title: The efficacy of zinc finger antiviral protein against hepatitis B virus transcription and replication in tansgenic mouse model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a mammalian host restriction factor, and it could inhibit HBV RNA synthesis in vitro experiments. However, the role of ZAP against HBV in vivo environment is unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether ZAP could act against HBV transcription and replication in ZAP tansgenic mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV-replication-competent plasmid pHBV4.1 was transferred to ZAP transgenic ICR mouse via the tail vein using a hydrodynamic in vivo transfection procedure, and ICR mouse were used as controls. HBV RNA and HBV DNA replication intermediates in the liver were respectively analyzed by Northern blotting and Southern blotting. The expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in the liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared to ICR control mouse, the levels of 3.5 kb mRNA in ZAP transgenic mouse were decreased by 8.4%; while the level of HBV DNA replication intermediates was decreased by 82%. In addition, the expression of HBsAg and HBcAg in ZAP transgenic mouse liver were both significantly less than that of ICR control mouse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that ZAP could inhibit HBV replication in vivo in mice, which offers a new target for anti-HBV drug development.
authors.affiliation: Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. chenenqiang1983@hotmail.com.|Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. chenenqiang1983@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: En-Qiang
authors.initials: EQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. 283928152@qq.com.|Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. 283928152@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. pangbailang@163.com.|Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. pangbailang@163.com.
authors.forename: Lang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. htang6198@hotmail.com.|Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. htang6198@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004261:DNA Replication; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C577264:ZAP antiviral protein, mouse