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Abstract Details
Immunological insights in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B
Curr Opin Immunol. 2022 May 16;77:102207. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2022.102207.Online ahead of print.
1Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: iannacone.matteo@hsr.it.
2Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
3Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: guidotti.luca@hsr.it.
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes either acute or chronic liver diseases. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) often progresses to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As HBV is extremely noncytopathic, immunological events play a key role in the infection outcome. Indeed, adaptive immune responses trigger viral clearance during acute infection and viral persistence reflects the failure to generate and maintain such responses. Current therapies for patients with CHB rely on direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that suppress viral replication without eradicating HBV from the liver. Cure of CHB may well require combining these and forthcoming DAAs with immune-stimulating approaches of different nature and function. Here, we review the relative potential of these combination therapies.