New Stem Cell Model Offers Hope for HDV Treatment
A groundbreaking study published in JHEP Reports on April 22, 2025, sheds new light on Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. The research, supported by the EXCELLENCE CLUSTER RESIST and the German Research Foundation (DFG), was conducted by researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Infection Research and TWINCORE in Hanover.
The study introduces a novel stem cell-based infection model for HDV, developed by the research team. This model, using stem cells nearly identical to primary liver cells, offers a more realistic environment for studying HDV infections than previous liver cell lines.
The team discovered that the transcription factor IRF1 plays a crucial role in HDV replication. IRF1 regulates 101 downstream genes, some of which could potentially have antiviral properties against HDV. The researchers aim to examine these genes more closely to identify potential antiviral candidates for HDV treatment.
Currently, HDV causes the most severe hepatitis diseases, with limited treatment options. The drug Hepcludex can prevent HDV from entering liver cells but lacks antiviral effects and cannot halt the spread of the virus to daughter cells. The new model and findings offer hope for developing more effective therapies.
The study, published in JHEP Reports, highlights the importance of IRF1 in HDV replication and the potential of stem cell-based models for HDV research. Further investigation into the genes regulated by IRF1 could lead to new antiviral candidates, offering hope for better treatment of HDV, which is currently covered by the hepatitis B vaccine but has few treatment options.
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