SCD1 inhibits HBV replication by regulating autophagy under high lipid conditions

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant public health concern worldwide. Several metabolic processes regulate HBV DNA replication, including autophagy and lipid metabolism. In this study, we clarified the effect of lipids on HBV replication and elucidated possible mechanisms. We discovered that lipid metabolic gene expression levels were negatively correlated with the HBV DNA in plasma. Our data showed that fatty acid stimulation significantly reduced HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) levels in HepG2.2.15 cells, which are human hepatoma cell cultures transfected with HBV DNA. The Stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1)-autophagy pathway has also been implicated in inhibiting HBV replication by fatty acids stimulation. SCD1 knockdown deregulates the inhibitory effect of fatty acids on HBV by enhancing autophagy. When 3 methyladenine (3MA) was added, the inhibitory effects of specific autophagy inhibitors eliminated the positive effects of SCD1 knockdown on HBV replication. Our results indicate that SCD1 participates in the regulation of inhibition of HBV replication by fatty acids stimulation through regulating autophagy.