title: The response to interferon is influenced by hepatitis B virus genotype in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of an interferon administration on different genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro, we transfected plasmids carrying different HBV genotypes including recently identified new genotype I into HepG2 and HuH7 cells, then treated with standard interferon alpha (IFN-α); in vivo, we treated mice with pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN-α) after injection with HBV DNA of different genotypes. The culture supernatants from cell culture and sera from mice were collected and used in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) assays by ELISA and HBV DNA measurement by PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both in cell culture and in mouse model, it was observed that HBV genotypes A and B exhibited significantly better response to IFN-α2a or Peg-IFN-α2a in terms of reduced expression of HBsAg, HBeAg and the HBV DNA level as compared to HBV genotypes C and D. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of IFN-α2a or Peg-IFN-α2a on HBV genotype I was greater than on genotype C or D, but less than genotype A. However, there was no significant response difference between genotypes A and B, C and D, B and I, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effectiveness of IFN/Peg-IFN to suppress HBV replication is dependent on different HBV genotypes. IFN/Peg-IFN is more effective on HBV genotype A or B than on genotype C, D or I. Treatment regimens are suggested to be adapted to HBV genotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nan'gang District, Harbin 150081, China.
authors.forename: Yuhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yiqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shengqian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Tianzhen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Fulai
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha