hepatitis B virus antigen-specific dendritic cells

Hepatitis B virus antigen-specific dendritic cells is an autologous cell-based immunotherapy developed by the 180th Hospital of the PLA for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. The therapy involves isolating a patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells, differentiating them into dendritic cells (DCs) ex vivo, and pulsing them with hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens, most commonly the surface antigen (HBsAg). These matured, antigen-loaded DCs are then re-infused into the patient to act as professional antigen-presenting cells. The mechanism of action centers on the DCs' ability to present HBV-specific epitopes to naive T cells, thereby bypassing the immune exhaustion and tolerance typically seen in chronic HBV infection. This process stimulates the expansion of HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and helper T cells, which target and eliminate virus-infected hepatocytes, aiming for a reduction in viral load and potentially a functional cure.

Other names

HBV-specific dendritic cell vaccineHBsAg-pulsed dendritic cellsautologous HBV-specific dendritic cell vaccine