Intracellular Host Restriction of Hepatitis B Virus Replication

Abstract

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects hepatocytes and hijacks host cellular mechanisms for its replication. Host proteins can be frontline effectors of the cell’s defense and restrict viral replication by impeding multiple steps during its intracellular lifecycle. This review summarizes many of the well-described restriction factors, their mechanisms of restriction, and counteractive measures of HBV, with a special focus on viral transcription. We discuss some of the limitations and knowledge gaps about the restriction factors, highlighting how these factors may be harnessed to facilitate therapeutic strategies against HBV.

Keywords

• hepatitis B virus
• host restriction factors
• viral transcription
• cccDNA transcriptional silencing
• Smc5/6