October 6, 2024

BETACH3

Hypothesis: Betaine decreases the pathogenicity of Covid-19.

Betaine inhibits hepatitis B virus with an advantage of decreasing resistance to lamivudine and interferon alpha


Mengmeng Zhang
Xiaoying Wu

Abstract

Betaine (BET) is a native compound known for its ability to protect the liver from toxicants. However, few studies have examined the effects of BET on the most common cause of liver disease, hepatitis B virus (HBV). In this study, the anti-HBV activity of BET was assessed in vitro and in vivo using ELISA, QPCR and Southern blotting. The resistance of HBV to lamivudine and interferon alpha is challenging in the clinical treatment of HBV. The effect of BET on resistance was also investigated. The results showed that the secretion of HBsAg, HbeAg, and HBV DNA in HepG2.2.15 cells was significantly decreased by BET via suppressing GRP78 expression. In duck HBV (DHBV)-infected ducklings, 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg of BET significantly reduced serum DHBV DNA, and DHBV DNA did not rebound after the five-day withdrawal period. BET suppressed HBV DNA rebound produced by the resistance of HBV to lamivudine and decreased the resistance mutation (rtM204V/I) of HBV DNA. Supplementation of BET may improve the anti-HBV effect of interferon-α (IFN-α) by increasing the expression of antiviral dsRNA-dependent protein kinase induced by the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. These results may provide be useful information for the clinical application of BET and solution of HBV drug resistance in anti-HBV therapy.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301897307_Betaine_inhibits_hepatitis_B_virus_with_an_advantage_of_decreasing_resistance_to_lamivudine_and_interferon_alpha