FIG. 1.

IL-18 inhibits HBV replication: dose response. Age-, sex-, and serum HBeAg-matched lineage 1.3.32 HBV transgenic mice were injected subcutaneously with 80, 10, and 1 μg IL-18 and sacrificed at the indicated time points. Total hepatic DNA was analyzed for HBV DNA by Southern blot analysis. All DNA samples were RNase treated before quantitation and gel electrophoresis. Bands corresponding to the integrated transgene (Trans.), relaxed circular double stranded (RC) and single stranded (SS) HBV DNA replicative forms are indicated. The integrated transgene can be used to normalize the amount of DNA bound to the membrane. Results were compared with those observed in livers from two age-, sex-, and serum HBeAg-matched transgenic littermates injected with saline (NaCl). The mean sALT activity, measured at the time of autopsy, is indicated for each group and is expressed in units/liter.