In the field of chronic HBV infection, the discovery of basic core promoter (BCP) and pre-core (PC) mutations dates back nearly thirty years. However, the potential link between these mutations and the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), as well as their impact on antiviral treatment response, has been a focal point for virologists for a long time. At the 2024 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting, Professor Fengmin Lu from the Peking University Center for Infectious Diseases shared his team’s latest research findings. Firstly, they revealed the impact of BCP+PC mutant virus infection on hepatocytes, indicating that this mutant virus induces more extensive and severe hepatocyte degeneration and cytoplasmic vacuolization, and suppresses the endogenous IFN-α/γ signaling pathway in human hepatocytes. This discovery may offer a new explanation for the poor response to interferon therapy in some patients. Additionally, Professor Lu delved into the regulation and secretion mechanisms of HBsAg expression in integrated HBV DNA, proposing new strategies for CHB treatment based on these findings. We had an in-depth interview with Professor Lu, and the content is organized here for our readers.

On June 8, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting concluded successfully in Milan, Italy. This conference brought together top experts and scholars from around the world to discuss the latest technologies and future trends in liver disease treatment. Among the key topics was the development of new drugs for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Professor Jian Gao Fan, Director of the Gastroenterology Department at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, shared insights on the current state and cutting-edge progress in MAFLD drug development.

With the changing modern lifestyle and dietary patterns, Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) has gradually become one of the significant public health concerns globally. At the 2024 EASL Congress, there have been groundbreaking developments in the pharmacological treatment of MAFLD. Particularly, studies on the dual receptor agonists for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) and Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP), survodutide, and tirzepatide, have revealed significant effects in alleviating hepatic steatosis and improving fibrosis. Additionally, due to its association with a range of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other chronic metabolic disorders, the complex relationship between MAFLD and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has also garnered significant attention. Our journal had the privilege to interview Professor Arun J Sanyal, the Chair of the NASH Clinical Research Network at the National Institutes of Health, who summarized the latest clinical research progress on MAFLD from this conference and discussed the "Sugar-Liver Co-Management" strategy for patients with MAFLD and T2DM, aiming to provide new insights for clinical treatment and patient management.