Inhibition of HBV Transcription From cccDNA With Nitazoxanide by Targeting the HBx-DDB1 Interaction.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health concern worldwide. Although currently used nucleos(t)ide analogs efficiently inhibit viral replication, viral proteins transcribed from the episomal viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosome continue to be expressed long-term. Because high viral RNA or antigen loads may play a biological role during this chronicity, the elimination of viral products is an ultimate goal of HBV treatment. HBV regulatory protein X (HBx) was recently found to promote transcription of cccDNA with degradation of Smc5/6 through the interaction of HBx with the host protein DDB1. Here, this protein-protein interaction was considered as a new molecular target of HBV treatment.

Methods

To identify candidate compoun

SUBMITTER: Sekiba K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6357790 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature