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PubMed2004

A new compound from Micromonospora sp. SA246, 9-hydroxycrisamicin-A, activates hepatitis B virus replication.

A new compound from Micromonospora sp. SA246, 9-hydroxycrisamicin-A (9-HCA-A), showed potential for activating hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. To define the mechanism of 9-HCA-A, we used HepG2 2.2.15 cells which support HBV replication. 9-HCA-A activated HBV replication, increased episomal and integrated HBV DNA content, and increased secretions of HBV antigens (HBsAg and HBeAg) into culture medium. 9-HCA-A also activated HBV transcription in Hep2 2.2.15 cell line. To examine transcriptional control mechanisms, we analyzed the effect of 9-HCA-A on four different HBV promoters (Core, PreS1, PreS2, and X) in hepatoma cell line. 9-HCA-A responsive element was located at HBx promoter. By EMSA, we showed that 9-HCA-A activated the HBx promoter by detaching the 9-HCA-A responsive element binding protein (9H-REBP). Protein phosphatase (PP2A1) treatment detaches the 9H-REBP from the HBx promoter, similar to 9-HCA-A, while protein kinase A treatment does not detach the 9H-REBP from the HBx promoter. Our results showed that 9H- REBP functions as a repressor of HBV replication while 9-HCA-A activated protein phosphatase released the BP on the HBx promoter, thus activating HBV replication.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2005

Viral covalently closed circular DNA in a non-transgenic mouse model for chronic hepatitis B virus replication.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The lack of small animal models supporting chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection impedes the assessment of anti-viral drugs in the whole animal. Although transgenic mice have been used for this purpose, these models are clearly different from natural infection, because HBV is produced from the integrated HBV sequence harbored in all hepatocytes. METHODS: Balb/cA nude mice were hydrodynamically injected with a plasmid having 1.5-fold over-length of HBV DNA and analyzed for HBV replication. RESULTS: Hydrodynamically injected mice showed substantial levels of antigenemia and viremia for more than 1 year. Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the template of viral replication in natural infection, was produced in the livers and was critically involved in the long-term HBV production, because disruption of the pol gene of the inoculated DNA resulted in transient expression of HBV genes for less than 2 months. Administration of the IFNalpha gene transiently suppressed HBV DNA replication, but was not capable of eliminating HBV in this model. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo gene transfer of a plasmid encoding HBV DNA can establish chronic viral replication in mice, which involves, at least in part, new synthesis of the HBV cccDNA episome, thus recapitulating a part of human HBV infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Mutant p53 but not hepatitis B virus X protein is present in hepatitis B virus-related human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein is thought to play an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent studies on a transgenic mouse tumor model suggest that HBV X protein may contribute to transformation by binding to and inactivating the cellular growth suppressor protein p53. We have studied 31 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues from Chinese patients for the possible occurrence of such interactions. Although most of the samples contained markers of HBV infection, including free and/or integrated HBV DNA, there was no detectable expression of HBV X protein by Western blot, immunoprecipitation, or histochemical staining. There was also no evidence of HBV X protein associated with p53 immunoprecipitated from the tumors. These observations suggest that, in naturally occurring human hepatocellular carcinoma, such interactions are uncommon and, therefore, unlikely to be of relevance in the latter stages of tumor development. On the other hand, 29 of 31 (93%) samples contained mutated forms of p53, as determined by various antibodies that detect wild-type or mutant p53 or both, and by the association of heat shock protein 70 with immunoprecipitated p53. These results show that conformationally altered p53 protein is present in tumors at a much higher frequency than is suggested by the presence of known mutations in the gene. This mutant p53 is functionally inactive, as suggested by the lack of expression of the p53-induced M(r) 21,000 Cip1/Waf1 protein in the tumors. Because this inactivation of p53 was not correlated with the expression of HBV X protein, any interaction of HBV X protein with p53 may be relevant only during acute infection. Such an interaction could serve to relax cell growth control at a time when virus replication requires hepatocyte destruction to be balanced by regeneration.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2026

Triple primary synchronous liver cancer in one patient: the first case report and origin speculation through bioinformatics.

INTRODUCTION: A diagnosis of multiple primary liver tumors is extremely rare. Preoperative diagnosis based on imaging findings is difficult. Moreover, the clinical benefits of treatment strategies for multiple liver cancers remain unclear. Here, we report a case of three synchronous primary liver tumors with three distinct pathological types-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC‑CCA)-in a single patient. Bioinformatics analysis supported at least two clonal origins, with cHCC‑CCA and ICC sharing a common lineage based on identical HBV integration sites. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old female with a history of hepatitis B for several years presented with three lesions in hepatic segment VIII. Multiphase magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid revealed a diagnosis of multiple lesions, namely, cHCC‑CCA, with multiple intrahepatic metastases. The AFP level was normal, while the CA 19 - 9 level was mildly elevated (normal range ≤ 30.00 U/ml). Hepatectomy was performed, and postoperative assessment confirmed that the large lesion was cHCC‑CCA. However, the small lesions close to the large lesion were HCC and ICC. Gene testing revealed distinct mutational profiles among the three tumors. Similar gene mutations were detected in cHCC‑CCA and ICC. We also found that gene fragments of hepatitis B virus-C (HBV-C) were inserted into the genomes of ICC and cHCC‑CCA rather than that of HCC. The genomic integration site of HBV-C in cHCC‑CCA and ICC was the same. CONCLUSION: We report an extremely rare case of three synchronous primary liver tumors with three distinct pathological types (HCC, ICC, and cHCC‑CCA) in a single patient. Bioinformatics analysis supported at least two clonal origins, with cHCC‑CCA and ICC sharing a common lineage based on identical HBV integration sites. Hepatectomy represents a potential radical strategy for the treatment of multiple PLCs.

Humans↗

PubMed1998

Characterization of hepatitis B virus integrant that results in chromosomal rearrangement.

A hepatitis B virus (HBV) integrant was cloned from the genomic DNA library of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Hep3B. Sequence analysis of the restriction fragment bearing the virus-host junction revealed that its integration pattern was the common type, with the right junction located at the cohesive region. The open reading frame of the major viral surface antigen was intact with rearranged preS1 and core sequences. The X protein, although truncated, maintained the trans-activating activity to simian virus 40 enhancer/promoter. S1 nuclease mapping showed that 4.0-, 2.9-, and 2.2-kb HBV RNAs detected in Hep3B cells were transcribed from this integrant using preS2/S promoter. By somatic-cell hybrid mapping, the left and right cellular flanking sequences were assigned to chromosomes 13 and 4, respectively. The results of this study support the notion that integrated hepatitis B virus, resulting in chromosomal rearrangement as well as the production of the carboxy-terminal truncated X protein with trans-activating activity, is important for viral hepatocarcinogenesis.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13↗

PubMed1986

Integration of HBV-DNA may not be a prerequisite for the maintenance of the state of malignant transformation. An analysis of 110 liver biopsies.

Hundred and ten liver biopsy specimens from various parts of the world were examined for episomal and integrated HBV-DNA sequences. In 54 patients with HBsAg chronic liver disease episomal HBV-DNA was found in 83% of HBeAg-positive patients, compared to only 22% of patients with anti-HBe. Furthermore episomal HBV-DNA in the latter predominated among the Asians. Integrated HBV-DNA was found only in 5.5% of HBeAg-positive patients but in 16.5% of patients with anti-HBe. In 28 HBsAg-positive patients with hepatoma, episomal HBV-DNA was found in 50% of HBeAg-positive patients but in only 11% of anti-HBe patients. Conversely integrated sequences were less common (25%) in HBe-Ag-positive patients than in anti-HBe patients (50%), giving an overall incidence of integration in this group of 45%. No episomal, and only one case of integrated sequences of HBV-DNA, could be detected among 10 patients with HBsAg-negative hepatoma. In addition neither episomal nor integrated HBV-DNA could be detected in 18 patients with non-HBV-related liver disease. Our data suggests that stable integration of HBV-DNA into the host's genome is not necessarily a prerequisite for the maintenance of the state of malignant transformation but may be necessary for its initiation. Alternatively, the detection of integrated HBV-DNA may represent a 'snap shot' of a random integration event amplified by clonal expansion promoted by other factors.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1982

Integration of HBV-DNA into liver and hepatocellular carcinoma cells during persistent HBV infection.

