中国研究人员开发人源化小鼠模型来研究乙型肝炎

StephenW

Chinese researchers develop humanized mouse model to study hepatitis B
Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-11 14:03:41|Editor: Yang Yi

BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have developed a humanized mouse model to study liver cirrhosis development induced by hepatitis B virus infection.

Developing an ideal animal model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is difficult because the virus has an extremely narrow host range and almost exclusively infects humans.

Previous studies show that mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow (hBMSCs) have the potential to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and continue to maintain essential hepatocyte functions in vivo after being transplanted into host mouse livers. Hepatocytes make up 70 to 85 percent of liver mass.

Researchers from China's Xiamen University and Zhejiang University transplanted hBMSCs into mice. According to the research paper published online on the British Journal of Gut, the mice show robust differentiation and proliferation of functional human hepatocytes and multiple immune cells.

After HBV infection, the humanized mice developed specific immune and inflammatory responses and showed progression to chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.

The researchers said the new humanized mouse model recapitulates the liver cirrhosis induced by human HBV infection, providing opportunities for better understanding the immune pathophysiology of HBV and testing promising antiviral therapies in vivo.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 257 million people are living with HBV infection. It can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.

StephenW

中国研究人员开发人源化小鼠模型来研究乙型肝炎
来源：新华社| 2019-02-11 14：03：41 |编辑：杨毅

新华社北京2月11日电中国研究人员开发了一种人源化小鼠模型，用于研究乙型肝炎病毒感染引起的肝硬化发展。

开发理想的乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染动物模型很困难，因为该病毒具有极窄的宿主范围，几乎完全感染人类。

先前的研究表明，来自人骨髓（hBMSCs）的间充质干细胞具有在体外分化成肝细胞样细胞的潜力，并且在移植到宿主小鼠肝脏后继续在体内维持必需的肝细胞功能。肝细胞占肝脏质量的70％至85％。

来自中国厦门大学和浙江大学的研究人员将hBMSCs移植到小鼠体内。根据英国肠道杂志在线发表的研究论文，这些小鼠显示出功能性人肝细胞和多种免疫细胞的强烈分化和增殖。

在HBV感染后，人源化小鼠产生特异性免疫和炎症反应并显示进展为慢性肝炎和肝硬化。

研究人员表示，新的人源化小鼠模型概括了由人类HBV感染引起的肝硬化，为更好地了解HBV的免疫病理生理学和在体内测试有希望的抗病毒治疗提供了机会。

根据世界卫生组织的统计，估计有2.57亿人患有HBV感染。它可引起慢性感染，并使人们处于肝硬化和肝癌死亡的高风险中。