Dauricine Exerts Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Effects by Inhibiting Hepatitis B Virus Promoter Activity in Human Hepatoblastoma Cells

Abstract

This study explores the anti-Hepatitis B virus effect and the mechanism of Dauricine on HepG2.2.15 cells. The study employed an ELISA kit to detect expressed levels of hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antigen, and hepatitis B virus DNA in a culture medium; RT-qPCR was used to measure hepatitis B virus 3.5 kb RNA and cccDNA expression; the activity of hepatitis B virus promoter (Cp, S1p, and Xp) was assessed using a luciferase reporter gene; Western blotting was used to detect the expression of p65, p-p65, IkappaB-α, and p-IkappaB-α. Dauricine reduces the expression of HBsAg, HBeAg, and Hepatitis B virus DNA in the culture medium. Dauricine also inhibits Hepatitis B virus 3.5 kb RNA and cccDNA expression and inhibits Hepatitis B virus promoter activity in HepG2.2.15 cells. Furthermore, dauricine inhibits the expression of p-p65 and p-IkappaB-α. Dauricine exerts anti-hepatitis B virus effects by inhibiting hepatitis B virus promoter activity through the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.