2. Academic Validation
  3. Identification of Estradiol Benzoate as an Inhibitor of HBx Using Inducible Stably Transfected HepG2 Cells Expressing HiBiT Tagged HBx

Identification of Estradiol Benzoate as an Inhibitor of HBx Using Inducible Stably Transfected HepG2 Cells Expressing HiBiT Tagged HBx

  • Molecules. 2022 Aug 6;27(15):5000. doi: 10.3390/molecules27155000.
Jingjing He 1,  Jingwen Wu 1,  Jingwen Chen 1,  Shenyan Zhang 1,  Yifei Guo 1,  Xueyun Zhang 1,  Jiajia Han 1,  Yao Zhang 1,  Yue Guo 1,  Yanxue Lin 1,  Weien Yu 1,  Yide Kong 1,  Zhongliang Shen 1,  Richeng Mao 1,  Jiming Zhang 1
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
PMID: 35956950 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27155000
Abstract

HBx plays a significant role in the cccDNA epigenetic modification regulating the hepatitis B virus (HBV) life cycle and in hepatocyte proliferation and carcinogenesis. By using the sleeping-beauty transposon system, we constructed a tetracycline-induced HBx-expressing stable cell line, SBHX21. HBx with a HiBiT tag can be quickly detected utilizing a NanoLuc-based HiBiT detection system. By screening a drug library using SBHX21 cells, we identified estradiol benzoate as a novel anti-HBx agent. Estradiol benzoate also markedly reduced the production of HBeAg, HBsAg, HBV pgRNA, and HBV DNA in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that estradiol benzoate could be an anti-HBV agent. Docking model results revealed that estradiol benzoate binds to HBx at TRP87 and TRP107. Collectively, our results suggest that estradiol benzoate inhibits the HBx protein and HBV transcription and replication, which may serve as a novel anti-HBV molecular compound for investigating new treatment strategies for HBV Infection.

Keywords

HBx; estradiol benzoate; hepatitis B virus.

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