[Study on inhibitory effect of CpG-ODN on HBV replication in vitro].

Aim: To study the inhibitory effect of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides (CpG-ODN) on hepatitis B virus(HBV) replication in vitro.

Methods: CpG-ODN was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs). The IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma levels in the culture supernatant of stimulated PBMCs were measured by ELISA. The culture supernatant was added to HBV-transfected HepG2.2.15 cells, and after 2, 4, 6 and 8 days, HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA levels in culture supernatant of 2.2.15 cells were detected by ELISA and quantitative PCR respectively.

Results: The CpG-ODN alone could not inhibit HBV replication, whereas the culture supernatant of PMBCs activated with CpG-ODN could remarkably inhibit the production of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA by 2.2.15 cells, reaching the maximal inhibitory rates of 90.8%, 31.3% and 32.2%, respectively on the 8th day.

Conclusion: The study indicates that, as a novel immunoregulator, CpG-ODN can inhibit indirectly HBV replication in vitro.