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Updated: May 17, 2026

Modeling Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Non-Hepatic 293T-NE-3NRs Cells
Published on: June 5, 2020
The response to interferon is influenced by hepatitis B virus genotype in vitro and in vivo
Yuhua Zhang1, Yiqi Wu, Shengqian Ye
1Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nan'gang District, Harbin 150081, China.
Purpose:
To investigate the effectiveness of an interferon administration on different genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in vitro and in vivo.
Methods:
In vitro, we transfected plasmids carrying different HBV genotypes including recently identified new genotype I into HepG2 and HuH7 cells, then treated with standard interferon alpha (IFN-α); in vivo, we treated mice with pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN-α) after injection with HBV DNA of different genotypes. The culture supernatants from cell culture and sera from mice were collected and used in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) assays by ELISA and HBV DNA measurement by PCR.
Results:
Both in cell culture and in mouse model, it was observed that HBV genotypes A and B exhibited significantly better response to IFN-α2a or Peg-IFN-α2a in terms of reduced expression of HBsAg, HBeAg and the HBV DNA level as compared to HBV genotypes C and D. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of IFN-α2a or Peg-IFN-α2a on HBV genotype I was greater than on genotype C or D, but less than genotype A. However, there was no significant response difference between genotypes A and B, C and D, B and I, respectively.
Conclusion:
The effectiveness of IFN/Peg-IFN to suppress HBV replication is dependent on different HBV genotypes. IFN/Peg-IFN is more effective on HBV genotype A or B than on genotype C, D or I. Treatment regimens are suggested to be adapted to HBV genotype.
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