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Gut Pathogens
Published in: Gut Pathogens 1/2021

01-12-2021 | Hepatitis B | Review

Potential capacity of interferon-α to eliminate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in hepatocytes infected with hepatitis B virus

Authors: Gang Wang, Jun Guan, Nazif U. Khan, Guojun Li, Junwei Shao, Qihui Zhou, Lichen Xu, Chunhong Huang, Jingwen Deng, Haihong Zhu, Zhi Chen

Published in: Gut Pathogens | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and nucleot(s)ide analogs (NAs) are first-line drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. Generally, NAs target the reverse transcription of HBV pregenomic RNA, but they cannot eliminate covalently-closed-circular DNA (cccDNA). Although effective treatment with NAs can dramatically decrease HBV proteins and DNA loads, and even promote serological conversion, cccDNA persists in the nucleus of hepatocytes due to the lack of effective anti-cccDNA drugs. Of the medications currently available, only IFN-α can potentially target cccDNA. However, the clinical effects of eradicating cccDNA using IFN-α in the hepatocytes of patients with HBV are not proficient as well as expected and are not well understood. Herein, we review the anti-HBV mechanisms of IFN-α involving cccDNA modification as the most promising approaches to cure HBV infection. We expect to find indications of promising areas of research that require further study to eliminate cccDNA of HBV in patients.
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Metadata
Title
Potential capacity of interferon-α to eliminate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in hepatocytes infected with hepatitis B virus
Authors
Gang Wang
Jun Guan
Nazif U. Khan
Guojun Li
Junwei Shao
Qihui Zhou
Lichen Xu
Chunhong Huang
Jingwen Deng
Haihong Zhu
Zhi Chen
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Gut Pathogens / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1757-4749
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-021-00421-9

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