• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2015

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for approximately 350 million chronic infections worldwide and is a leading cause of broad-spectrum liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although it has been well established that adaptive immunity plays a critical role in viral clearance, the pathogenetic mechanisms that cause liver damage during acute and chronic HBV infection remain largely known. This review describes our current knowledge of the immune-mediated pathogenesis of HBV infection and the role of immune cells in the liver injury during hepatitis B.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.458-463
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• 1999

This study was undertaken to test for antiviral activity of the aqueous extracts prepared from 4 medicinal plants of Korea (Terminalia chebula, Sanguisorba officinalia, Rubus coreanus, Rheum palmatum). Aqueous extracts were assayed for the inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by measurement of HBV DNA and surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in the extracellular medium of HepG2 2.2.15 cells. All extracts decreased the levels of extracellular HBV virion DNA at concentrations ranging from 64 to $128{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ and inhibited the production of HBsAg dose-dependently. Among the 4 tested plants, Terminalia chebula exhibits the most prominent anti-HBV activities. Our findings suggest that these 4 medicinal plants may have potential to develop as specific anti-HBV drugs in the future.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.80.2-80.2
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• 2003

The nucleoside analogue, L-FMAUS was synthesized from L-FMAU which has been shown to have significant antiviral acitivity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). The anti-HBV activity and toxicity of the L-FMAUS were examined by a cell culture system using a hepatitis B virus (HBV) producing cell line, HepG2 2.2.15. L-FMAUS was assayed for the inhibition of HBV multiplication by measurement of HBV DNA and surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in the extracellular medium of HepG2 2.2.15 cells after an 8-day treatment. (omitted)

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.138-143
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• 2003

Of many viral causes of human cancer, few are of greater global importance than the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Over 250 million people worldwide are persistently infected with HBV. A significant minority of these develop severe pathologic consequences, including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Earlier epidemiological evidence suggested a link between chronic HBV infection and HCC. Further, the existence of related animal viruses that induce acute and chronic infections of the liver, and eventually HCC, confirms the concept that HBV belongs to one of the few human oncogenic viruses. Although it is clear that chronic HBV infections are major risk factors, relatively little is understood about how the viral factors contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. This review will introduce molecular aspects of the viral infection, and highlight recent findings on the viral contribution to hepatocarcinogenesis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.180-182
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• 1996

One of the essential functions of virus surface proteins is the recognition of specific receptors on target cell membranes, and cellular receptors play an important role in viral pathogenesis. But the earliest steps of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, such as hepatocyte receptor interaction with the virus, are poorly understood. Previous work has suggested an important role of the preS1 region of HBV envelope protein in mediating viral binding to hepatocytes. Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection appears to be initiated by specific binding of virions to cell membrane structures via one or potentially several viral surface proteins, data showing the identification or isolation of the HBV receptor (s) are not yet available. The receptor-like proteins on the plasma membrane surface of HepG2 cells that bind to PreS1 were separated and identified using affinity chromatography, and the amino-terminal amino acid sequences of the receptor-like proteins were determined.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.30.1-30.18
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• 2023

About 0.8 million people die because of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection each year. In around 5% of infected adults, the immune system is ineffective in countering HBV infection, leading to chronic hepatitis B (CHB). CHB is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, which can lead to patient death. Unfortunately, although current treatments against CHB allow control of HBV infection, they are unable to achieve complete eradication of the virus. Cytokines of the IFN family represent part of the innate immune system and are key players in virus elimination. IFN secretion induces the expression of interferon stimulated genes, producing proteins that have antiviral properties and that are essential to cell-autonomous immunity. IFN-α is commonly used as a therapeutic approach for CHB. In addition, IFN-γ has been identified as the main IFN family member responsible for HBV eradication during acute infection. In this review, we summarize the key evidence gained from cellular or animal models of HBV replication or infection concerning the potential anti-HBV roles of IFN-γ with a particular focus on some IFN-γ-inducible genes.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.257-271
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• 2017

