New therapeutic options for HCV infection in the monoclonal antibody era

New Microbiol. 2012 Oct;35(4):387-97. Epub 2012 Oct 1.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of chronic liver disease and the most common indication for liver transplantation. Current therapies are ineffective in a relevant percentage of patients raising the urgent medical need to develop adequate therapies for this infection. Broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the HCV E2 glycoprotein (HCV/E2), the major target of the neutralizing humoral immune response, are considered as a possible novel therapeutic strategy for this infection. In the last few years, several anti-HCV/E2 human mAbs have been described in literature to be possibly used for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes. In this review, we illustrate the best candidates for an anti-HCV mAb-based therapy, considering their cross-neutralization profiles and their ability to overcome possible viral escape mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / immunology
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / immunology
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus