Rapamycin Enhances HBV Production by Inducing Cellular Autophagy

Some reports revealed that rapamycin could reactivate HBV infection. However, the mechanism has not been clearly explained.. In this report, we studied the mechanism by which rapamycin enhances HBV replication and expression by inducing cellular autophagy.. HepG2.2.15 cells were treated with rapamycin to induce autophagy. Autophagosomes were observed by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Autophagy marker protein LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰwas detected by Western blotting. HBV DNA and mRNA were determined by real time PCR and Southern blotting. HBsAg was evaluated by ELISA.. In HepG2.2.15 cells, HBV DNA and HBsAg increased when host cells were treated with rapamycin and the effect was reversed by autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA).. These results indicated a potential explanation for reactivation of HBV infection when patients with hepatitis receive rapamycin..