TLRs antiviral effect on hepatitis B virus in HepG2 cells.
OBJECTIVE
A hepatoma cell line, HepG2, was used as a model system to detect Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression in hepatocytes and examine the antiviral effect on hepatitis B virus (HBV).


RESULTS
Toll-like receptor expression was detected in HepG2 cells by RT-PCR. The TLRs, which were strongly expressed in HepG2 cells, were stimulated with specific ligands. Interferon (IFN) response was evaluated poststimulation with Western blotting for signal transduction and activators of transcription-1. Furthermore, HepG2 cells were transiently transfected with wild-type HBV 1.3-fold over-length plasmid and treated with specific ligands at indicated times. Replication of HBV DNA, transcription of HBV RNA intermediate and expression of HBV antigens were respectively detected by Southern blotting, real time PCR, ELISA and Western blotting. Activation of different TLRs induced antiviral effects on HBV to varying degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
The TLRs, which were strongly expressed in HepG2 cells, could be stimulated with specific ligands. Activation of TLRs induced apparent production of antiviral cytokines such as IFN-alpha/beta and inhibited HBV lifecycle in the hepatocyte cell model.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of TLRs in hepatocytes may be related to local immunity of liver and participate in the outcome of viral hepatitis.
Xia
C
C
Department of Pathogen Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Lu
M
M
Zhang
Z
Z
Meng
Z
Z
Zhang
Z
Z
Shi
C
C
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000276:immunology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology*
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D016899:Interferon-beta