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Relevance of HBx for Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054964. [PMID: 36902395 PMCID: PMC10003785 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) counts as a major global health problem, as it presents a significant causative factor for liver-related morbidity and mortality. The development of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) as a characteristic of a persistent, chronic infection could be caused, among others, by the pleiotropic function of the viral regulatory protein HBx. The latter is known to modulate an onset of cellular and viral signaling processes with emerging influence in liver pathogenesis. However, the flexible and multifunctional nature of HBx impedes the fundamental understanding of related mechanisms and the development of associated diseases, and has even led to partial controversial results in the past. Based on the cellular distribution of HBx-nuclear-, cytoplasmic- or mitochondria-associated-this review encompasses the current knowledge and previous investigations of HBx in context of cellular signaling pathways and HBV-associated pathogenesis. In addition, particular focus is set on the clinical relevance and potential novel therapeutic applications in the context of HBx.
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Basic M, Kubesch A, Kuhnhenn L, Görgülü E, Finkelmeier F, Dietz J, Knabe M, Mücke VT, Mücke MM, Berger A, Zeuzem S, Sarrazin C, Hildt E, Peiffer KH. Not uncommon: HBV genotype G co-infections among healthy European HBV carriers with genotype A and E infection. Liver Int 2021; 41:1278-1289. [PMID: 33786970 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS HBV genotype G (HBV/G) is mainly found in co-infections with other HBV genotypes and was identified as an independent risk factor for liver fibrosis. This study aimed to analyse the prevalence of HBV/G co-infections in healthy European HBV carriers and to characterize the crosstalk of HBV/G with other genotypes. METHODS A total of 560 European HBV carriers were tested via HBV/G-specific PCR for HBV/G co-infections. Quasispecies distribution was analysed via deep sequencing, and the clinical phenotype was characterized regarding qHBsAg-/HBV-DNA levels and frequent mutations. Replicative capacity and expression of HBsAg/core was studied in hepatoma cells co-expressing HBV/G with either HBV/A, HBV/D or HBV/E using bicistronic vectors. RESULTS Although no HBV/G co-infection was found by routine genotyping PCR, HBV/G was detected by specific PCR in 4%-8% of patients infected with either HBV/A or HBV/E but only infrequently in other genotypes. In contrast to HBV/E, HBV/G was found as the quasispecies major variant in co-infections with HBV/A. No differences in the clinical phenotype were observed for HBV/G co-infections. In vitro RNA and DNA levels were comparable among all genotypes, but expression and release of HBsAg was reduced in co-expression of HBV/G with HBV/E. In co-expression with HBV/A and HBV/E expression of HBV/G-specific core was enhanced while core expression from the corresponding genotype was markedly diminished. CONCLUSIONS HBV/G co-infections are common in European inactive carriers with HBV/A and HBV/E infection, but sufficient detection depends strongly on the assay. HBV/G regulated core expression might play a critical role for survival of HBV/G in co-infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Basic
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Division of Virology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Alica Kubesch
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lisa Kuhnhenn
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Esra Görgülü
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Fabian Finkelmeier
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Julia Dietz
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mate Knabe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Victoria T Mücke
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Marcus M Mücke
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Annemarie Berger
- Institute of Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zeuzem
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christoph Sarrazin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Department of Gastroenterology, St. Josefs Hospital, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - Eberhard Hildt
- Division of Virology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Kai-Henrik Peiffer
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Division of Virology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
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