TLR-mediated control of HBV replication by non-parenchymal liver cells

Background and Aims: Recent clinical studies suggest that TLR-based therapies may represent a new advance in treatment for HBV infection. Therefore, it is important to study the response of Kupffer cells (KC) and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) to TLR ligands. Further, it is to clarify whether the antiviral cytokines expressed by activated KC and LSEC are able to suppress HBV replication. Methods: Murine KC were enriched by counterflow elutriation and LSEC was isolated by anti-LSEC microbeads to a purity >99% as controlled by FACS. Cells were stimulated by TLR1–9 ligands. The culture supernatants were…