Recently, scientists at the University of Alabama in the United States have discovered through research that human apolipoprotein E (Apolipoprotein E) may promote hepatitis B virus infection and production.
As an inhibitor that interferes with apoE biosynthesis, secretion, receptor binding, or as a new treatment method to eliminate chronic hepatitis B infection. Chronic hepatitis B infection affects the health of 240 million people worldwide. This is also the main public health problem facing the world population. Hepatitis B virus is a common cause of many liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis, seborrheic adenopathy, fibrosis and liver. Liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc.
The current standard antiviral treatment can effectively inhibit hepatitis B virus infection, but cannot effectively eliminate the virus. In addition, researchers did not realize the importance of host factors in the process of hepatitis B virus infection, assembly and release. To solve this problem. Researchers have begun to study this issue to clarify the relationship between apoE and hepatitis B virus infection and the important role of apoE in the life cycle of hepatitis B virus. In this study, researchers found that apoE can promote hepatitis B virus infection and production. ApoE plays an important role in the process of hepatitis C virus infection. For the hepatitis B virus, researchers have discovered many human apoE proteins, which are within the virus range by using apoE-specific monoclonal antibodies or inhibiting apoE expression and knocking out the apoE gene. , Hepatitis B virus infection can be effectively stopped. In addition, down-regulating the expression of apoE gene in hepatocytes carrying hepatitis B virus or knocking out the apoE gene will obviously hinder the production of hepatitis B virus. Finally, the researchers say that apolipoprotein E plays an important role in the ongoing hepatitis B virus infection process by evading the host's immune response and its role in the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus.