title: Interleukin-21 inhibits HBV replication in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytokines are crucial factors in the non-cytolytic antiviral process to inhibit HBV gene expression and replication. Interleukin (IL)-21 has been suggested to play an important role in HBV infection, but it remains unknown whether IL-21 can inhibit HBV replication or how it inhibits HBV replication.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we investigated the influence of IL-21 on HBV replication based on human hepatoma Huh7.93 cells co-cultured with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the possible correlation among IL-21, interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α and IL-10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that the decrease of IL-21 expression and the increase of IL-10 expression in PBMCs could promote HBV replication in vitro. We further revealed that IL-21 is not only able to effectively suppress HBV replication directly but also reduce HBV replication by inhibition of IL-10 secretion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide important evidence for the non-cytolytic antiviral mechanism mediated by cytokines and their interactions in chronic hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hai-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fu-Biao
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Bao-Sheng
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yin-Ge
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dian-Xing
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000098546:Interleukin-21