Purpose: The hepatitis B virus is a major cause of chronic liver disease. The clinical guidelines recommend that inactive chronic hepatitis (ICH) patients also check their liver function every 6 to 12 months and manage the potential risks. This study compared the hepatitis B knowledge, self-care practice, and quality of life in patients with HBV according to the disease activity. Methods: This study was conducted in a university hospital and surveyed on 65 ICH patients and 68 progressive chronic liver disease (PCLD) patients from November in 2012 to September in 2013. Results: The knowledge of hepatitis B was lower in the group of a lately perceived HBV infection and ICH. Self-care practice was lower in the male and the patients group with a perceived HBV infection within 5 years. The "taking regular liver function test" score was lower in the ICH. Eight out of 12 Liver Disease Quality of Life instrument (LDQOL) subscales were lower in PCLD. Conclusion: The hepatitis B knowledge and self-care practice are relatively lacking in ICH and the patients group with a perceived HBV infection within 5 years. More effective education programs will be necessary to enhance the hepatitis B knowledge and self-care for patients with HBV and even for ICH.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 1997

Heptocvte-specific expression induced by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) enhancer 2-core gene promoter was examined in various hepatocyte and non-hepatocyte cell lines. using non-viral and retroviral vector systems in which chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) is used as a reporter. The non-viral plasmid containing the HBV enhancer 2-core promoter exhibited 22 and 66% of CAT activities in hepatoma cell lines. HepG2 and Hep3B, respectively when compared with CAT activity expressed by CMV promoter. The CAT activities, however. were found to be marginal in other tested hepatoma cell lines as well as mouse primary hepatocytes and non-hepatocytes. The HBV enhancer 2 located upstream the CMV promoter did not affect the CMV promoter activity nor provided hepatocyte-specific expression. Transfection of retroviral plasmid DNA containing the HBV enhancer 2-core promoter as an internal promoter exhibited high and specific CAT expression in HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines but the activity value was 5 to 10 fold lower than the non-viral plasmid with identical promoter. These results suggest that the usage of HBV enhancer 2-core promoter for liver specific expression is limited to certain vectors and hepatocyte cell lines.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 1996

Evaluation of plant extracts that might inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication was performed to find potent anti-HBV agents. Eighty-five species of plants from forty-three families were tested for their anti-HBV activities using HBV-producing HepG2-derived 2.2.15 cells. The anti-HBV activity of plant extracts was measured by slot blot hybridization technique and cytotoxicity was determined by crystal violet staining procedure. All plants were extracted with methanol and the extracts were partitioned into n-hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous layer. The ethyl acetate fractions of Rhus verniciflua $(stem:\;EC_{50},\;8.2{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;9.4{\mu}g/ml)$, Gastrodia elata $(root:\;EC_{50},\;17.7{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;>20{\mu}g/ml)$, Raphanus sativus $(seeds:\;EC_{50},\;17.3{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;>20{\mu}g/ml)$, and Angelica gigas $(root:\;EC_{50},\;8.3{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;15.6{\mu}g/ml)$ revealed the anti-HBV activity in 2.2.15 cell culture system and these fractions are under the process of further sequential fractionation by column chromatography to find the active principles against HBV.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2395-2399
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• 2016

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cytokines play an important role in the regulation of immune responses and defense against viral infections. Human interleukin 6 (IL6) is a multifunctional cytokine that participates in these processes. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the IL6-174 gene polymorphism in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as compared with healthy controls in an Iranian population. Materials and Methods: Totals of 297 HBV patients and 368 control individuals were evaluated. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the SSP-PCR (sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction) method was applied for genotyping. Results: The frequencies of genotypes C/C, G/G and C/G in HBV cases were 4.7%, 34.3%, 60.9% and in controls were 12.8%, 39.7% and 47.6%, respectively. The frequencies of G and C allele in patients and controls were 78.1%, 21.9% and 67.4%, 32.6 % respectively. There was a significant difference in the frequencies of G/G genotype (CI=1.8-7.1, OR=3.47, P=0.00001) and G allele (CI=1.34-2.23, OR=1.72, P=0.0001) between HBV patients and the control group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the IL6-174 C/G genotype and the G allele are strongly associated with susceptibility to HBV infection. Demographic information showed that most of the subjects were male (74.4%). According to high frequency of G/G genotype in male participants (63.1%) men probably are more susceptible to hepatitis than women.