[Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication and expression by RNA interference in vivo].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the inhibitory effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting HBV C gene region on hepatitis B virus (HBV) in vivo.


METHODS
An animal model of HBV infection was developed hydrodynamically, and pcDNA3.1-HBV and siRNA were together injected into the tail vein of the BALB/c mice. HBsAg was analyzed by time-resolved immunofluorometric assay, HBV DNA was analyzed by fluorogenic quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR), HBV C-mRNA was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and viral specific proteins (HBsAg and HBcAg) in the mice livers were assayed using immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
In the mice, the siRNA effectively inhibited HBV replication and expression compared with the controls. The inhibitive effect of siRNA on HBV lasted at least 3 days.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that RNAi can substantially inhibit HBV replication and expression in vivo.
Ying
Ruo-su
RS
Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Fan
Xue-gong
XG
Zhu
Cai
C
Li
Ning
N
Zhang
Bao-xin
BX
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000628:therapy; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000502:physiology*; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; D011897:Random Allocation; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex