An immunocompetent mouse model for the tolerance of human chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
An animal model for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) tolerance is needed to investigate the mechanisms. This model will also facilitate therapeutic strategies for the existing 350 million patients with chronic hepatitis B. We established a mouse model by hydrodynamic injection of an engineered, replication-competent HBV DNA into the tail veins of C57BL/6 mice. In 40% of the injected mice, HBV surface antigenemia persisted for > 6 months. Viral replication intermediates, transcripts, and proteins were detected in the liver tissues of the injected mice for up to 1 year. The tolerance toward HBV surface antigen in this model was shown to be due to an insufficient cellular immunity against hepatitis B core antigen, as was documented in humans. This animal model will accelerate further genetic and mechanistic studies of human chronic hepatitis B infection.
Huang
Li-Rung
LR
Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, 1 Chang-Te Street, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Wu
Hui-Lin
HL
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Chen
Ding-Shinn
DS
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000502:physiology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007371:Interferon-gamma