Article
Immunology
Lorenzo Piermatteo, Stefano D'Anna, Ada Bertoli, Maria Bellocchi, Luca Carioti, Lavinia Fabeni, Mohammad Alkhatib, Simone La Frazia, Miriam Lichtner, Claudio Mastroianni, Giuseppe De Sanctis, Massimo Marignani, Caterina Pasquazzi, Nerio Iapadre, Giustino Parruti, Giuseppina Cappiello, Jacopo Vecchiet, Vincenzo Malagnino, Sandro Grelli, Francesca Ceccherini-Silbertein, Massimo Andreoni, Loredana Sarmati, Valentina Svicher, Romina Salpini
Summary: 17.7% of HBV-D infected patients carry at least one vaccine-escape mutation, and the proportion of patients with complex mutations is increasing over time. Complex mutations are associated with lower HBsAg levels and HBsAg negativity despite HBV-DNA positivity.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gian Paolo Caviglia, Antonella Zorzi, Mario Rizzetto, Massimo Mirandola, Antonella Olivero, Giada Carolo
Summary: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBVr) in patients undergoing pharmacological immunosuppression is a potentially fatal event, with risk mainly determined by the type of therapy and HBV serologic profile. Immune escape mutants with mutations in the HBsAg can cause diagnostic problems and affect management strategies for patients at risk of HBVr.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Chang-Ru Wu, Hyun-Jin Kim, Cheng-Pu Sun, Chen-Yen Chung, You-Yu Lin, Mi-Hua Tao, Jung-Hwan Kim, Ding-Shinn Chen, Pei-Jer Chen
Summary: This study investigated the conformational epitope of the monoclonal antibody Lenvervimab using escape mutants selected from human liver chimeric mice. The results revealed important amino acid residues in the conformational epitope that can be identified through analysis of escape variants, which is a more efficient method compared to traditional approaches.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yu Yu, Yingqiang Zhang, Yuzhu Dai, Qingyang Sun, Chun Jiang, Xujian Xu, Chuanzhong Mei, Jun Cheng
Summary: In this study, we detected HBsAg immune complex and sequenced the HBV S gene to investigate the association between sustained low-level expression of HBsAg and mutated S gene sequence characteristics. We found that there is a higher positive rate of HBsAg immune complex in the low-level HBsAg group, and there are correlations between HBsAg immune complex and HBsAg or HBV DNA. We also identified specific hot-spot mutations in the MHR of the S gene, which could affect the physicochemical properties and functions of HBsAg. Our findings suggest that these mutations may contribute to the formation of sustained low-level expression of HBsAg in HBV-infected individuals.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shue Xiong, Dan Zhu, Boyun Liang, Mingyue Li, Wen Pan, Junyi He, Hua Wang, Kathrin Sutter, Ulf Dittmer, Mengji Lu, Di Liu, Dongliang Yang, Jia Liu, Xin Zheng
Summary: The desirable endpoint of treatment against chronic hepatitis B virus infection is to achieve a functional cure, characterized by HBsAg loss with or without anti-HBs seroconversion. This study found that cHBV patients with sAg-L display distinct CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell phenotype fingerprints compared to sAg-R patients, with upregulated HLA-DR expression and potent HBcAg-specific CD8(+) T cell response. The onset of HBsAg decrease and subsequent loss in cHBV patients on treatment is associated with significant alterations of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell phenotypes, which may serve as predictive factors for sAg-L.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Maria V. Konopleva, Maxim S. Belenikin, Andrei V. Shanko, Alexey I. Bazhenov, Sergei A. Kiryanov, Tatyana A. Tupoleva, Maria V. Sokolova, Alexander V. Pronin, Tatyana A. Semenenko, Anatoly P. Suslov
Summary: The study examines the prevalence of escape mutations in S-HBsAg in patients with hematologic malignancies, finding a high mutation frequency in patients with leukemias and lymphomas. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is shown to be advantageous in detecting minor populations of HBV mutations and studying the virological and pathogenetic aspects of hepatitis B.
Review
Immunology
Chiranjib Chakraborty, Ashish Ranjan Sharma, Manojit Bhattacharya, Sang-Soo Lee
Summary: This review provides an overview of the immune escape and vaccine escape ability of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, discussing their different immune escape strategies and mutations in various locations. It also illustrates the partial vaccine escape ability of emerging variants.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Abdelaziz Elgaml, Mohamed Elegezy, Mohamed El-Mesery, Mohammed El-Mowafy
Summary: The study revealed diverse viral isolates of genotype D in treatment-naive chronic HBV-infected Egyptian patients, with significant substitutions and mutations in HBsAg and RT domain. The characteristic Y124H substitution in the RT domain was predominant in Egyptian HBV isolates, along with the presence of viral quasispecies. Novel substitutions in HBsAg and RT domain associated with genotype D were also reported.
