Hepatitis B virus replication in China found that the "switch" or a breakthrough in clinical treatment
At 10:15 on September 14, 2009 Source: Jiefang Daily
Also infected with hepatitis B virus, why do people soon heal, some people may even develop into liver cirrhosis induced by hepatitis B? This troubled the medical profession for many years a question mark, has been partially successful answer. Recently, this reporter was informed that: Fudan University Institute of Immune Biology, an expert in the world for the first time revealed a new mechanism of hepatitis B virus infection, human TRIM22 previously existing elements, like the hepatitis B virus "control switch" to activate it can suppress the virus replication, to prevent hepatitis B is generated. Research results have been published in the internationally renowned journals, "Journal of Hepatology", industry experts believe that new findings will boost hepatitis B drug screening and a series of clinical research.
 

At present, China about 130 million HBV carriers, accounting for around one-tenth of the total population, hepatitis B virus infection has become a major public health problem. Surprisingly, the hepatitis B virus infection, there are two distinct trends of the disease: part of the infected person after a short infection process, it will recover spontaneously; in some patients continues to carry the virus, as well as 25% of the carriers will develop chronic hepatitis B, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. In recent years, many scientists in the world against the hepatitis B virus, this "strange behavior" to carry out research, but still can not find the reason.

More than four years ago by the Institute of Biology, Fudan University, Professor Xiong Sidong immunization led the team, set out to find the mechanism of hepatitis B virus infection. They first focused its attention on a well-known on the molecular TRIM5α. Si-Dong Xiong said that the molecules inhibit HIV replication play a key role in hepatitis B virus and HIV although not belong to the same type of virus, but both are very similar to copying the behavior. With intuition, the research team spent more than a year, after numerous trials research TRIM5α, can be the result we rather people feel disappointed: the molecular and hepatitis B virus replication irrelevant.

Experts has not discouraged: TRIM elements of the "family" there are still more than 70 "brothers elements" of which will have an effect on the hepatitis B virus molecule? Try holding the attitude, the research team will be more than 70 molecules one by one pilot. "Hard work pays off", and finally locked TRIM22 molecule! For the hepatitis B virus infection, once the body TRIM22 molecule was rapidly stimulated, carriers can be induced by appropriate immune response, inhibit viral replication, removal of the hepatitis B virus in vivo. This molecule, to a certain extent played a controlling hepatitis B virus "switch" role.

Found a "switch", clinical treatment and research of hepatitis B will bring significant changes. Experts explained that the newly discovered molecules may lead to a prognosis of hepatitis B virus infection, disease process, key monitoring indicators, thereby assisting doctors to develop treatment programs. The medical profession has always been that the antiviral drugs most effective against hepatitis B virus; new discovery has revealed the activation TRIM22 molecule can inhibit viral replication, which will promote the field of immune regulation of hepatitis B treatment drugs screening. In addition, there are a lot of traditional Chinese medicine proved effective in inhibiting hepatitis B virus, but suffer from a lack of theoretical basis, is likely to reveal new discoveries in the field of medicine in hepatitis B mechanism.

TRIM22 molecule's "appearance" But the first step. Next, Si-Dong Xiong and his research team will be in the hepatitis B virus infection to its specific role in the detailed study, and strive to find more active molecules TRIM22 secret for hundreds of millions of hepatitis B virus infection, bringing healing hope. (Gu Yong)