Inhibition of Hepatitis B virus cccDNA replication by siRNA

Journal Article · Fri Apr 06 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

OSTI ID:20979870

Guiqiu, Li ^[1]; Hongxi, Gu ^[1]; Di, Li ^[1]; Weizhen, Xu ^[1]

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1. Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province (China)

The development of an effective therapy for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still a challenge. Progress in RNA interference (RNAi) has shed slight on developing a new anti-HBV strategy. Here, we present a series of experiments showing a significant reduction in HBV transcripts and replication intermediates in HepG2.2.15 cells by vector-based siRNA targeted nuclear localization signal (NLS) region. More importantly, we showed that siRNA1 markedly inhibited HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) replication. Our results indicated that HBV NLS may serve as a novel RNAi target to combat HBV infection, which can enhance anti-HBV efficacy and overcome the drawbacks of current therapies.

• OSTI ID: 20979870
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 355, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.01.163; PII: S0006-291X(07)00241-0; Copyright (c) 2007 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
DNA
HEPATITIS
INHIBITION
RNA
THERAPY
VIRUSES