Article
Oncology
Xingxing Chen, Xuehua Lin, Guofu Pang, Jian Deng, Qun Xie, Zhengrong Zhang
Summary: The study revealed that frequent KDM6A mutations in bladder cancer promote tumor immune escape, serving as a potential novel biomarker for predicting the immune response.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Milan J. Sonneveld, Shao-Ming Chiu, Jun Yong Park, Sylvia M. Brakenhoff, Apichat Kaewdech, Wai-Kay Seto, Yasuhito Tanaka, Ivana Carey, Margarita Papatheodoridi, Florian van Bommel, Thomas Berg, Fabien Zoulim, Sang Hoon Ahn, George N. Dalekos, Nicole S. Erler, Christoph Honer Zu Siederdissen, Heiner Wedemeyer, Markus Cornberg, Man-Fung Yuen, Kosh Agarwal, Andre Boonstra, Maria Buti, Teerha Piratvisuth, George Papatheodoridis, Chien-Hung Chen, Benjamin Maasoumy
Summary: The probability of HBsAg loss after NUC cessation varies according to patient ethnicity, HBV genotype and end-of-treatment viral antigen levels. Patients with low HBsAg and HBcrAg levels, particularly non-Asian or infected with HBV genotype C, may be the best candidates for treatment withdrawal.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Si-Yu Yuan, Hai-Bo Yu, Zhen Yang, Yi-Ping Qin, Ji-Hua Ren, Sheng-Tao Cheng, Fang Ren, Betty Yuen Kwan Law, Vincent Kam Wai Wong, Jerome P. L. Ng, Yu-Jiao Zhou, Xin He, Ming Tan, Zhen-Zhen Zhang, Juan Chen
Summary: This study identified pimobendan as a potential drug with strong antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Pimobendan inhibits HBV transcription, leading to reduced production of HBsAg. These findings provide a promising lead for the development of new anti-HBV agents.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Yosuke Suehiro, Masataka Tsuge, Mio Kurihara, Takuro Uchida, Hatsue Fujino, Atsushi Ono, Masami Yamauchi, Grace Naswa Makokha, Takashi Nakahara, Eisuke Murakami, Hiromi Abe-Chayama, Tomokazu Kawaoka, Daiki Miki, Michio Imamura, Hiroshi Aikata, C. Nelson Hayes, Takashi Fujita, Kazuaki Chayama
Summary: HBV infection upregulates TRAIL-R3, which inhibits both TRAIL-dependent apoptosis and suppression of HBV replication. The upregulation of TRAIL-R3 is regulated by the TRAIL-R3 promoter and HBV signal pathway. The results suggest a mechanism by which HBV persists by escaping host immunity through upregulation of TRAIL-R3.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Mojahidul Islam, Jayesh Kumar Sevak, Manoj Kumar Sharma, Ankur Jindal, Ashish Kumar Vyas, Meenu Bajpai, Gayatri Ramakrishna, Shiv Kumar Sarin, Nirupma Trehanpati
Summary: Hepatitis B reactivation (rHBV) patients show immune differentiation and tolerance abrogation after HBsAg seroconversion. Non-seroconverters exhibit increased inhibitory markers on CD4/CD8 T cells. CD8, Tfh, and B cells and subsets play a critical role in seroclearance during HBV infection.
ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Serena Zaltron, Anna Cambianica, Marco Di Gregorio, Cosimo Colangelo, Samuele Storti, Giorgio Tiecco, Francesco Castelli, Eugenia Quiros-Roldan
Summary: We report a case of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) reactivation in a HIV/HCV co-infected patient who was followed for 25 years but lost to follow-up after Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment. The patient showed severe immunosuppression and high replication of plasmatic HIV-RNA, followed by an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) with detectable HBV-DNA load and transaminase elevation after ART reintroduction. This case highlights the importance of closely monitoring HBV serological and virological markers in individuals with impaired immune systems, especially in patients on tenofovir or lamivudine-sparing regimens.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ying Yan, Huizhen Sun, Le Chang, Huimin Ji, Xinyi Jiang, Shi Song, Yingzi Xiao, Kaihao Feng, Abudulimutailipu Nuermaimaiti, Zhuoqun Lu, Lunan Wang
Summary: This study identified a minority of individuals with occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) who were HBsAg-negative but HBeAg and anti-HBs positive. The undetectability of HBsAg in these individuals was mainly attributed to HBsAg-circulating immune complexes (CICs). In addition, immune escape-associated mutations were found. It is recommended to use HBsAg dissociation methods or the Lumipulse HBsAg-HQ assay to distinguish these individuals.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Akitoshi Sano, Eiji Kakazu, Shin Hamada, Jun Inoue, Masashi Ninomiya, Tomoaki Iwata, Mio Tsuruoka, Kosuke Sato, Atsushi Masamune
Summary: This study found that an imbalance of free amino acids can exacerbate hepatic steatosis by interfering with the oxidative stress sensor system, involving Nrf2 and VLDL-related lipid metabolism. Results suggest that modulation of the Keap1-Nrf2 system can improve liver damage caused by this imbalance.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jun Inoue, Tomoo Kobayashi, Takehiro Akahane, Osamu Kimura, Kosuke Sato, Masashi Ninomiya, Tomoaki Iwata, Satoshi Takai, Norihiro Kisara, Toshihiro Sato, Futoshi Nagasaki, Masahito Miura, Takuya Nakamura, Teruyuki Umetsu, Akitoshi Sano, Mio Tsuruoka, Masazumi Onuki, Hirofumi Niitsuma, Atsushi Masamune
Summary: This study aimed to clarify the risk factors associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. It was found that non-achievement of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and a high aMAP risk score at the start of treatment were significantly associated with an increased risk of HCC.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Toshiya Machida, Taku Obara, Makoto Miyazaki, Jun Inoue, Nariyasu Mano
Summary: Patients with comorbid non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and/or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) tend to be prescribed specific drugs for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. However, the differences in prescription ratios are not considerable, and further investigation is needed to confirm the effects of these drugs on the prognosis of patients with NAFLD or NASH.
ANNALS OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kazumasa Sakamoto, Kiyoaki Ito, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Hiroshi Yatsuhashi, Yasuhito Tanaka, Shuhei Hige, Yasuhiro Takikawa, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Kazuhide Yamamoto, Fumio Imazeki, Jun Inoue, Masayuki Kurosaki, Takeji Umemura, Hidenori Toyoda, Eiji Mita, Kojiro Michitaka, Tatsuji Maeshiro, Norie Yamada, Atsushi Suetsugu, Miwa Kawanaka, Yuya Seko, Kentaro Matsuura, Akinori Okumura, Yoshitaka Fukuzawa, Masaya Sugiyama, Masashi Mizokami, Masashi Yoneda
Summary: This study found that the distribution of HBV genotypes among CHB patients in Japan has changed over time, with an increase in genotype A among young adults and a shift of genotypes B and C towards older age groups. This data provides important baseline information for comparative studies on the impact of universal HBV vaccination.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Toshiya Machida, Taku Obara, Mami Ishikuro, Keiko Murakami, Fumihiko Ueno, Aoi Noda, Tomomi Onuma, Fumiko Matsuzaki, Jun Inoue, Shinichi Kuriyama, Nariyasu Mano
Summary: This study aimed to examine the association between liver steatosis and fibrosis and atherosclerosis and chronic kidney disease. The results showed that a higher fatty liver index was associated with chronic kidney disease, independent of other risk factors. Further research is needed to understand the causal relationship between liver fat accumulation and chronic kidney disease.
ANNALS OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mio Tsuruoka, Jun Inoue, Keishi Ouchi, Kaname Uno, Hideaki Itami, Masashi Ninomiya, Tomoaki Iwata, Akitoshi Sano, Kosuke Sato, Masazumi Onuki, Satoko Sawahashi, Tomoyuki Koike, Atsushi Masamune
Summary: We report a rare case of duodenal varices rupture in an 87-year-old man during chemotherapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (ATZ/BV) for hepatocellular carcinoma. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed massive bleeding of a ruptured varix in the horizontal portion of the duodenum. Successful hemostasis was achieved through endoscopic injection sclerotherapy. Although esophageal varices rupture has been reported with ATZ/BV treatment, this is the first case of duodenal varices rupture. Regular evaluation of both duodenal and esophageal varices is recommended before ATZ/BV treatment.
