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01-07-2016 | Original Paper

Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits hepatitis B virus via farnesoid X receptor alpha

Authors: Jun Xu, Weizhen Gu, Chaoyan Li, Xiao Li, Guozhen Xing, Yan Li, Yanhui Song, Wenming Zheng

Published in: Journal of Natural Medicines | Issue 3/2016

Abstract

Plants possess various natural antiviral properties. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea, inhibits a variety of viruses. However, the clinical application of EGCG is currently hindered by a scarcity of information on its molecular mechanism of action. In the present study, we examined the anti-HBV (hepatitis B virus) effects of catechins from green tea at the transcriptional and antigen-expression levels, as well as the associated molecular mechanisms, because HBV-associated liver diseases have become a key public health issue due to their serious impact on human physical and mental health. By using fluorescence quenching and affinity binding, we demonstrated that EGCG is an important transcriptional regulator of the HBV genome, which it achieves by interacting with farnesoid X receptor alpha (FXRα). Luciferase assay showed that EGCG effectively inhibited the transcription of the HBV promoter dose-dependently when expression plasmids of FXRα and retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) were co-transfected into HEK293 cells. These results indicate that the downregulation of the HBV antigen and the decrease in the transcriptional activation of the HBV EnhII/core promoter by FXRα/RXRα are mainly due to the interaction between EGCG and FXRα. Therefore, EGCG, an antagonist of FXRα in liver cells, has the potential to be employed as an effective anti-HBV agent.

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Title: Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits hepatitis B virus via farnesoid X receptor alpha
Authors: Jun Xu
Weizhen Gu
Chaoyan Li
Xiao Li
Guozhen Xing
Yan Li
Yanhui Song
Wenming Zheng
Publication date: 01-07-2016
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Journal of Natural Medicines / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 1340-3443
Electronic ISSN: 1861-0293
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-016-0980-6

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits hepatitis B virus via farnesoid X receptor alpha

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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