Characteristics of lymphocyte phenotypes in HBV transgenic mice and the effect of interferon-α: a preliminary study / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the characteristics of lymphocyte phenotypes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice and the effect of exogenous interferon-α on virological profiles and lymphocytes phenotypes of the mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HBV transgenic mice and wild-type (WT) mice were examined for serum levels of HBsAg, HBcAb, IL-21, and IL-6 using ELISA. The frequencies of CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells separated from the liver, spleen, and peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Nine HBV transgenic mice were injected subcutaneously with recombinant mouse interferon alpha (rmIFN-α) and another 9 transgenic mice were injected with PBS, and their HBsAg, HBV DNA, IL-6, and IL-21 levels and frequencies of peripheral blood CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBV transgenic mice showed a high level of HBsAg with a detectable level of HBcAb and significantly increased serum levels of IL-21 and IL-6 as compared with WT mice (P<0.05). The transgenic mice had a significantly lower frequency of CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood, liver and spleen (P<0.05) but a significantly higher frequency of CD19(+) B cells in the liver (P<0.05). An inverse correlation between intrahepatic CD4(+) T cell frequency and serum HBsAg level while a positive correlation between intrahepatic CD19(+) B cell frequency and HBcAb level were found in HBV transgenic mice. Administration of rmIFN-α significantly increased the frequencies of CD4(+) T and CD19(+) B cells in the peripheral blood and the serum level of IL-6 in HBV transgenic mice (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBV transgenic mice have lymphocyte subset dysregulation and exogenous interferon-α can modulate the immune function of the mice by regulating the frequencies of lymphocyte subsets.</p>

The Genetic Stability of Replicating HBV Transgenic Mice / 中国生物工程杂志

Objective:To improve the genetic stability of HBV gene in transgenic mice.Methods:HBV transgenic mice were bred by backcross and double cross.The HBV gene expression and replication were studied with real-time PCR,ELISA and chemiluminescence.Results:The HBV transgenic mice have stably bred to 23rd generation.The serum HBsAg level is 4122.31?2044.74IU/ml;The rate of HBV transgenic mice whose serum HBV DNA reach 104~106copies/ml was 93.93%.The HBV replication and expression were improved markedly.There is no difference between male and female mice about serum HBsAg level.Conclusion:After breeding the HBV gene was expressed stably with high-level in transgenic mice.