A key difference has been noticed by the scientists from UCL (University College London) between people who can fight the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) off successfully and those who can’t do so.A group of cells important in controlling the disease are initiated to ‘kill themself’ in patients who are permanently infected.The finding gives an important new focus for developing treatments and vaccines that enhance body’s ability to cope with the infection.
Immune system
The researchers examined thousands of genes in T cells, critical players of the immune system required for control of HBV.They discovered that T cells from patients who were chronically infected were initiated to ‘Kill themself’.This could be a notable factor in knowing why these patients’ immune systems cannot fight the infection, and a process which could be a useful target for new treatments.Their discoveries are being published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Liver cirrhosis
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most common and deadliest viruses in the world, considers as one of the top ten killer infectious diseases.About 350 million people have long-term infection with HBV, which may cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. In the majority of infected adults, the immune system is able to cope with the virus very well and is, in fact, even more effective than any available treatment at present. Understanding what goes wrong in people with chronic infection is crucial to the development of new therapies.
Genes in T cells
Lead author, Dr Mala Maini, UCL Division of Infection & Immunity, stated: “We used microarray gene chips to screen more than 5,000 genes in T cells from both recovered and chronically infected Hepatitis B patients.This led to the finding that, in lieu of successfully reacting to the virus, the T cells in the latter group were initiated to kill themself by one of the cells’ own death-inducing proteins, known as ‘Bim’.We are now looking into the fine mechanism driving this outcome.”
The paper’s first author, Ross Lopes, said: “If we can develop safe ways of jamming the suicidal tendency of the T cells, we may be able to continue their survival, so they can do a better work of controlling Hepatitis B infection.”
Alarming endemic
The ratio of the world’s population currently infected with HBV is estimated in between 3 and 6 per cent, but up to a third has been exposed.It is an alarming endemic in parts of Asia and Africa. Chronic Hepatitis B may lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, a mortal illness with very sarcastic response to current treatments.
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