Immune-modulators to combat hepatitis B virus infection: From IFN-α to novel investigational immunotherapeutic strategies.
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major challenge for clinicians, as there are only two types of approved therapies: interferon-alpha (IFN-α) or its pegylated form, Peg-IFN-α and nucleoside analogs (e.g. tenofovir, entecavir...). The first are used as finite-duration treatments of around 48-52 weeks, while the second must be taken life-long to prevent rebound. Other immune-modulators, including other types of recombinant IFNs and cytokines/chemokines, could be developed for treating chronic hepatitis B. Alternatively, strategies aimed either at restoring or favoring the endogenous production of IFNs, cytokines and/or chemokines, or at alleviating HBV-mediated inhibitory processes could also be envisaged. In this article, we review current investigational, preclinical and clinical efforts to implement immune-modulatory components in the therapy of chronic hepatitis B. This review forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "An unfinished story: from the discovery of the Australia antigen to the development of new curative therapies for hepatitis B".
INSERM, U1052, CNRS UMR_5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard (UCBL), Lyon, France.
Nathalie
N
Isorce
INSERM, U1052, CNRS UMR_5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard (UCBL), Lyon, France.
Julie
J
Lucifora
INSERM, U1052, CNRS UMR_5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard (UCBL), Lyon, France; Labex DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), Croix-Rousse Hospital, Lyon, France.
Fabien
F
Zoulim
INSERM, U1052, CNRS UMR_5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard (UCBL), Lyon, France; Labex DEVweCAN, Lyon, France. Electronic address: david.durantel@inserm.fr.
David
D
Durantel
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
Cytokines/chemokines; Hepatitis B virus; Immune-modulators; Immunotherapy; Interferon