High persistence rate of hepatitis B virus in a hydrodynamic injection-based transfection model in C3H/HeN mice

Figure 5 Interferon-α or entecavir treatment decreases hepatitis B virus DNA in hydrodynamically injected C3H/HeN mice. HI mouse model of HBV was created in 5-6-wk-old male C3H/HeN mice. IFN-α, entecavir or PBS treatment was performed on those mice 5 wk post HI. The black dot group (n = 5) was intragastrically administrated with 0.1 mg/kg entecavir once a day for 14 d; the open square group (n = 5) was intraperitoneally injected with 1 mg/kg IFN-α twice a week for 2 wk; the open dot group was treated with PBS as a control. Serum specimens were collected and assayed for HBV DNA on days 0, 7 and 14 after treatment. HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HI: Hydrodynamic injection; IFN: Interferon.