Evaluation of Interfering RNA Efficacy in Treating Hepatitis B: Is It Promising?

• Published in: Viruses 2024-10, Vol.16 (11), p.1710
• Main Authors: Angelice, Giovana Paula, Roque, Pedro Henrique, Valente, Gabriel, Galvão, Krishna, Villar, Livia Melo, Mello, Vinicius Motta, Mello, Francisco C A, Lago, Bárbara Vieira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; chronic hepatitis; Chronic infection; Circular DNA; covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA); CRISPR; Diagnosis; DNA polymerase; Drug therapy; Enzymes; Gene silencing; Gene therapy; Genetic Therapy - methods; Genomes; Heparan sulfate; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - drug therapy; Hepatitis B - virology; hepatitis B virus (HBV); Hepatitis B virus - drug effects; Hepatitis B virus - genetics; Hepatitis B, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis B, Chronic - virology; Humans; Infections; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; Medical innovations; Patient outcomes; Post-transcription; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Public health; Review; Reviews; RNA Interference; RNA interference (RNAi); RNA polymerase; RNA viruses; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - therapeutic use; RNA-mediated interference; Viruses
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v16111710

Despite an existing safe and effective vaccine for hepatitis B virus (HBV), it is still a major public health concern. Nowadays, several drugs are used to treat chronic hepatitis B; however, full healing remains controversial. The viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) formed by HBV forms a major challenge in its treatment, as does the ability of HBV to integrate itself into the host genome, which enables infection reactivation. Interfering RNA (RNAi) is a gene-silencing post-transcriptional mechanism which forms as a promising alternative to treat chronic hepatitis B. The aim of the present review is to assess the evolution of hepatitis B treatment approaches based on using RNA interference. Data published between 2016 and 2023 in scientific databases (PubMed, PMC, LILACS, and Bireme) were assessed. In total, 76,949 articles were initially identified and quality-checked, and 226 eligible reports were analyzed in depth. The main genomic targets, delivery systems, and major HBV therapy innovations are discussed in this review. This review reinforces the therapeutic potential of RNAi and identifies the need for conducting further studies to fill the remaining gaps between bench and clinical practice.