combination therapy,and other 60 patients were treated with ETV monotherapy.Tests for liver and kidney function,alpha-fetoprotein,HBV serum markers,HBV DNA load,prothrombin time (PT),and ultrasonography or CT scan of liver were performed every 1-3 months.Repeated measure ANOVA and x2test were used to compare the efficacy,side effects and accumulated survival rates at 12 and 24 month in two groups.Results Forty-five patients in each group were followed-up for 24 months.There was no significant difference in HBV DNA negative rates and ALT normalization rates at month 12 (x2 =2.12 and 2.88,P ＞0.05 ) and month 24 between two groups (x2 =3.21 and 3.24,P ＞ 0.05); while HBeAg seroconversion rate in LAM + ADV group at month 24 was significantly higher than that in ETV group (43.5％ vs.36.4％,x2 =4.09,P＜0.05).Viral breakthrough occurred in 2 cases (4.4％) by month 12 and 3 cases (6.7％) by month 24 in LAM + ADV group,and no viral mutation was observed; while in ETV group,viral breakthrough occurred in 1 case ( 2.2％ ) by month 12 and 2 cases (4.4％) by month 24,and viral mutation was observed in 1 case (2.2％) by month 24.At the end of month 24,increase of AIb (F=18.9 and 17.3,P＜0.05),decrease of TBil and ALT (F=16.5,17.1 and 23.7,24.8,P ＜0.05 ),shortening of PT ( F =22.7 and 24.5,P ＜ 0.05 ),and the improvements of CTP and MELD scores (F=18.5,17.8 and 24.2,23.8,P＜0.05) were observed in both groups.The accumulative rates of mortality or liver transplantation were 16.7％ ( 10/60 ) and 18.3％ ( 11/60 ) in LAM + ADV and ETV groups,respectively.No blood creatinine increased above the normal upper limit was observed in both groups.Conclusion Both LAM + ADV combination therapy and ETV monotherapy can effectively inhibit HBV replication,improve liver function,decrease mortality and viral resistance,but the 24-month HBeAg seroconversion rate in combination therapy group is higher than that in monotherapy group.
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Objective To construct DNA vaccine expressing HIV-1 AE2f gp145-tat-rev-nef fusion gene( AE-Gp145TRN) and to compare the immunogenicities of DNA vaccines expressing Tat, Rev and Nef in gene fusion formulations of tat-rev-integrase(c-half)-vif-nef( AE-TRIVN) and AE-Gpl45TRN. Methods DNA vaccine was constructed by inserting the codon optimized HIV-1 AE2( gp145-tat-rev-nef fusion gene into mammalian expression DNA vector. In vitro expression efficiency of the constructed DNA vaccine was determined by Western blot and the immunogenicities of AE-Gpl45TRN and AE-TRIVN were compared by immunizing female BALB/c mice. IFN-r ELISPOT assay was used to read out the specific T cell immunity. Results Western blot assay showed the constructed DNA vaccine could be expressed efficiently in vitro. After vaccination, AE-TRIVN mounted significantly higher T cell responses against Tat, Rev and Nef[(148±91)SFCs/106 splenocytes]than Gpl45TRN[(55±28) SFCs/106 splenocytes]. Specific T cell responses elicited by AE-TRIVN predominantly targeting Rev, whereas Gpl45TRN could significantly enhance T cell responses against Nef. Conclusion AE-TRIVN and Gpl45TRN induced distinct T cell response modalities, which implied different gene fusion formulations may affect the immunogenicity of specific DNA vaccines.
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Objective To analyze CD127 expression on the memory CD8+ lymphocytes from hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with peginterferon α-2a (Pegasys). Methods Thirty HBeAg positive CHB patients were treated with peginterferon α-2a 180 μg once a week for 48 weeks and followed up for 24 weeks. The memory CD8+ lymphocytes were characterized by expressing CD45RA and CD27 markers. CD127 expression on cell surface was measured by four-colour flow cytometry. The difference of mean values between groups was evaluated by Mann-Whitney test. Results The CD127 expression on CD8+ T lymphocytes was significantly lower in HBeAg positive CHB patients compared to healthy controls (Z=2.889, P＜0.05), which was negatively correlated with serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level and HBeAg titers. The CD127 expression increased along with the decrease of HBV DNA and HBeAg after 24-week, 48-week and 72-week treatment in patients showing good response to peginterferon α-2a, while CD127 expression didn't change markedly in non responders (Z24w = 1.954, Z48w = 2.789, Z72w = 2. 989; all P＜0. 05). Conclusion CD127 expression on memory CD8+ lymphocytes increases along with effective anti-HBV treatment in CHB patients, which can be used as a marker for evaluating the effectiveness of anti-viral treatment.
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Objective To investigate the association between the polymorphism at position 627 in IL-10 promoter and the prevalence of HBV related cirrhosis. Methods PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-PFLP) was performed to detect polymorphisms of IL-10 promoter-627 in 220 patients with HBV related cirrhosis and 200 healthy controls. The contribution of polymorphism at position 627 to HBV related cirrhosis was calculated. Results The frequency of AA and CA genotypes and A allele at position 627 of IL-10 promoter region were significantly higher in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis than that of healthy controls (X2 = 7.46,5.72,13.78, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05 ). Conclusion There are significant association between the polymorphism at position 627 in the IL-10 promoter region and the prevalence of HBV related cirrhosis.