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Modeling human liver development, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, immunopathogenesis and
therapy in humanized mice
MT Bility1, F Li1, L Cheng1, C. Murphy1, Kouki Nio1, L Zhang2, and Lishan Su1, 2
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, The University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; 2Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Background: Chronic hepatitis B infection affects over 350 million individuals resulting in chronic liver
inflammation, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms of chronic HBV infection and
immunopathogenesis are poorly understood, and its therapeutic option is limited, due to a lack of
relevant robust animal models.
Materials: We have recently developed novel humanized mouse models with both human immune
system and human liver cells by reconstituting highly immunodeficient mice with human hematopoietic
stem cells and liver progenitor cells (NBT-hu HSC/Hep mice). The NBT-hu HSC/Hep mouse supports
persistent HBV and HCV infection.
Results: We detect human immune responses to HBV in the spleen/LN but they are impaired in the liver.
Furthermore, we detect human liver-specific chronic liver inflammation and fibrosis/cirrhosis in the
infected humanized mice. Analysis of chronic HBV/HCV-induced liver inflammation showed high level of
infiltrated human macrophages with M2-like phenotypes. Additionally, HBV/HCV-induced M2-like
macrophages were associated with Th1 impairment and tissue fibrosis in infected animals. Importantly,
similar M2-like macrophage accumulation was confirmed in chronic hepatitis virus infected patients
with liver diseases. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HBV/HCV preferentially induced M2-related
genes in both M1 and M2 macrophages. Finally, HBV infection and its associated immunopathogenesis
were prevented by treatment with a novel anti-HBV neutralizing antibody or by modulating host
immune responses.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that humanized mice with both human immune and liver cells
provide a valuable in vivo platform for studying HBV infection, human immune
responses/immunopathogenesis and associated liver diseases, as well as for developing novel
therapeutics targeting viral and host factors. |
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