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Akihiro Saito, Masafumi Kikuchi, Yuko Matsumoto, Erina Sugawara, Gesshu Takao, Hayato Inomata, Akane Takahashi, Yuji Sato, Masaki Kumondai, Yu Sato, Toshihiro Sato, Masashi Ninomiya, Jun Inoue, Masamitsu Maekawa, Nariyasu Mano
Summary: A novel liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to accurately measure lenvatinib in human plasma, and it demonstrated good reproducibility. Therefore, MSW combined with this new detection method could serve as a useful microsampling device for lenvatinib therapeutic drug monitoring in patients with HCC.
THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kosuke Sato, Jun Inoue, Takehiro Akahane, Tomoo Kobayashi, Satoshi Takai, Takuya Nakamura, Toshihiro Sato, Osamu Kimura, Masashi Ninomiya, Tomoaki Iwata, Akitoshi Sano, Mio Tsuruoka, Masazumi Onuki, Satoko Sawahashi, Hirofumi Niitsuma, Atsushi Masamune
Summary: Switching from ETV to TAF may effectively suppress HBV DNA levels in chronic hepatitis B patients with detectable HBV DNA, even at a low level.
TOHOKU JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Masashi Ninomiya, Jun Inoue, Mio Tsuruoka, Atsushi Masamune
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kosuke Sato, Jun Inoue, Takehiro Akahane, Tomoo Kobayashi, Shuichi Sato, Norihiro Kisara, Masashi Ninomiya, Tomoaki Iwata, Akitoshi Sano, Mio Tsuruoka, Masazumi Onuki, Atsushi Masamune
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of switching from ETV to TAF. The results showed no significant differences in the mean change of HBsAg levels after 2 years between the TAF-switching group and the ETV-continuing group. However, the prior ETV duration was significantly shorter in the HBsAg-declined group. Although the eGFR levels tended to decrease in the TAF group, no significant differences were observed in patients with baseline eGFR < 60.
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Seng Gee Lim, Cristina Pojoga, Harry Janssen, Denis Gusev, Robert Plesniak, Keiji Tsuji, Ewa Janczewska, Corneliu Petru Popescu, Pietro Andreone, Jinlin Hou, Manuela Arbune, Adrian Gadano, Diana Petrova, Jun Inoue, Teerha Piratvisuth, Young-Suk Lim, Apinya Leerapun, Masanori Atsukawa, Ji-Dong Jia, Eternity Labio, Jennifer Cremer, Robert Elston, Tamara Lukic, Geoff Quinn, Stuart Kendrick, Punam Bharania, Fiona Campbell, Melanie Paff, Dickens Theodore
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Seng Gee Lim, Cristina Pojoga, Harry Janssen, Denis Gusev, Robert Plesniak, Keiji Tsuji, Ewa Janczewska, Corneliu Petru Popescu, Pietro Andreone, Jinlin Hou, Manuela Arbune, Adrian Gadano, Diana Petrova, Jun Inoue, Teerha Piratvisuth, Young-Suk Lim, Apinya Leerapun, Masanori Atsukawa, Ji-Dong Jia, Eternity Labio, Jennifer Cremer, Robert Elston, Tamara Lukic, Geoff Quinn, Stuart Kendrick, Punam Bharania, Fiona Campbell, Melanie Paff, Dickens Theodore
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yuki Ishikawa, Atsushi Fujio, Kazuaki Tokodai, Toshiaki Kashiwadate, Koji Miyazawa, Kengo Sasaki, Muneyuki Matsumura, Yoshikatsu Saitoh, Mio Tsuruoka, Jun Inoue, Shigehito Miyagi, Fumiyoshi Fujishima, Michiaki Unno, Takashi Kamei
Summary: This is a case report of a rare cholesterol granuloma of the liver in a patient with no intrahepatic cholesterol stones. The patient had a good postoperative recovery and showed no recurrence during the follow-up.
TOHOKU JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Mio Tsuruoka, Jun Inoue, Yasushi Onishi, Masashi Ninomiya, Eiji Kakazu, Tomoaki Iwata, Akitoshi Sano, Kosuke Sato, Hideo Harigae, Atsushi Masamune
Summary: Reactivation of HBV is common after HSCT, and stopping NA after immunosuppressive therapy may lead to severe hepatitis in some patients.
CASE REPORTS IN GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Masashi Ninomiya Ninomiya, Jun Inoue, Tomoaki Iwata, Akitoshi Sano, Mio Tsuruoka, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Atsushi Masamune
