Treatment of chronic hepatitis B by cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein inhibitors: Research progress

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is related to the continuous replication of hepatitis B viruses (HBV) and the abnormal function of immune systems. Acceptable therapies of CHB include direct inhibition of HBV-DNA replication by entecavir or adefovir dipivoxil, induction of cellular anti-virus protein production and regulation of immune function by interferons, immunoenhancers or immunosuppressors. Those classical therapeutic drugs cannot cure CHB. The inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP), as an important apoptosis regulatory factor, can be inhibited to result in anti-tumor efficacy. Recent experiments indicated that IAP inhibitors show good therapeutic effiect in CHB. IAP inhibitors can stimulate the apoptosis of cells infected with HBV to clear HBV in CHB patients. Unlike previous prevention of HBV-DNA replication only, clearance of HBV by IAP inhibitors is a promising mechanism to cure CHB instead of controlling the development of CHB alone. Therefore, it is hoped clAP inhibitors may be effective for CHB.