Abstract
More than 250 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B despite the availability of highly effective vaccines and oral antivirals. Although innate and adaptive immune cells play crucial roles in controlling hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, they are also accountable for inflammation and subsequently cause liver pathologies. During the initial phase of HBV infection, innate immunity is triggered leading to antiviral cytokines production, followed by activation and intrahepatic recruitment of the adaptive immune system resulting in successful virus elimination. In chronic HBV infection, significant alterations in both innate and adaptive immunity including expansion of regulatory cells, overexpression of co-inhibitory receptors, presence of abundant inflammatory mediators, and modifications in immune cell derived exosome release and function occurs, which overpower antiviral response leading to persistent viral infection and subsequent immune pathologies associated with disease progression towards fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of innate and adaptive immune cells transformations that are associated with immunopathogenesis and disease outcome in CHB patients.
Highlights
Despite the availability of highly effective preventive vaccines and oral antivirals, an estimated 250 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) [1]
Most people develop acute self-limiting infection that get clear with strong host immune response; those who do not clear develop chronic infection, which progress towards fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leading to high mortality [2]
In chronic infection, HBV-specific CD8 T cells acquire exhaustive phenotype and produce less inflammatory cytokines [4], indicating that HBV-specific CD8 T cells might not be a major mediator of liver injury, instead liver injury is driven by the intrahepatic recruitment of other immune cells
Summary
Despite the availability of highly effective preventive vaccines and oral antivirals, an estimated 250 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) [1]. Host immunity constitute different cell types, CD8 T cells are considered as the major factor responsible for hepatic damage during acute HBV infection [3]. Since chronic HBV infection is diagnosed after several weeks or months of infection when the virus is already escaped and viremia is high, adaptive immune response is appraised for efficient viral control and innate immune cells are overlooked. Activation of the innate immune pathways mediates the recruitment of adaptive immune cells, which perform HBV-specific functions by recognizing the virus infected hepatocytes and killing them [8–10]. These cells develop HBV-specific memory, which protects from future HBV infection. We will discuss current knowledge on innate and adaptive immune response and their association with immunopathogenesis of HBV infection
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
