title: Transbody against hepatitis B virus core protein inhibits hepatitis B virus replication in vitro.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of chronic liver diseases. The current therapeutics show limited efficacy. In the HBV life cycle, virus core antigen (HBcAg) plays important multiple roles. Blocking the pleiotropic functions of HBcAg may thus represent a promising strategy for anti-HBV replication. In this study, monoclonal antibody (MAb) against core antigen of human HBV was coupled with TAT protein transduction domain (TAT PTD) to form transbody, and the effect on virus replication was evaluated in vitro. The HBV transbody, HBcMAb-TAT PTD conjugate, recognized HBcAg and retained cell-penetrating activity in living cells. In HBV-transfected liver cell line HepG2.2.15, HBV transbody suppressed not only the extracellular HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA, but also the intracellular HBsAg, HBeAg, HBcAg and HBV DNA in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the transbody prepared possesses readily cell-penetrating ability and potent antiviral activity, providing a novel approach, a cell-permeable antibody against HBcAg, for the treatment of HBV infection.
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Yawen
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Yiping
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Na
authors: N
authors: Li
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Qianqian
authors: Q
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Lingyun
authors: L
authors: Hui
authors: Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Qunying
authors: Q
authors: Han
authors: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Lv
authors: Xi'an Hua Guang Biological Engineering Company, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Quanying
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Xi'an Hua Guang Biological Engineering Company, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Guangxiao
authors: G
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Zhihua
authors: Z
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: liuzhengwen@medmail.com.cn.
authors: Zhengwen
authors: Z
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000276:immunology*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins
keywords: Antiviral; Hepatitis B core antigen; Hepatitis B virus; In vitro; TAT protein transduction domain; Transbody