The hepatitis B virus carrier state (persistent HBV infection) is characterized by the presence of viral surface antigen (HBsAg) and virion particles (Dane particles) in the blood. From 1% to 10% of carriers develop chronic liver disease and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent studies have demonstrated integrated HBV-DNA in hepatocellular carcinomas and in several human hepatoma cell lines. In hepatoma patients, integrated HBV-DNA has been found in all HBsAg carriers. Nontumorous liver also revealed integrated HBV-DNA with the same or a different hybridization pattern from that observed in the tumor. To explore when integration occurs, carriers of short-term (less than 2 years) or long-term (greater than 8-10 years) were evaluated. DNA extracts from percutaneous (needle) liver biopsies showed free viral DNA with no specific integration bands in short-term carriers. In long-term carriers, HBV-DNA was integrated into the host genome with either a diffuse or a unique hybridization pattern. HBV-DNA integration correlated with the duration of the carrier state and absence of virions in the serum but did not correlate with histologic evidence of chronic hepatitis. These studies suggest that integration of HBV-DNA occurs during persistent HBV infection irrespective of liver disease and precedes development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Structural analysis of a hepatitis B virus genome integrated into chromosome 17p of a human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is clearly a factor in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, but its mechanism of action remains obscure. One possibility is that the HBV integration event alters the expression of a nearby growth-regulatory cellular gene. A 9-kilobase (kb) DNA fragment containing an HBV insert plus flanking cellular sequences was cloned from a hepatoma specimen from Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Restriction mapping of the insert revealed a large inverted repeat structure consisting of both viral sequences (encompassing all of the core and pre-S regions and portions of the X and S genes) and at least 3 kb of unique cellular sequences. The virus-cell junction mapped 11 nucleotides from the DR1 region, in a position within the HBV X gene and included in the cohesive overlap region. A probe generated from 1.0 kb of the flanking cellular DNA mapped the viral insert to chromosome 17 in the region designated 17p11.2-17p12, which is near the human proto-oncogene p53. Sequence data from a portion of the flanking cellular DNA revealed a stretch of approximately 70 base pairs that showed highly significant homology with a conserved region of a number of functional mammalian DNAs, including the human autonomously replicating sequence 1 (ARS1).

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Selective accumulation of the X transcript of hepatitis B virus in patients negative for hepatitis B surface antigen with hepatocellular carcinoma.

In HBsAg-negative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomes are present at a low copy number per cell, and the role of HBV in liver transformation is still unclear. We have mapped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the HBV genome in 19 HBsAg-negative tumorous and 9 corresponding nontumorous tissues and evaluated, by RT-PCR, the presence of HBV S, X, and C transcripts in the tumorous and nontumorous tissue of nine HBsAg-negative and, for comparison, six HBsAg-positive patients. Disrupted, presumably integrated, HBV genomes were detected by PCR in 10 of 19 tumorous tissues and in only one of nine nontumorous tissues. Significant accumulation of viral RNAs containing X but not C or S sequences was shown in 7/9 tumors and 7/8 nontumorous tissues from HBsAg-negative patients. In contrast, viral RNAs revealed by X-as well as by S- and C-specific primers were detected in five of six tumors and in six of six nontumorous tissues from HBsAg-positive patients. In conclusion, our results suggest the frequent integration of the HBV genome and the accumulation of X-related RNAs in HCCs developing in HBsAg-negative patients. This finding is consistent with a role, in these cases, for the potentially transforming X protein.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Transforming DNA sequences of human hepatocellular carcinomas, their distribution and relationship with hepatitis B virus sequence in human hepatomas.

Several related human transforming DNA sequences, hhc, and a putative normal liver homologue, c-hhc, have been molecularly cloned from the genomic DNAs of individual African and Asian hepatomas and from normal liver respectively. hhcM (Mahlavu) and hhcK3 (Korean), but not c-hhc, transformed NIH3T3 cells in DNA-mediated gene transfer assays. Transformed cells were found tumorigenic in athymic NIH Swiss nu/nu mice. In view of recent epidemiological studies implicating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection early in life as causative for the eventual development of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in humans in Southeast Asia, the Far-East, and certain areas of Africa, we hereby analyzed the relationship between these hhcs and HBV in a survey of 20 hepatomas for DNA sequences homologous to hhcM and HBV by sequential hybridizations against [32p]hhcM and [32p]HBV probes. hhcM related DNA sequence were found highly amplified in 80% of the 20 hepatomas but HBV DNA sequence was rare or low. hhcM lends itself as a marker for human hepatomas. However, overall results indicated that patients with integrated HBV DNA sequences showed high copy number of hhcM sequence. Furthermore, EcoR1-restricted hepatoma DNAs showed that HBV and hhcM DNA sequences resided at different fragments in hepatomas. Our results suggest that HBV contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis probably via an activation mechanism involving possibly an integration or transient interaction of HBV DNA with hepatocyte DNA sequences, leading to recombination and eventual amplifications of the hhcM sequence in Mahlavu.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides inhibit the expression of the gene for hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

The effect of a series of antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide [oligo(dN)] on the expression of the surface antigen (HBsAg) gene of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) was examined using hepatocellular carcinoma cells that contain integrated HBV genomes. Of a number of antisense oligo(dN)s tested, synthetic 15-mers directed at the cap site of mRNA and regions of the translational initiation site of the HBsAg gene were found to be highly effective and inhibited viral gene expression by as much as 96%. The inhibition was specific to the HBsAg gene and appeared to be at the level of translation. These results suggest a therapeutic potential for antisense oligo(dN) in the treatment of patients who are chronically infected with HBV.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Persistence of hepatitis B virus DNA after serological clearance of hepatitis B virus.

