Immune Response in Patients With Hepatitis B and C Infection
Immune Response in Patients With Hepatitis B and C Infection
Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum collection from HBV and HCV
 infected patients in a number of different immunological assays, the investigators hope to
 identify any changes in the number and function of these immune cells and to investigate how
 these changes contribute to viral persistence and disease progression.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and C (HCV) are the leading causes of liver disease worldwide.
 Approximately 400 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HBV world wide and
 it is estimated that 3% of the entire world population is infected with HCV and yet there is
 still no vaccine available.

 Chronic viral hepatitis infection is primarily the result of a complex interaction between
 the virus and an impaired host immune response. The host immune response has a unique role in
 HBV and HCV infection because it contributes not only to viral control clinical recovery and
 protective immunity but also to the development of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
 There is currently no cure for most patients who already have chronic HBV and HCV infection
 and a proportion of patients fail to respond to current antiviral regimens. Since these
 patient remain at risk for disease progression it is crucial to investigate host immune
 responses and to determine the precise role of these responses in disease outcome.

 Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum collection from HBV and HCV
 infected patients in a number of different immunological assays, we hope to identify any
 changes in the number and function of these immune cells and to investigate how these changes
 contribute to viral persistence and disease progression. This information can be utilised to
 develop more effective treatment regimens in order to reduce the current global burden of
 these diseases.
Inclusion Criteria:

 Chronic Hepatitis B patients At all stages of infection Treatment naive and previously
 treated Longitudinal samples from patients treated with antiviral agents and interferon

 Chronic Hepatitis C patients All genotypes - treatment naive and previously treated
 Longitudinal samples from patients treated with interferon and STATIC therapy

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Coinfection with HIV Coinfection with hepatitis delta Excessive alcohol use Autoimmune
 liver disease Metabolic liver disease