Figure 3.

AAV-IL-21 treatment induced HBV clearance in rcccDNA persistence mice. Cre Tg C57BL/6 mice positive for serum HBV antigen for 4 weeks after Ad/prcccDNA injection were injected (solid arrows) with 2 × 10¹¹ geq of AAV-IL-21, AAV-Ctrl, or left untreated. Sera collected at indicated time points were analyzed for HBsAg (A), HBsAb (B), HBeAg (C), HBV DNA (pooled sera, D), ALT (E) and IL-21 (F). Means and SEMs within group are presented with the group size (n) indicated. Group positivity percentage data are presented for HBsAg, HBsAb and HBeAg (A-C, right panels). Dotted lines represent cut-off thresholds (A-C, left panels), quantification lower limit (D) or pre-treatment baseline (E). Data are compared to that of the untreated group and statistical significance calculated using log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test (A-C, right panels) and unpaired two-tailed t-test (E and F). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. w.p.i., weeks post injection of AAV. geq, genome equivalents.