Probiotics and their metabolite spermidine enhance IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cell immunity to inhibit hepatitis B virus.

Abstract

The therapeutic potential of commensal microbes and their metabolites is promising in the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which is defined as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss. Here, using both specific-pathogen-free and germ-free mice, we report that probiotics significantly promote the decline of HBsAg and inhibit HBV replication by enhancing intestinal homeostasis and provoking intrahepatic interferon (IFN)-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cell immune response. Depletion of CD4⁺ T cells or blockage of IFN-γ abolishes probiotics-mediated HBV inhibition. Specifically, probiotics-derived spermidine accumulates in the gut and transports to the liver, where it exhibits a similar anti-HBV effect. Mechanistically, spermidine enhances IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cell immunity by autophagy. Strikingly, administration of probiotics in HBV patients reveals a preliminary trend to accelerate the decline of serum HBsAg. In conclusion, probiotics and their derived spermidine promote HBV clearance via autophagy-enhanced IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cell immunity, highlighting the therapeutic potential of probiotics and spermidine for the functional cure of HBV patients.