Toll-like receptor 3 activation mediates the expression of interferon and interferon stimulated genes during hepadnaviral replication in HBV-transgenic mice lacking the HBs-antigen

Introduction: Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality world-wide. Previously, it has been shown that toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is impaired by HBsAg leading to an attenuation of innate and adaptive immune responses, which may possibly facilitate chronicity of infection. Here, we have studied TLR signaling in a HBV transgenic mouse model lacking the HBs-antigen (1.4 tg HBV-s-mut) as well as in TLR3-/-/1.4 tg HBV-s-mut cross-breed animals. Methods: Nanolipid-formulated siRNAs targeting the HBxAg sequence or the ligand for TLR3 (poly I:C),…