Chronic hepatitis B infection is caused by hepatitis B virus(HBV) and a total cure is yet to be achieved. The viral covalently closed circular DNA(ccc DNA) is the key to establish a persistent infection within hepatoc...Chronic hepatitis B infection is caused by hepatitis B virus(HBV) and a total cure is yet to be achieved. The viral covalently closed circular DNA(ccc DNA) is the key to establish a persistent infection within hepatocytes. Current antiviral strategies have no effect on the pre-existing ccc DNA reservoir. Therefore, the study of the molecular mechanism of ccc DNA formation is becoming a major focus of HBV research. This review summarizes the current advances in ccc DNA molecular biology and the latest studies on the elimination or inactivation of ccc DNA, including three major areas:(1) epigenetic regulation of ccc DNA by HBV X protein,(2) immune-mediated degradation,and(3) genome-editing nucleases. All these aspects provide clues on how to finally attain a cure for chronic hepatitis B infection.展开更多
乙型肝炎是感染乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)引起肝脏慢性炎症性改变为主要特征的一类传染病。长期慢性感染将导致肝纤维化、肝硬化、肝癌等终末期肝病的发生,严重危害人民群众的健康。慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染依然是全球公共卫生...乙型肝炎是感染乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)引起肝脏慢性炎症性改变为主要特征的一类传染病。长期慢性感染将导致肝纤维化、肝硬化、肝癌等终末期肝病的发生,严重危害人民群众的健康。慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染依然是全球公共卫生健康问题之一。目前临床上使用的抗病毒治疗方案难以实现对乙型肝炎病毒的彻底清除,其根源在于被感染肝细胞核内持续存在具有稳定结构的共价闭合环状DNA(covalently closed circular DNA,cccDNA)。本文对乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA清除的研究进展进行综述,旨在寻找清除cccDNA的途径及办法从而达到乙型肝炎病毒的彻底清除。展开更多
基金supported by the Key Project of Hubei Province Natural Science Foundation(2014CFA075)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31400153)the Applied Basic Research Program(2015060101010033),Wuhan,China
文摘Chronic hepatitis B infection is caused by hepatitis B virus(HBV) and a total cure is yet to be achieved. The viral covalently closed circular DNA(ccc DNA) is the key to establish a persistent infection within hepatocytes. Current antiviral strategies have no effect on the pre-existing ccc DNA reservoir. Therefore, the study of the molecular mechanism of ccc DNA formation is becoming a major focus of HBV research. This review summarizes the current advances in ccc DNA molecular biology and the latest studies on the elimination or inactivation of ccc DNA, including three major areas:(1) epigenetic regulation of ccc DNA by HBV X protein,(2) immune-mediated degradation,and(3) genome-editing nucleases. All these aspects provide clues on how to finally attain a cure for chronic hepatitis B infection.