Using Southern blot technique, the state of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in liver tissue was investigated in 16 patients who were sero-negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) but positive for its antibody (anti-HBs). In only one case, was HBV DNA found in liver tissue in a heterogeneously integrated form. In this case, digestion with Taq I demonstrated integrated HBV DNA as two definite bands at 1.8 and 0.5 kbp. This suggests that HBV DNA in some cases persists even after HBV infection has been cleared serologically. It is possible that this persistence of HBV DNA plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

DNA Probes↗

PubMed2005

[Epidemiology and natural history of hepatitis B].

The transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is parenteral, sexual and perinatal. If a fulminant hepatitis may occur in 1% of cases of symptomatic acute hepatitis, the main problem of HBV infection is its chronicity, as defined by HBs antigen carriage for more than 6 months. It occurs in only 0.5 to 3% of immunocompetent adults but more frequently in children (up to 90%) or in immunocompromised patients (30 to 100%). Evolution of HBV chronic infection is characterized by variations of viral replication with spontaneous reactivations or discontinuations with potential clinical and biochemical exacerbations. Pathogeny of HBV infection is mainly immune-mediated, resulting from the host-virus interactions but also from the complexity of HBV (integration, mutation, occult replication), explaining the polymorphism of chronic HBV infection; it includes immune tolerance, inactive carriage of HBs antigen but also immune elimination with chronic active hepatitis which may lead to cirrhosis (yearly incidence of 1.3 to 5.9%). Cirrhosis may result in complications of portal hypertension and liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma which explain 80% of morbidity and mortality of HBV: the 5-year survival of HBV-related cirrhosis ranges from 52 to 82%. Immunosuppression, delta virus superinfection or chronic alcohol consumption are the main factors which modify the natural history of HBV infection. HBV chronic infection is a problem of public health, particularly in developing countries, evidencing the need for universal HBV vaccination.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1989

[Molecular aspects of human hepatocellular carcinoma].

It is now evident that development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in human is associated with a long series of cellular and tissue changes that precede the ultimate development of the cancer. During recent years, enormous progress in molecular research on HCC has been made, particularly in the area of integration of HBV DNA to host cell and oncogene association with carcinogenicity. A high ratio of HCCs from patients in endemic area has integrated HBV DNA in cellular DNA and in some cases, chromosomal translocations associated with HBV integration were observed, suggesting that the integration or the results thereof are connected with cancer development. Employing a DNA-mediated transfection assay using NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts with high molecular weight DNA, we detected three cellular transforming genes (lca, N-ras, hst) in primary human HCC. However, little is known as to the linkage between the activation of these genes and liver carcinogenesis. In most human primary HCC tissues, at least two oncogenes, c-myc and N-ras are overexpressed, while in some cases other oncogenes c-fos or lca are overexpressed. It is likely that multiple c-oncogens are important in HCC, but specific transcripts for the malignancy of HCC were not detected. At present, we could not find any relationship between the expression of c-oncogenes and integration of HBV, serological markers or the degree of differentiation. Of the experimental animals most frequently used for studies of liver cancer, the rat is best understood and mimics closely many of the lesions in humans. It is of interest to consider that the identification and elucidation of the mechanisms underlying carcinogenic processes in the rat may offer testable hypotheses for steps in the human.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

The significance of hepatitis B virus DNA detected in hepatocellular carcinoma of patients with hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been reported that hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is detected in cancerous liver tissues in some hepatitis B surface antigen negative chronic hepatitis C patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the significance of HBV DNA detected in such cases remains unclear. METHODS: The authors determined the presence or absence and the titers of HBV DNA in the liver tissue of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive/HBs antigen negative patients with HCC by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization, and correlated them with clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: HBV DNA was found in cancerous liver tissues from 12 (50.0%) of the 24 patients studied. However, Southern hybridization of genomic DNA in the cancerous liver tissues led to detection of HBV DNA in only 3 (12.5%) of the 24 patients, suggesting that the copy number of HBV DNA may be very low in most cases. Indeed, the titration of HBV DNA in cancerous liver tissues performed by the end point dilution method revealed that most contained less than one copy of HBV DNA per cell, although cells of monoclonal origin carrying integrated HBV DNA should have at least one copy of it. There was no significant difference in HBV DNA positivity between the HCC patients with and without underlying cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study corroborate previous reports of frequent detection of HBV DNA in the liver tissue of anti-HCV positive/HBs antigen negative patients with HCC, but do not support an essential role of HBV in hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with chronic hepatitis C and occult HBV infection.

Aged↗

PubMed1985

A transgenic mouse model of the chronic hepatitis B surface antigen carrier state.

In an attempt to establish a model of the healthy carrier state in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, transgenic mice expressing HBV genes were produced. Fertilized one-cell eggs were microinjected with subgenomic fragments of HBV DNA containing the coding regions for the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and pre-S and X antigens. Either the normal (HBV) or metallothionein promoters were used to obtain expression of the HBV genes. There was no evidence of viral replication or tissue pathology. The integrated HBV DNA sequences were inherited in a normal Mendelian fashion. Three of 16 transgenic mice expressed HBV-encoded gene products to which they were immunologically tolerant. Expression was not tissue specific and may be influenced by the genomic integration site and cellular factors. Both HBsAg and pre-S antigen were detectable within the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells. High serum concentrations of HBsAg were detectable and the secreted product appeared authentic as judged by mean density, morphology, mean particle diameter, polypeptide composition, and antigenicity. The absence of tissue pathology in these immunologically tolerant animals supports the hypothesis that cellular injury under these conditions is not a direct consequence of expression of the pre-S or HBs regions of the HBV genome.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Hepatitis B virus infection in microcarrier-attached immortalized human hepatocytes cultured in molecularporous membrane bags: a model for long-term episomal replication of HBV.

Studies on the pathobiology of chronic (long-term) hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and in vitro drug testing have been hampered by the lack of appropriate systems for culturing susceptible cells chronically infected with HBV. Most of the in vitro studies of HBV replication have been performed with HBV genome-transduced cell lines. In this system, viral production is mainly the result of chromosomal replication. In an in vitro infection system, owing to medium refreshment (which leads to the removal of infectious particles necessary for the perpetuation of infection) and to trypsinization for cell passages, it is difficult, if not impossible, to maintain chronic HBV infection, despite the use of susceptible cells. To circumvent these unfavourable factors for chronic HBV infection in vitro, we cultured microcarrier-attached immortalized human hepatocytes, infected with HBV, in molecularporous (MW 12,000-14,000) membrane (dialysis) bags for a duration of 2 months. HBV covalently-closed-circular (ccc) DNA, HBV precore/core and X mRNAs were detected in the cells cultured in this system following infection until the end of the experiment (day 58), while in classical culture conditions (monolayer), markers of HBV replication were also detected. Production of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA was detected and their levels in culture medium (collected at the end of experiments from the molecularporous membrane bags) were increased 2.86- and 3.28-fold respectively. Using Southern blot analysis, HBV replicative intermediates could also be demonstrated throughout the experiments. However, integrated HBV DNA was not present. In contrast, HBV ccc DNA, HBV precore/core and X mRNAs, and replicative intermediates were not demonstrable in FTO 2B rat hepatoma cells infected in the same manner in parallel experiments. This in vitro infection system, using susceptible, immortalized human hepatocytes, therefore provides a new tool for studying the long-term effect of HBV infection, mainly involving episomal replication in hepatocytes, and for drug testing.

Blotting, Southern↗

PubMed2005

Replication of hepatitis B virus in primary duck hepatocytes transfected with linear viral DNA.

AIM: To explore the expression and replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in primary duck hepatocytes (PDHs). METHODS: Complete HBV genome was transfected into PDHs by electroporation (transfected group, 1.19 x 10(12) copies of linear HBV DNA/1 x 10(7) PDHs). After 1-5 d of transfection, HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatant and lysate of PDHs were measured with the IMX System. Meanwhile, replicative intermediates of HBV DNA were analyzed by Southern blotting and Dot blotting. PDHs electroporated were used as control group. RESULTS: HBsAg in the hepatocyte lysates of transfected group was 15.24 (1 d), 14.55 (3 d) and 5.13 (5 d; P/N values, positive > or =2.1) respectively. HBeAg was negative (<2.1). Both HBsAg and HBeAg were negative in the supernatant of transfected group. Dot blotting revealed that HBV DNA was strongly positive in the transfected group and negative in the control group. Southern blot analysis of intracellular total DNA indicated that there were relaxed circular (rc DNA), covalently closed circular (ccc DNA), and single-stranded (ss DNA) HBV DNA replicative intermediates in the transfected group, there was no integrated HBV DNA in the cellular genome. These parameters were negative in control group. CONCLUSION: Expression and replication of HBV genes can occur in hepatocytes from non-mammalian species. HBV replication has no critical species-specificity, and yet hepatic-specific regulating factors in hepatocytes may be essential for viral replication.

Animals↗