Use of sting agonists to treat chronic hepatitis b virus infection

Abstract

Provided herein are methods of treating a subject having hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. More specifically, disclosed herein are methods of stimulating the innate cytokine response in macrophages, dendritic cells and/or liver non-parenchymal cells with small molecular agonists of STING to suppress HBV replication in hepatocytes. The methods are especially suitable for use in the treatment of chronic HBV infections. Also disclosed herein are methods of identifying compounds useful in the treatment of HBV infection.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a subject infected with HBV, the method comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a STING agonist to the subject, wherein the STING agonist is at least one selected from the group consisting of methoxyvone, 6,4′-dimethoxyflavone, 4′-methoxyflavone, 3′,6′-dihydroxyflavone, 7,2′-dihydroxyflavone, daidzein, formononetin, retusin 7-methyl ether, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the STING agonist is administered orally or by injection to the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the STING agonist stimulates an innate cytokine response in at least one cell in the subject, wherein the at least one cell is selected from the group consisting of macrophages, dendritic cells, liver non-parenchymal cells, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the innate cytokine response is mediated through cytokines in the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the innate cytokine response is mediated through type 1 interferon in the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the STING agonist suppresses hepatitis B virus replication in infected hepatocytes in the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the STING agonist reduces hepatitis B virus capsid levels in the subject. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a subject infected with HBV, the method comprising:
 treating at least one cell selected from the group consisting of liver resident dendritic cells, macrophages, nonparenchymal cells, or any combinations thereof, with a compound which is a STING agonist, wherein the STING agonist is at least one selected from the group consisting of methoxyvone, 6,4′-dimethoxyflavone, 4′-methoxyflavone, 3′,6′-dihydroxyflavone, 7,2′-dihydroxyflavone, daidzein, formononetin, retusin 7-methyl ether, xanthone, or any combinations thereof, thus generating a treated cell;   incubating the treated cells in a conditioned medium;   separating the conditioned medium or a portion thereof from the treated cells; and   administering the conditioned medium or a portion thereof to the subject.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one cell is human. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one cell is modified to express a mutant STING. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one cell is transfected or transformed with a mutant STING prior to the treating step. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mutant STING is STING S162A. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one cell is autologous to the subject. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating a hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a subject infected with HBV, the method comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a STING agonist to the subject, wherein the STING agonist is the only therapeutically effective agent administered to the subject, and wherein the STING agonist is at least one selected from the group consisting of methoxyvone, 6,4′-dimethoxyflavone, 4′-methoxyflavone, 3′,6′-dihydroxyflavone, 7,2′-dihydroxyflavone, daidzein, formononetin, retusin 7-methyl ether, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the STING agonist is administered orally or by injection to the subject. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the STING agonist stimulates an innate cytokine response in at least one cell in the subject, wherein the cell is selected from the group consisting of macrophage, dendritic cell, liver non-parenchymal cell, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the STING agonist suppresses hepatitis B virus replication in infected hepatocytes in the subject. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the STING agonist reduces hepatitis B virus capsid levels in the subject.