TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection via Oral Immune Regulation Toward Hepatitis B Virus Proteins
AU - Safadi, Rifaat
AU - Israeli, Eran
AU - Papo, Orit
AU - Shibolet, Oren
AU - Melhem, Alaa
AU - Bloch, Aharon
AU - Rowe, Mina
AU - Alper, Ruslana
AU - Klein, Athalia
AU - Hemed, Nilla
AU - Segol, Ori
AU - Thalenfeld, Barbara
AU - Engelhardt, Dean
AU - Rabbani, Elazar
AU - Ilan, Yaron
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by grants from ENZO Biochem, the Hadassit-Horwitz foundation, Israel Science Foundation, Israel Cancer Research Fund, and Roaman-Epstein Liver Research Foundation (to Y.I.).
PY - 2003/11
Y1 - 2003/11
N2 - OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a noncytopathic virus, and hepatocellular injury is mediated by a defective host antiviral immune response. We have previously shown that antiviral immunity can be modulated through oral feeding of viral proteins. The aims of this study were to determine the safety and efficacy of treatment of patients with chronic HBV by means of p.o. administration of HBV envelope proteins. METHODS: A total of 42 chronic HBV patients were treated p.o. with HBV envelope proteins (HBsAg+preS1+preS2), three times/wk for 20-30 wk, and followed for an additional 20 wk. Patients were monitored for HBV-DNA levels, liver enzymes, and liver histology. HBV-directed T cell immune modulation was assessed in vitro by HBV specific T cell-proliferation, cytotoxicity, IFNγ, and IL10 ELISPOT assays, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction cytokines assay. RESULTS: Favorable response in one of the primary endpoints was achieved in 28/42 patients (66.6%) by means of p.o. immune regulation. A significant decrease in viral load was observed in 15 patients (35.7%). HBsAg/HBcAg biopsy scores improved in 41% and 57.1% of patients, respectively. Histological improvement in liver necroinflammatory score was noted in 12/40 patients (30%). In all, 80% showed biochemical response. Five of 19 HBeAg positive patients (26.3%) became negative for HBeAg. A favorable augmentation in anti-HBV specific T cell response, with increased HbsAg specific T cell proliferation (78%), cytotoxicity (75%), and IFNγ positive T cell clones (62.9%) was noted. In addition, a decrease in the IL10 γ positive T cell clones was achieved (48.1%). Natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes increased significantly in all treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Immune regulation of the anti-HBV immune response via p.o. administration of HBV envelope proteins alleviated the immune-mediated liver injury while augmenting the effective antiviral immunity.
AB - OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a noncytopathic virus, and hepatocellular injury is mediated by a defective host antiviral immune response. We have previously shown that antiviral immunity can be modulated through oral feeding of viral proteins. The aims of this study were to determine the safety and efficacy of treatment of patients with chronic HBV by means of p.o. administration of HBV envelope proteins. METHODS: A total of 42 chronic HBV patients were treated p.o. with HBV envelope proteins (HBsAg+preS1+preS2), three times/wk for 20-30 wk, and followed for an additional 20 wk. Patients were monitored for HBV-DNA levels, liver enzymes, and liver histology. HBV-directed T cell immune modulation was assessed in vitro by HBV specific T cell-proliferation, cytotoxicity, IFNγ, and IL10 ELISPOT assays, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction cytokines assay. RESULTS: Favorable response in one of the primary endpoints was achieved in 28/42 patients (66.6%) by means of p.o. immune regulation. A significant decrease in viral load was observed in 15 patients (35.7%). HBsAg/HBcAg biopsy scores improved in 41% and 57.1% of patients, respectively. Histological improvement in liver necroinflammatory score was noted in 12/40 patients (30%). In all, 80% showed biochemical response. Five of 19 HBeAg positive patients (26.3%) became negative for HBeAg. A favorable augmentation in anti-HBV specific T cell response, with increased HbsAg specific T cell proliferation (78%), cytotoxicity (75%), and IFNγ positive T cell clones (62.9%) was noted. In addition, a decrease in the IL10 γ positive T cell clones was achieved (48.1%). Natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes increased significantly in all treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Immune regulation of the anti-HBV immune response via p.o. administration of HBV envelope proteins alleviated the immune-mediated liver injury while augmenting the effective antiviral immunity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0344927219&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2003.07700.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2003.07700.x
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C2 - 14638356
AN - SCOPUS:0344927219
SN - 0002-9270
VL - 98
SP - 2505
EP - 2515
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 11
ER -
