The Study of Immune Response in PBMC of CHB Patients treated with IFN-α and 3-TC in vitro.
BACKGROUND
The primary aim of this study is to measure the JAK-STAT signaling in HBV infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated by IFN-α and 3-TC and explore the influence of HBV to the JAKSTAT signaling pathways.


METHODS
PBMCs were separated from healthy volunteers and patients who had not received any treatment with chronic hepatitis B. PBMCs were divided into the control group, IFN-α stimulation group, Lamivudine stimulation group, and combined treatment group. The expression of molecules of JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway (STAT1, STAT2, IRF9) and the antiviral protein (MxA) were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot method.


RESULTS
The majority of IFN-α inducible genes were expressed. The molecules of JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway (STAT1, STAT2, IRF9) and the antiviral protein (MxA) were highly expressed in IFN-α stimulation group and the combined treatment group. Compared to healthy controls, the expression levels of molecules (STAT1, IRF9) and the antiviral protein (MxA) are significantly lower in the control group, IFN-α stimulation group, and the combined treatment group of the CHB patients.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN-α could activate JAK-STAT signaling transduction pathway in PBMCs of HBV-infected patients and HBV might process the activity to antagonize the antiviral activity in HBV infected PBMCs.
Hao
H
Zhang
Zi-Shu
ZS
Guan
Shi-He
SH
Guan
Kai
K
Yang
Ying
Y
Pan
Yuan-Yuan
YY
Wu
Ai-Hua
AH
Wang
Bei-Bei
BB
Sun
Jie
J
Hou
Xuan-Xuan
XX
Mu
Yu-Feng
YF
Gao
Wei-Sheng
WS
Cheng
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050834:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050795:STAT2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000998:Antiviral Agents; C494227:IRF9 protein, human; D050834:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C579071:MX1 protein, human; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D050795:STAT2 Transcription Factor; C494084:STAT2 protein, human; D019259:Lamivudine; D053612:Janus Kinases