Inhibition of the hepatitis B virus replication in vitro by an oligodeoxynucleotide containing cytidine-guanosine motifs

Abstract

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides within specific sequence contexts (CpG motifs) are known as potent activators of the immune system and inducers of several Th1-associated immunomodulatory cytokines. CpG ODNs show promise as vaccine adjuvants and immunoprotective agents in animals. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of D type CpG ODN on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in vitro. The experiments were performed in HepG2 2.2.15 cells, which contain an integrated tandem dimer of the HBV genome and are routinely used for anti-HBV study. HepG2 2.2.15 cells co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) plus CpG ODN for 3 days, remarkably reduced the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg, when compared to cells treated with PBMCs plus non-CpG ODN. The levels of intracellular HBV DNA and HBV mRNA were also decreased. Treatment of HepG2 2.2.15 cells with the culture supernatants of PBMCs activated by CpG ODN can remarkably suppress the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg as compared with that of PBMCs without CpG ODN activation under the same conditions. There were no inhibitory effects on the replication of HBV to be found for CpG ODN treatment alone. These results suggest that CpG ODN can inhibit indirectly HBV replication in vitro via activating the immune cells, and could contribute to the development of an immunoregulator against HBV infection.