Sodium selenite suppresses hepatitis B virus transcription and replication in human hepatoma cell lines.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most serious and prevalent health problems worldwide. Current anti-HBV medications have a number of drawbacks, such as adverse effects and drug resistance; thus, novel potential anti-HBV reagents are needed. Selenium (Se) has been shown to be involved in both human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infections, but its role in HBV infection remains unclear. To address this, sodium selenite (Na2SeO3 ) was applied to three HBV cell models: HepG2.2.15 cells, and HuH-7 cells transfected with either 1.1 or 1.3× HBV plasmids. Cytotoxicity of Na2SeO3 was examined by Cell Counting Kit-8. Levels of viral antigen expression, transcripts, and encapsidated viral DNA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, northern blot, and Southern blot, respectively. There was no obvious cytotoxicity in either HepG2.2.15 or HuH-7 cells with <2.5 µM Na2SeO3 . Below this concentration, Na2SeO3 suppressed HBsAg and HBeAg production, HBV transcript level, and amount of genomic DNA in all three tested models, and suppression level was enhanced in line with increases in Na2 SeO3 concentration or treatment time. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of Na2SeO3 on HBV replication can be further enhanced by combined treatment with lamivudine, entecavir, or adefovir. Thus, the present study clearly proves that Na2SeO3 suppresses HBV protein expression, transcription, and genome replication in hepatoma cell models in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
Zhikui
Z
Cheng
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
Xiaoguang
X
Zhi
Sino-Germany Biomedical Center, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.
Ge
G
Sun
Department of Infectious Disease and Institute of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji, China.
Wei
W
Guo
Sino-Germany Biomedical Center, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.
Yayun
Y
Huang
Sino-Germany Biomedical Center, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.
Weihua
W
Sun
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
Xiaohui
X
Tian
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
Fei
F
Zhao
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.|Sino-Germany Biomedical Center, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.
Kanghong
K
Hu
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018038:Sodium Selenite
hepatitis B virus; selenium; sodium selenite; suppression