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Vol. 65 No. 2: Issue 2

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The effect of thymopentin add-on in hepatitis B e antigen positive chronic hepatitis B after virus suppression by peginterferon plus entecavir therapy

https://doi.org/10.14715/cmb/2019.65.2.12
Yanpin Ma
Hepatology and Cancer Biotherapy Ward, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Xuli Bao
Hepatology and Cancer Biotherapy Ward, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Fang Xiong
Hepatology and Endocrine Ward, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Jinhuan Wang
International Medical Department, Beijing You-an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Na Gu
Hepatology and Cancer Biotherapy Ward, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Jia Guo
Hepatology and Cancer Biotherapy Ward, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Huili Wu
International Medical Department, Beijing You-an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Jun Lu
Hepatology and Cancer Biotherapy Ward, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Corresponding Author(s) : Jun Lu

zbayq78@163.com

Cellular and Molecular Biology, Vol. 65 No. 2: Issue 2

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) was positively correlated with serological hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. We evaluated whether Thymopentin (TP5) and interferon (IFN-a) had a synergic effect on HBV cccDNA and the effect of TP5 addition therapy on HBsAg clearance in CHB patients. Real-time PCR experiments were performed to test cccDNA in HepG2.2.15 cells. 45 HBeAg-positive CHB patients had been distributed into two groups randomly. Treatment group: 23 patients were treated with a 24-week TP5 on the basis of the treatment entecavir (ETV) and peginterferon alfa-2a (PegIFN alpha-2a). Control group: 22 patients were treated with ETV and PegIFNa-2a. The study period was 72 weeks. In HepG2.2.15 cells, TP5 5ug/ml and 10ug/ml respectively combined with IFN-a 2ku/ml could potently inhibit cccDNA level at 72 hours (P<0.05). In clinical study, mean HBsAg levels in two groups are not significantly different at different time points (p=0.112). However, changes of mean HBsAg levels in TP5 add-on group at different time points are significantly different (p<0.05). Patients with HBsAg levels <1500IU/ml in control group had higher HBsAg levels compared with patients with HBsAg levels <1500IU/ml in TP5 add-on group (P=0.019). The latter had the most pronounced HBsAg reduction. TP5 and IFN had a synergic effect on inhibiting cccDNA levels in HepG2.2.15 cells; Patients in treatment group showed no extra side effects compared with the control group. 24 weeks TP5 add-on treatment was safe and had a tendency to accelerate the decline of HBsAg when HBV-DNA was undetectable.

Keywords

Hepatitis B surface antigen Covalently closed circular DNA Thymosin alpha 1 Thymopentin HepG2.2.15 (RRID CVCL_L855) hepatoma cells.
Ma, Y., Bao, X., Xiong, F., Wang, J., Gu, N., Guo, J., Wu, H., & Lu, J. (2019). The effect of thymopentin add-on in hepatitis B e antigen positive chronic hepatitis B after virus suppression by peginterferon plus entecavir therapy. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 65(2), 75–81. https://doi.org/10.14715/cmb/2019.65.2.12
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