Engineered Zinc-Finger Transcription Factors Inhibit The Replication And Transcription Of Hbv In Vitro And In Vivo

In the present study, an artificial zinc-finger transcription factor eukaryotic expression vector specifically recognizing and binding to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) enhancer (Enh) was constructed, which inhibited the replication and expression of HBV DNA. The HBV EnhI-specific pcDNA3.1-artificial transcription factor (ATF) vector was successfully constructed, and then transformed or injected into HepG2.2.15 cells and HBV transgenic mice, respectively. The results demonstrated that the HBV EnhI (1,070-1,234 bp)-specific ATF significantly inhibited the replication and transcription of HBV DNA in vivo and in vitro. The HBV EnhI-specific ATF may be a meritorious component of progressive combination therapies for eliminating HBV DNA in infected patients. A radical cure for chronic HBV infection may become feasible by using this bioengineering technology.