Immunology Mechanisms Involved In The Protective Action Of Bicyclol Against Liver Injury

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most common infectious diseases in China. Around 25% to 40% of HBV patients will eventually die in the development of liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. At present, interferon-2α and lamivudine are the most wildly used drugs for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. However, the efficacy of these drugs is still limited and associated with more side effects. Therefore, research & develop new anti-hepatitis drug is urgently needed.The HBV is a noncytopathic virus. The outcome of HBV infection depends on the balance between host and virus, particularly on the strength of innate and adaptive, humoral and cellular immune response. During immune elimination phase, hepatic necrosis-inflammation may occur due to T-cell mediated attack on infected hepatocytes. Cellular immune response has been considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HBV infection. During HBV infection, production of cytokines and chemokines by activated T cells and macrophages, recruitment and activation of bystander cells, i.e., neutrophils, macrophages and antigen nonspecific T cells lead to the development of necro-inflammatory foci, and hepatocyte apoptosis and consequently liver injury. Therefore, modulation of immune response and anti-inflammation may provide new insights into therapeutic strategies of chronicHBV.Bicyclol(6-methoxycarbony 1-6' -hydroxymehty 1-2,3,2' ,3' -bis(mehtylenedioxy)-4,4'-dimethoxybiphenyl), a new synthetic anti-hepatitis drug, has been licensed to treat HBV infection clinically. Our previous studies showed that bicyclol has actions to protect against liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride-, D-galactosamine-, acetaminophen-, BCG/LPS- and Con A, and against carbon tetrachloride- induced liver fibrosis. In addition, bicyclol inhibited hepatitis virus replication in 2.2.15 cell...