Scutellariae radix suppresses hepatitis B virus production in human hepatoma cells.
The traditional Chinese medicine Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang (HD-7) has been widely used to treat liver diseases in China and Japan. HD-7 consists of seven different ingredients, but which one provides the therapeutic benefits is still unknown. Here, we identified the "Minister herb" Scutellariae radix (HD-1S), but not the "King herb" Bupleuri radix (HD-1B) in HD-7, as the active component that suppresses HBV gene expression and virus production in human hepatoma cells. We have found that an aqueous extract of HD-1S not only suppressed wild-type virus but also lamivudine-resistant HBV mutant in human hepatoma cells. We show that HD-1S selectively suppresses HBV core promoter activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis has revealed that HD-1S treatment decreases the DNA-binding activity of nuclear extract of HepA2 cells to a specific cis-element of the HBV core promoter, which includes the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor binding site and HNF4. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PGC-1 abolished the suppression of HD-1S on HBV core promoter activity suggesting that HD-1S may act through modulating hepatic transcriptional machinery to suppress HBV viral gene expression and virus production.
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Ya Ping
YP
Tseng
Yi Chieh
YC
Wu
Yann Lii
YL
Leu
Sheau Farn
SF
Yeh
Chen Kung
CK
Chou
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019259:Lamivudine