J Liver Cancer.  2017 Sep;17(2):111-116. 10.17998/jlc.17.2.111.

Application of CRISPR/Cas9 in Treating Hepatitis B Virus

• Cho JY

• KMID: 2396565
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.17.2.111

Abstract

The advent of oral antiviral agents has revolutionized hepatitis B treatment. It has led to decreased incidence and mortality related to hepatocellular carcinoma. However, although nucleos(t)ide analogs (NA) are fast and potent in inhibiting hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase and reverse transcriptase activity, complete cure of the virus is not possible. The complete eradication of HBV requires the covalently-closed-circular DNA (cccDNA) to be eliminated. Novel gene editing methods, such as zing finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, designed to target specific DNA sequences has great potential for therapeutic application. Among these, the CRISPR/Cas9 system may be the most feasible approach to eradicate HBV cccDNA. Further studies are needed to develop a more efficient and safer method of delivery using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to achieve complete cure of chronic hepatitis B.

Keyword

Hepatitis B virus; circular DNA; CRISPR; Genome editing

MeSH Terms

Antiviral Agents
Base Sequence
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
DNA
DNA, Circular
Fingers
Hepatitis B virus*
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Hepatitis*
Incidence
Methods
Mortality
RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
Antiviral Agents
DNA
DNA, Circular
RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase