Recombinant HBsAg inhibits LPS-induced COX-2 expression and IL-18 production by interfering with the NFκB pathway in a human monocytic cell line, THP-1

Background/Aims Hepatitis B virus suppresses the human immune-system and HBsAg inhibits the induction of cytokines by LPS in human macrophages, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. COX-2 and its product, PGE2, play a role in hepatits B and IL-18 has also been shown to inhibit HBV infection in vivo. We investigated whether rHBsAg affects induction of COX-2 and IL-18 by LPS and, if so, which signal pathways are involved in a human monocytic cell line, THP-1. Methods Cell culture, Western blotting for COX-2, ERK and IKB-α, immunofluorescence for HBsAg and NFκB protein and ELISA for PGE2, IL-18 and IL-12 were performed. Results rHBsAg inhibits LPS-induced COX-2 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner by blocking the ERK and NFκB pathways. LPS-induced IL-18 production was also down-regulated by rHBsAg by interfering mainly with the NFκB pathway. PGE2 reversed the inhibition of LPS-induced IL-18 production by rHBsAg. rHBsAg was also found to inhibit the induction of IL-12 by LPS in THP-1 cells. Conclusions These results showed a novel anti-inflammatory property of rHBsAg which involves inhibition of COX-2 and suggested that hepatits B virus may regulate IFN-γ production by inhibiting IL-18 and IL-12 production.