Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction can restore antiviral activity of exhausted HBV-specific CD8 T cells in chronic hepatitis B
Paola Fisicaro, Valeria Barili, Barbara Montanini, Greta Acerbi, Manuela Ferracin, Francesca Guerrieri, Debora Salerno, Carolina Boni, Marco Massari, M Cristina Cavallo, Glenda Grossi, Tiziana Giuberti, Pietro Lampertico, Gabriele Missale, Massimo Levrero, Simone Ottonello & Carlo Ferrari. doi:10.1038/nm.4275
Carlo Ferrari and colleagues reveal that hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific CD8 T cells from individuals with chronic HBV infections have extensive mitochondrial dysfunction that contributes to impaired antiviral activity but can be targeted with antioxidants.