ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the main pathogenic factor for chronic hepatitis, and if it is not treated timely and effectively, it may have the risk of developing into end-stage liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Neither of the two types of antiviral drugs currently used in clinical practice can completely inhibit viral replication or eliminate viral transcriptional template, which means that covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) exists in infected liver cells for a long time, and thus patients with chronic hepatitis B require long-term or even lifelong medication. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop novel anti-HBV drugs. Core protein allosteric modulators (CpAM) are a type of novel anti-HBV drugs and can interfere with HBV nucleocapsid assembly and inhibit the depolymerization of mature nucleocapsid, the formation of cccDNA, and the biogenesis and secretion of HBeAg. CpAM have a great potential in clinical application since they act on various links of viral replication. This article reviews the function of CpAM target protein-core protein, the classification, action targets, and anti-HBV mechanism of CpAM, and the current research status, further development, and application prospect of CpAM.
ABSTRACT
@#The core protein allosteric modulator targets the core protein and inhibits hepatitis B virus(HBV)replication by regulating the formation of covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA), which is expected to completely cure hepatitis B and overcome the drug resistance of nucleoside drugs. This paper reviews the replication process of HBV, the function of core proteins, the mechanism, classification and research progress of core protein allosteric modulators, lists 12 drugs, and summarizes their mechanisms, categories, chemical structures, safety, anti-HBV effects, combined drug use, etc. In addition, the advantages and problems of core protein allosteric modulators are discussed to provide references for the development of new anti-HBV drugs.