Targeting TLR9 agonists to secondary lymphoid organs induces potent immune responses against HBV infection.

ABSTRACT: Despite the existence of a prophylactic vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV), chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection remains the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer in developing countries. Because HBV persistence is associated with insufficient host immune responses to the infection, development of an immunomodulator as a component of therapeutic vaccination may become an important strategy for treatment CHB. In the present study, we aimed to design a novel immunomodulator with the capacity to subvert immune tolerance to HBV. We developed a lymphoid organ-targeting immunomodulator by conjugating a naturally occurring, lipophilic molecule, α-tocopherol, to a potent CpG oligonucleotide adjuvant pharmacophore. This approach resulted in preferential trafficking of the α-tocopher

SUBMITTER: Ushach I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8857595 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature