E-Book

E-Book 3rd Congress

  • Exosomes in HBV infection
  • Hosein Izadi,1 Shaghayegh yazdani,2,*
    1. Bachelor’s student. Department of Biology and Molecular, Faculty of Modern Science and Technologies, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Iran.
    2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.


  • Introduction: Recent research has unearthed compelling evidence for exosome-mediated transmission of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Viral particles have been found directly enclosed within exosomes released by infected cells [68]. While the specific mechanism of HBV integration into exosomes remains partially obscure, parallels may exist between viral and exosomal biology. Colocalization of HBV envelope proteins with multivesicular body (MVB) markers AlP1/ALIX and VPS4B in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells suggests a shared pathway.
  • Methods: To elucidate the multifaceted role of exosomes in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a meticulous search was conducted across three prominent databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and NCBI. This extensive search yielded 23 relevant articles, which were subsequently subjected to rigorous review and analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current research landscape in this domain.
  • Results: Exosomes in Antiviral Immunity and Therapy for HBV: • Exosomes deliver IFN-α-related microRNAs from macrophages to HBV-infected hepatocytes, partially inhibiting viral replication and transcription. • HBV-encoded miR-3 targets its own transcription area to suppress viral replication through SOCS5 downregulation and subsequent JAK/STAT activation, potentiating IFN-induced anti-HBV effects. • Exosomal HBV-miR-3 promotes M1 polarization in macrophages and enhances IL-6 by inhibiting SOCS5-mediated EGFR ubiquitination. Therapeutic Implications: • NRTIs effectively reduce HBV DNA and inflammation but pose a risk of relapse and disease progression after treatment cessation. • Studies suggest NRTIs might upregulate PD-L1 expression on monocytes/macrophages, paving the way for combination therapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. • PD-1/PD-L1 blockade has shown potential in reviving HBV-specific T-cell immunity, suggesting its role as a potential adjuvant therapy in selected HBV patients. However, exosomes' involvement in this process remains unclear.
  • Conclusion: As highlighted in this review, exosomes play a multifaceted and critical role in HBV infection. They facilitate viral particle production, promote HBV transmission, and influence the overall pathogenicity. Exploring the potential to block exosome-related pathways emerges as a promising avenue for developing alternative HBV treatment strategies. Despite being in its nascent stages, research on HBV-derived exosomes unveils their substantial clinical potential.
  • Keywords: HBV – Exosome - Replication – Synthesis - Therapeutic target