HBRN: Immune Regulation and Costimulation in Natural History of Chronic Hepatitis B

This is an ancillary to the NIDDK-sponsored Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN) Study Cohort Study NCT01263587. This study will examine the balance between immune regulatory and effector responses in hepatitis B-infected participants enrolled in the HBRN study (NCT01263587).

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Hepatitis B Blood-Borne Infections Communicable Diseases DNA Virus Infections Digestive System Diseases Hepadnaviridae Infections Hepatitis Hepatitis, Viral, Human Infections Liver Diseases Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

About this study

Aim 1: The clinical and virological status of chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) infection is defined by distinct patterns of immune effector and regulatory responses: The investigators propose that one or more immune regulatory are induced during chronic hepatitis B that define the extent of immune tolerance vs. activation with associated disease activity and viremia. Towards this end, the immune effector and regulatory responses relative to serum HBV DNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and liver histology will be examined in a cross-sectional manner in patients with chronic HBV and control groups.

Aim 2: Clinical hepatitis flares during chronic hepatitis B reflect altered balance between immune regulatory and effector responses.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Providing informed consent for this ancillary study.

Exclusion criteria

Children under 18 years of age, participants with anemia
Hgb<10 or Hct<30, congestive heart failure or chronic lung disease requiring oxygen, active coronary artery disease with unstable angina, sepsis or renal failure, other significant medical conditions, autoimmune disease or immunosuppression.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Immune regulatory and activation measures

Time frame: 240 weeks

Immune regulatory and effector responses relative to HBV DNA, ALT and clinical outcome. HBV-specific lymphoproliferative, IFN-gamma and IL 10 responses, T cell activation and costimulatory markers (PD1, CTLA4, CD28, CD127), FoxP3+ Treg frequency, and NK frequency and expression of activating/inhibitory receptors and Dendritic cell frequency.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Collaborators

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2011
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Feb 17, 2011
Registry last updated: Jan 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Active, Not Recruiting