title: PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and T-cell exhaustion in chronic hepatitis virus infection.
abstract: Dysfunctional virus-specific T cells are a hallmark of many chronic viral infections. Recent studies have implicated the inhibitory PD-1/PD-L1 pathway with the functional impairment of T cells. In this respect, we will review the latest research on PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and T-cell exhaustion in the context of human chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections. We will also discuss the therapeutic potential of PD-1 blockade and how it may be enhanced through the modulation of other co-stimulatory/inhibitory pathways.
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoletti
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Tanoto
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008954:Models, Biological; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; C423236:CD274 protein, human; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor