Zeaxanthin dipalmitate alleviates hepatic injury induced by superimposed chronic hepatitis B and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in non-obese mice.

A hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice model was used to establish the fatty liver superimposed model by feeding the methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 8 weeks, with or without the gavage of 2 mg/kg zeaxanthin dipalmitate (ZD) three times per week. Both wild-type and HBV transgenic mice, with MCD diet, gained typical non-obese non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and HBV symptoms. Coadministration with ZD exhibited evident therapeutic effects through alleviating those pathological events. Moreover, long-term vehicle-ZD treatment was found to be safe. Thus, ZD is a promising and safe hepato-protective agent against hepatic injury induced by superimposed HBV and NASH in non-obese mice.

Discovery and mechanism of action of Novel Baicalein modified derivatives as potent antihepatitis agent.

Anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity was evaluated in HepG2 2.2.15 cells by novel Baicalein derivatives. The result showed that compounds 4k and 4h was found to be effective anti-HBV agent. Further, the effect of compounds 4k and 4h showed dose-dependent inhibition of HBV-DNA as compared to control together with significant inhibition of HbeAG and HbsAG expression in the tested dose. Both compounds showed considerable affinity against the HepG2.2.15 cells. Moreover, the docking study of compound 4k was carried out with HLA molecule showing excellent intermolecular interactions with the receptor via creation of numerous bonds with Ser5, Thr27, Asp29 and Phe8. The compound 4k showed significant effect on the HO-1 expression in HepG2.2.15 cells together with excellent anti-HBV activity in transgenic mouse confirmed by biochemical and histopathological parameters. Compound 4k also showed excellent pharmacokinetic profile in experimental animal and thus, provide a novel class of potent anti-HBV agents.

Partial Hepatectomy and Castration of HBV Transgenic Mice.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepatotropic virus. Its infection can cause liver injury and regeneration, and its replication is affected by the gender. Transgenic mice that carry a 1.3-mer overlength HBV DNA genome productively replicate HBV in hepatocytes and have been very useful for studying the replication and pathogenesis of HBV in vivo. By using this mouse model, the relationship between HBV and liver injury and regeneration as well as the effect of the gender on HBV gene expression and replication has been studied. In this chapter, we describe the surgical procedures of partial hepatectomy and castration and provide examples to demonstrate how these surgical procedures may be used to study the effect of HBV on liver regeneration and the effect of androgen on HBV replication.

Effect of lamivudine and silymarin on liver fibrosis-relevant factors in HBV transgenic mice with alcohol drinking / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To observe the role of lamividine and silymarin preventing and curing liver fibrosisrelevant factors induced by alcohol drinking in hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice (Tg mice).Methods:Forty HBV-Tg BALB/C mice with 1.3 copy were randomly divided into 4 groups:a control group,a model group,a lamivudine group and a silymarin group.Tg mice in control group were treated with normal saline via intragastric administration;Tg-mice in the model group were treated with 50％ alcohol (5 mL/kg) once a day via intragastric administration;while Tg-mice in lamivudine group and silymarin group were treated with alcohol (5 mL/kg) plus laminvudine (100 mg/kg) and silymarin (200 mg/kg) once a day via intragastric administration respectively.All groups were raised for 10 weeks.The levels of HBV-DNA copy number,ALT,AST in serum,the degree of inflammation,the degree of fibrosis,the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β 1,Smad3,Smad7 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF),and the protein expression levels of TGF-β1,CTGF and α-SMA in liver tissue were detected.All the images were scanned with electronic computer and the data were analyzed with SPSS13.0 software.Results:Compared with the control group,liver injury were significantly aggravated,while HBVDNA copies,mRNA levels ofTGF-β1,Smad3,Smad7 and CTGF as well as the protein levels of TGF-β1,CTGF and α-SMA were significantly increased (P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,liver injury were significantly attenuated in silymarine group and lamivudine group,while mRNA levels of TGF-β 1,Smad3 and CTGF as well as the protein levels of TGF-β1,CTGF and α-SMA were significantly decreased;mRNA level of Smad7 was further increased (P＜0.05);the levels of ALT and AST in serum were decreased in the silymarine group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Lamivudine and silymarin relieve the histological damage in the liver of alcohol-fed Tg mice.The mechanisms for the beneficial effects of lamivudine or silymarin might be related to inhibiting the expression of TGF-β 1,Smad3 and CTGF,modulating the expression of Smads and suppressing the activation of HSC.

Suppression of hepatitis B virus antigen production and replication by wild-type HBV dependently replicating HBV shRNA vectors in vitro and in vivo.

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), a small DNA virus that replicates by reverse transcription of a pregenomic (pg) RNA precursor, greatly increases the risk for terminal liver disease. RNA interference (RNAi) based therapy approaches have shown potential to overcome the limited efficacy of current treatments. However, synthetic siRNAs as well as small hairpin (sh) RNAs expressed from non-integrating vectors require repeated applications; integrating vectors suffer from safety concerns. We pursue a new concept by which HBV itself is engineered into a conditionally replicating, wild-type HBV dependent anti-HBV shRNA vector. Beyond sharing HBV's hepatocyte tropism, such a vector would be self-renewing, but only as long as wild-type HBV is present. Here, we realized several important aspects of this concept. We identified two distinct regions in the 3.2 kb HBV genome which tolerate replacement by shRNA expression cassettes without compromising reverse transcription when complemented in vitro by HBV helper constructs or by wild-type HBV; a representative HBV shRNA vector was infectious in cell culture. The vector-encoded shRNAs were active, including on HBV as target. A dual anti-HBV shRNA vector delivered into HBV transgenic mice, which are not susceptible to HBV infection, by a chimeric adenovirus-HBV shuttle reduced serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) up to ∼4-fold, and virus particles up to ∼20-fold. Importantly, a fraction of the circulating particles contained vector-derived DNA, indicating successful complementation in vivo. These data encourage further investigations to prove antiviral efficacy and the predicted self-limiting vector spread in a small animal HBV infection model.

The potential protective role of hepatitis B virus infection in pristane-induced lupus in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection plays a role in the regulation of autoimmunity for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHOD: A total of 21 female BALB/c mice and 21 female HBV transgenic BALB/c mice aged two months were randomly divided into four groups: BALB/c mice, HBV(Tg) mice, pristane-injected BALB/c mice, and pristane-injected HBV(Tg) mice. BALB/c mice and HBV(Tg) mice were given an intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml normal saline, and the mice in the other two groups were given an intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml pristane. ANA and anti-dsDNA levels in serum were detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α were measured by Luminex technology. The serum BAFF level was measured using an Elisa kit. Twenty-four weeks after pristane administration, kidneys were removed, dissected, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic-acid Schiff. RESULT: At six months after injecting, the ANA titers in pristane-injected HBV(Tg) mice were significantly lower than pristane-injected BALB/c mice. IL-17, TNF-α, and BAFF levels were significantly higher in pristane-injected BALB/c mice than BALB/c mice and pristane-injected HBV(Tg) mice. IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 levels were much higher in pristane-injected HBV(Tg) mice than pristane-injected BALB/c mice. In pristane-injected HBV(Tg) mice and HBV(Tg) mice, fewer glomerulonephritis changes were found in the kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the incidence of SLE was much lower in HBV(Tg) mice, and that HBV infection helped the SLE mice survive high levels of inflammatory cytokines and severe renal damage. All these findings demonstrated the protective role of HBV in SLE patients via the immunoregulatory networks of the cytokines.

In vivo reduction of hepatitis B virus antigenemia and viremia by antisense oligonucleotides.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Current treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB) includes interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues, which generally do not reduce HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) production, a constellation that is associated with poor prognosis of CHB. Here we evaluated the efficacy of an antisense approach using antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology already in clinical use for liver targeted therapy to specifically inhibit HBsAg production and viremia in a preclinical setting. METHODS: A lead ASO was identified and characterized in vitro and subsequently tested for efficacy in vivo and in vitro using HBV transgenic and hydrodynamic transfection mouse and a cell culture HBV infection model, respectively. RESULTS: ASO treatment decreased serum HBsAg levels ⩾2 logs in a dose and time-dependent manner; HBsAg decreased 2 logs in a week and returned to baseline 4 weeks after a single ASO injection. ASO treatment effectively reduced HBsAg in combination with entecavir, while the nucleoside analogue alone did not. ASO treatment has pan-genotypic antiviral activity in the hydrodynamic transfection system. Finally, cccDNA-driven HBV gene expression is ASO sensitive in HBV infected cells in vitro. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate in a preclinical setting the efficacy of an antisense approach against HBV by efficiently reducing serum HBsAg (as well as viremia) across different genotypes alone or in combination with standard nucleoside therapy. Since the applied antisense technology is already in clinical use, a lead compound can be rapidly validated in a clinical setting and thus, constitutes a novel therapeutic approach targeting chronic HBV infection.

Dynamic of Immune Response induced in Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-transgenic Mice Immunized with a Novel Therapeutic Formulation.

The development of therapeutic vaccines against chronic hepatitis B requires the capacity of the formulation to subvert a tolerated immune response as well as the evaluation of histopathological damage resulting from the treatment. In the present study, the dynamicity of induced immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was evaluated in transgenic mice that constitutively express the HBsAg gene (HBsAg-tg mice). After immunization with a vaccine candidate containing both surface (HBsAg) and core (HBcAg) antigens of hepatitis B virus (HBV), the effect of vaccination on clearance of circulating HBsAg and the potential histological alterations were examined. Transgenic (tg) and non-transgenic (Ntg) mice were immunized by intranasal (IN) and subcutaneous (SC) routes simultaneously. A control group received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) by IN route and aluminum by SC route. Positive responses, at both humoral and cellular levels, were obtained after five immunizations in HBsAg-tg mice. Such responses were delayed and of lower intensity in tg mice, compared to vaccinated Ntg mice. Serum IgG response was characterized by a similar IgG subclass pattern. Even when HBsAg-specific CD8+ T cell responses were clearly detectable by gamma-interferon ELISPOT assay, histopathological alterations were not detected in any organ, including the liver and kidneys. Our study demonstrated, that it is possible to subvert the immune tolerance against HBsAg in tg mice, opening a window for new studies to optimize the schedule, dose, and formulation to improve the immune response to the therapeutic vaccine candidate. These results can be considered a safety proof to support clinical developments for the formulation under study. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Freyre FM, Blanco A, Trujillo H, Hernández D, García D, Alba JS, Lopez M, Merino N, Lobaina Y, Aguilar JC. Dynamic of Immune Response induced in Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-transgenic Mice Immunized with a Novel Therapeutic Formulation. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(1):25-30.

Effect of Shenxian Yiganling Tablets Combined with HBsAg Gene-modified Dendritic Cells on Immune Response and Hepatocyte Damage of Hepatitis B Virus Transgenic Mice / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To observe the effect of Shenxian Yiganling Tablets ( SYT) , a Chinese herbal recipe with the actions of tonifying kidney and removing toxicity, combined with HBsAg gene-modified dendritic cells (DC/HBsAg) on immune response and hepatocyte damage of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice. Methods HBV transgenic mice ( Tg mice) were immunized with injection of DC/HBsAg ( 100 μg every three weeks) through caudal vein, and then were given intragastric administration of SYT in the dosage of 12.8, 23.5, and 47.0 mg/d for four weeks. HBV Tg mice splenic T cell cytokines of interleukin 2 ( IL-2) and interferon gamma ( IFN-γ) levels as well as serum alanine aminotransferase ( ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase ( AST) conents were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) . Lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) release assay was used to detect the in-vitro cytotoxic activity of splenic HBsAg specific T lymphocytes. Serum HBsAg level of HBV Tg mice was detected by ELISA after immunization. Results Compared with DC/HBsAg administration alone, DC/HBsAg combined with SYT could significantly increase HBV Tg mice splenic T cells cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ levels ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) , increase the cytotoxic activity of HBsAg-specific T lymphocytes ( P<0.05 or P<0.01), increase the inhibition rate of HBsAg expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and reduce hepatocyte damage. Conclusion SYT could enhance the immune response of Tg mice to DC/HBsAg immunization, and relieve the hepatic damage, which enable the HBV clearance process out of hepatic damage in the case of anti-HBV activity of IFN-γbeing unaffected.

Effect of IFN-CSP on gene of JAK-STAT signaling pathway in HBV transgenic mice / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the anti-HBV molecular mechanisms of liver targeting interferon ( IFN-CSP ) in Balb/c-HBV transgenic mice.Methods Balb/c-HBV transgenic mice were randomly divided into 3 groups.Control group (treated with physiological saline), IFN α2b group (treated with 103 U/g IFN α2b), IFN-CSP group (treated with 102 U/g IFN-CSP).Another group of the non-transgenic mice were used as the Normal group.Each mouse was intramuscular injected with 50 μL dose once a day for 4 weeks.Total RNA of mice liver were extracted, and STAT1, STAT2, IRF-9, OAS1 gene expression of JAK-STAT signaling pathway were analyzed by real-time PCR.Results IFN α2b and IFN-CSP can significantly up regulate the expression of STAT1, STAT2, IRF-9, OAS1 gene of JAK-STAT signaling pathway (P<0.01).The induce effects of IFN-CSP on STAT1, STAT2, IRF-9, OAS1 were significantly better than that of IFN α2b (P<0.05).Conclusion The anti-HBV molecular mechanisms of liver targeting interferon (IFN-CSP) in Balb/c-HBV transgenic mice maybe related to regulate the expression of STAT1, STAT2, IRF-9, OAS1 gene of JAK-STAT signaling pathway.These results will lay a basis for the application of recombinant liver-targeting interferon.

The effect and mechanism of alcohol on liver injury in hepatitis B virus transgenic mice / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the synergistic effects and possible molecular mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and alcohol on liver injury in HBV transgenic mice(HBV-Tg mice).Methods 20 HBV-Tg mice and 20 wild-type mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:alcohol-fed Tg mice and alcohol-fed Wt mice, and they were given intragastric administration with alcohol. Control Tg mice and control Wt mice received intragastric administration with saline.All groups were rasied for 10 weeks.The levels of ALT and AST in serum, the degree of inflammation, the degree of fibrosis, the mRNA expression of TGF-β_1, Smad3, Smad7, CTGF and the protein expression of TGF-β_1, CTGF, α-SMA in liver tissue were detected.Results The serumlevel of ALT and AST, the mRNA expression of TGF-β_1, Smad3, Smad7, CTGF and the protein expression of TGF-β_1, CTGF, α-SMA in liver all increased markedly in alcohol-fed Tg mice. Alcohol consumption induced hepatocyte steatosis and hepatic inflammation in alcohol-fed Tg mice, but the change of liver fibrosis was not remarkable.Conclusion HBV and alcohol have synergistic effects on early liver injury, possibly by enhancing the expression of TGF-β_1, Smad3, CTGF, α-SMA and inducing unbalanced expression of Smads.

Comparison of frequency and function of CD4~+ CD25~+ regulatory T cells in HBV transgenic and normal mice / 第三军医大学学报

0.05). In the HBsAg stimulus group,the proliferation activity of CD4+ CD25- T cells from HBV transgenic mice was significantly lower than that in normal mice (P0.05). In all the 2 groups,the proliferation activity of CD4+ CD25- T cells alone from HBV transgenic mice or normal mice was significantly higher than that mixed culturing (P

Use of high-level HBV replication transgenic mice for evaluating drugs treating hepatitis B virus / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To study the high-level HBV replication transgenic mice for evaluation of drugs treating hepatitis B virus.METHODS:The HBV transgenic mice were treated respectively with lamivudine,large dose recombinant hepatitis B protein vaccine,?-1b interferon,siRNA to evaluate their pharmacodynamics and mechanism of action.RESULTS:HBV DNA titre was reduced significantly in transgenic mice which were treated with lamivudine(100 mg?kg-1?d-1),recombinant hepatitis B protein vaccine(HBsAg 6 ?g/mouse),?-1b interferon(50 ?g /mouse),respectively.Recombinant hepatitis B protein vaccine and ?-1b interferon promoted the level of IL-2 and IFN-? and increased the Elispot number of spleen cells secreting IFN-? in the treated transgenic mice.HBV transgenic mice were treated with RNAi expression vector pU6-siHBV against HBV through vena caudalis by hydrodynamics technique.Five days later,the level of serum HBsAg was reduced by 56.7% and the inhibition lasted at least 14 days.The HbcAg(+)cells were decreased obviously by immunohistochemistry detection in liver tissue,but the RNAi did not reduce the serum HBV DNA titre.CONCLUSION:These inbreeding high-level HBV replication transgenic mice are reliable and feasible for evaluating the anti-HBV drugs and have its economical and convenient superiority.