Differential gene expression, irrespective of circulating Hepatitis B Surface Antigen levels, between Inactive Carrier and Nucleos(t)ide Analogue-Treated Hepatitis B Virus patients.

Long-term viremia control in chronic HBV patients occurs either spontaneously in inactive carrier (IC) patients or therapy-induced by nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUC). To better understand the characteristics of viremia control, we evaluated gene expression in purified leukocyte subsets from IC versus NUC-treated patients, and evaluated the putative modulatory effects of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We observed that gene expression in NUC-treated patients differed markedly from IC patients, especially in dendritic cells, monocytes, and CD8+ T cells, while serum HBsAg levels had little effect. Nevertheless, based on our findings it cannot be excluded that HBsAg may act locally in the infected liver or preferentially affects HBV-specific cells.

Genome-wide Association Study Identifies Genetic Variants Associated With Early and Sustained Response to (Pegylated) Interferon in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: The GIANT-B Study.

BACKGROUND: (Pegylated) Interferon ([Peg]IFN) therapy leads to response in a minority of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Host genetic determinants of response are therefore in demand. METHODS: In this genome-wide association study (GWAS), CHB patients, treated with (Peg)IFN for at least 12 weeks ± nucleos(t)ide analogues within randomized trials or as standard of care, were recruited at 21 centers from Europe, Asia, and North America. Response at 24 weeks after (Peg)IFN treatment was defined as combined hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss with hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA <2000 IU/mL, or an HBV DNA <2000 IU/mL for HBeAg-negative patients. RESULTS: Of 1144 patients, 1058 (92%) patients were included in the GWAS analysis. In total, 282 (31%) patients achieved the response and 4% hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss. GWAS analysis stratified by HBeAg status, adjusted for age, sex, and the 4 ancestry components identified PRELID2 rs371991 (B= -0.74, standard error [SE] = 0.16, P = 3.44 ×10-6) for HBeAg-positive patients. Importantly, PRELID2 was cross-validated for long-term response in HBeAg-negative patients. G3BP2 rs3821977 (B = 1.13, SE = 0.24, P = 2.46 × 10-6) was associated with response in HBeAg-negative patients. G3BP2 has a role in the interferon pathway and was further examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy controls stimulated with IFNα and TLR8. After stimulation, less production of IP-10 and interleukin (IL)-10 proteins and more production of IL-8 were observed with the G3BP2 G-allele. CONCLUSIONS: Although no genome-wide significant hits were found, the current GWAS identified genetic variants associated with (Peg)IFN response in CHB. The current findings could pave the way for gene polymorphism-guided clinical counseling, both in the setting of (Peg)IFN and the natural history, and possibly for new immune-modulating therapies. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTATION: NCT01401400.

Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Are More Activated in Chronic Hepatitis B, but Not Depleted in Blood: Reversal by Antiviral Therapy.

Background: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells might play a role in control of viral replication during chronic hepatitis B (cHBV) infection, but little is known of their number, phenotype, or function in cHBV patients. Methods: We performed flow cytometry on CD3+Vɑ7.2+CD161+ MAIT cells in blood of 55 cHBV patients. Nine patients were sampled before and on entecavir treatment. Six patients on therapy underwent a liver biopsy for flow cytometric analysis. Measurements included MAIT cell frequency, phenotype, and cytokine-producing capacity. Results: The MAIT cells were not deleted in blood or liver of cHBV patients compared with healthy controls, but they had higher percentages of CD38+ MAIT cells in blood, which declined on entecavir treatment. Peripheral MAIT cells of patients in the HBeAg-negative phase were least activated. Cytokine-producing MAIT cells were as frequent, but granzyme B-producing MAIT cells were more frequent upon stimulation with Escherichia coli compared with healthy controls. Conclusions: We demonstrate that, in sharp contrast to hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus patients, MAIT cells isolated from HBV patients are not deleted but are more activated, which can be normalized by nucleoside analog therapy. These observations may aid in deciphering the role of MAIT cells in immune responses to HBV.