Clinical stage drugs targeting inhibitor of apoptosis proteins purge episomal Hepatitis B viral genome in preclinical models
- Author(s)
- Clark, MP; Huynh, T; Rao, S; Mackiewicz, L; Mason, H; Romal, S; Stutz, MD; Ahn, SH; Earnest, L; Sozzi, V; Littlejohn, M; Tran, BM; Wiedemann, N; Vincan, E; Torresi, J; Netter, HJ; Mahmoudi, T; Revill, P; Pellegrini, M; Ebert, G;
- Details
- Publication Year 2021-06-23,Volume 12,Issue #7,Page 641
- Journal Title
- Cell Death & Disease
- Abstract
- A major unmet clinical need is a therapeutic capable of removing hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome from the liver of infected individuals to reduce their risk of developing liver cancer. A strategy to deliver such a therapy could utilize the ability to target and promote apoptosis of infected hepatocytes. Presently there is no clinically relevant strategy that has been shown to effectively remove persistent episomal covalently closed circular HBV DNA (cccDNA) from the nucleus of hepatocytes. We used linearized single genome length HBV DNA of various genotypes to establish a cccDNA-like reservoir in immunocompetent mice and showed that clinical-stage orally administered drugs that antagonize the function of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins can eliminate HBV replication and episomal HBV genome in the liver. Primary human liver organoid models were used to confirm the clinical relevance of these results. This study underscores a clinically tenable strategy for the potential elimination of chronic HBV reservoirs in patients.
- Publisher
- NPG
- Research Division(s)
- Infectious Diseases And Immune Defence
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-021-03924-0
- Open Access at Publisher's Site
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-021-03924-0- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2021-06-30 12:00:52
Last Modified: 2021-07-07 11:39:17