The silencing effect of specific siRNAs on HBV in transgenic mice.

<p>The HBsAg in mouse sera were quantitated by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) at different time points post-tansfection (a). The silencing effects of siRNA on the HBsAg were compared among the different siRNA vector doses at 12- and 14-month post-ransfecion (b). The sample rate/cutoff rate (S/CO) values represent the relative amounts of HBsAg according to the AXSYM system. The long-term silencing effect of siRNA on the HBV-DNA in mouse sera was measured by real time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) (c). Northern blot and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) showed that HBV transcripts (3.5, 2.4/2.1 and 0.7 kb RNA) from the liver tissues of transgenic mice at 12-month post-transfection were substantially reduced by specific siRNAs (d). Housekeeping genes glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and β-actin were used as internal controls. n = 6–8 mice per group. PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; p-NC, plasmid negative control; Rep., repeated injection; p-, pSilencer-. (*<i>p</i><0.05).