Suppressing Hepatitis B Virus Replication Using Viral Antigen-Specific T Cells

Source: Xiong, X., et al. Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice. J. Vis. Exp. (2019). The video demonstrates an assay using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived CD8+ T cells to inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in mice. These T cells, engineered with HBV-specific receptors, are transferred into transgenic mice. Replication-competent HBV genome plasmids are then injected directly into the liver, enabling viral DNA uptake. Once viral antigens are expressed and presented by hybrid MHC-I molecules, the engineered T cells recognize and bind to these complexes. This triggers the release of cytotoxic molecules, resulting in the destruction of HBV-infected liver cells and suppression of viral replication.