Upregulation of heat shock protein 70 and the differential protein expression induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha enhances migration and inhibits apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell HepG2

Exploring the cytotoxicity mechanisms of copper ions and copper oxide nanoparticles in cells from the excretory system

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are widely applied in various products, including food, cosmetic, biomedical, and environmental goods. Despite their broad use, potential risks are still associated with these NPs, therefore, the aim of this study is to delve deeper into the cytotoxic effects of 85 nm CuO NPs on kidney MDCK and liver AML-12 cells, representing cell models from the excretory system. Our findings pointed out that the viability of both cell lines decreased in a concentration-dependent manner when exposed to CuO NPs. Additionally, CuO NPs induced the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, thereby arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase in MDCK and AML-12 cells. Importantly, unlike others our study uncovered distinctive forms of cellular death induced by CuO NPs in these cell lines. MDCK cells exhibited a combination of apoptosis and autophagy while early apoptosis was predominant in AML-12 cells. Moreover, the role of Cu2+ ions and CuO NPs in exerting cytotoxic effects was investigated, revealing that MDCK cells were affected by both copper ions and NPs. In contrast, AML-12 cells experienced toxic effects solely from CuO NPs. These findings provide crucial insights into the different cell death mechanisms caused either by CuO NPs or Cu2+ ions in excretory system cells in vitro. Nevertheless, further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms at the in vivo level, ensuring the safe use of CuO NPs. The results suggest that specific concentrations of metal oxide NPs can impact the physiology of cells within the excretory system of various mammals, including humans, and pave the way for comparing the toxic effects between ions and nanoparticles for further nanotoxicological studies.

Ameliorative effects of camel milk and silymarin upon aflatoxin B1 induced hepatic injury in rats

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) poses a major risk to both human and animal health because it contaminates food, feed, and grains. These dangerous effects can be mitigated using natural components. The purpose of this study was to examine the ameliorative effects of camel milk and silymarin supplementation upon aflatoxin B1 induced hepatic injury in rats. This improvement was assessed by measuring leukocytic and deferential counts, serum biochemical parameters, and gene expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α), antioxidant gene (NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1)), and base excision repair genes (APE1 and OGG1) in the liver tissue, in addition to liver histopathology. Sixty mature males Wister white rats were used to perform the present study; the rats were distributed in six groups (ten rats/group). The control group (without any treatment) received saline by gavage. The camel milk group received 1 ml of camel milk/kg body weight. The silymarin group received 1 ml of silymarin suspension solution at a dose of 20 mg of silymarin/kg of b.wt. The aflatoxin group received an aflatoxin-contaminated diet at a dose of 1.4 mg of aflatoxin /kg of diet and received saline. The camel milk + aflatoxin group received the same previous oral doses of camel milk and an aflatoxin-contaminated diet at the same time. The silymarin + aflatoxin group received the same previous doses of silymarin orally and an aflatoxin-contaminated diet at the same time. The obtained data indicated the deleterious effect of aflatoxin B1 on the leukocytic count, activity of AST and ALT, serum proteins, ferritin, alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, liver pathology, and the expression of the studied genes. However, these deleterious effects were mitigated by camel milk and silymarin supplementation. Thus, we could conclude that the ingestion of camel milk and silymarin mitigated the negative effects of AFB1 on the hematology, activity of AST and ALT, serum proteins, ferritin, alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, liver pathology, and gene expression in the rat model.

The modulatory effect of bee honey against diethyl nitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride instigated hepatocellular carcinoma in Wistar rats

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious threat to human health that has attracted substantial interest. The purpose of this study was to investigate the modulatory effect of bee honey against induced HCC by diethylnitrosamine/carbon tetrachloride (DEN/CCl4) in rats. HCC was induced by a single intraperitoneal dose of DEN (200 mg/kg B.W). Two weeks later, CCl4 (1 ml/kg) was intraperitoneally injected (three times a week). Bee honey was administered orally at 2 g/rat before and after the induction of HCC. The results showed that bee honey administration significantly increased body weight, decreased liver weight, and relative liver weight compared to those in the HCC-induced group. Moreover, a significant decrease in serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as well as AST, ALT, GGT, ALP activities were observed in bee honey administration rats compared with those in HCC-induced group. Also, the hepatic MDA was significantly decreased; in addition, SOD, CAT, and GPx activities were significantly increased in groups treated with bee honey compared with those in the HCC group. The hepatic histopathology alterations caused by DEN/CCl4 injection were ameliorated by bee honey treatment. Likewise, the mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), glypican (GP-3), thioredoxin (TRX), and glutaredoxin (GRX) were downregulated, and caspase-3 was upregulated by bee honey treatment compared with untreated HCC-induced group. In conclusion, bee honey has remarkable beneficial effects against HCC induced in rats through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antimetastatic effects.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The current study confirmed that honey has the potential to act as an antimetastatic factor. Bee honey supplementation either before or after combined injection of DEN/CCl4 exhibited inhibitory and ameliorative effects against DEN/CCl4-induced HCC through its antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-metastatic, antifibrotic, and apoptosis properties. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the molecular mechanisms underlying honey's effects against DEN/CCl4-induced HCC in rats.

Ozone protects cardiomyocytes against ischemia/reperfusion injury: Regulating the heat shock protein 70 (HPS70) expression through activating the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury causes complications in early coronary artery reperfusion for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Ozone (O₃) has been reported to be applied for protecting I/R injury, but its detailed mechanism remains unclear. Our study focused on the protective effect of O₃ pretreatment on myocardial I/R injury and JAK2/STAT3 signaling and HSP70 regulation involving in the mediation. The rat hearts which were perfused and isolated as well as the cultured cardiomyocytes of neonatal rat were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and different concentrations of O₃ followed by heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) siRNA treatment. The results showed O₃ attenuated the suppression of cell viability induced by H/R and decreased the release of activity of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in vitro. Moreover, O₃ also activated the JAK2/STAT3 signaling, upregulated the expression of HSP70 both in vitro and vivo, and decreased the index of apoptosis of cardiomyocytes caused by I/R as well as myocardial infarct area in vivo. In addition, HSP70 siRNA and JAK2 inhibitor AG490 inhibited the cardioprotective effect of O₃. And the expression of HSP70 increased by ozone was reduced by AG-490. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that ozone protects cardiomyocytes in I/R injury through regulation of the expression of HSP70 by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

The effects of hyperthermia on human hepatocellular carcinoma stem and mature cancer cells

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can recur following radiofrequency ablation and other hyperthermic treatment modalities. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of HCC cells that are difficult to eradicate and largely responsible for tumor recurrences. Thus, the principal objective of this study was to determine whether human HCC CSCs are relatively thermal-resistant compared to non-stem or mature cancer cells (MCCs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) positive enriched CSCs and EpCAM^- MCCs were derived from a human HCC cell line using fluorescence activated cell sorting. Each cell population was exposed to 65°C heat for 0-16min and survival documented at various time points.

RESULTS

Cell survival curves were similar in CSC and MCCs throughout the 16min heat exposure period. Maximum killing was obtained after 12-14min of heat exposure. Cytoprotective, heat shock proteins-70 (HSP70) and -90 (HSP90) mRNA expression were not disproportionately increased in CSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that human HCC CSCs are not more thermal resistant than MCCs and therefore, do not support the hypothesis that HCC recurrences following hyperthermic treatment reflect CSC thermal-resistance.

Discovery and Pharmacological Evaluation of STEAP4 as a Novel Target for HER2 Overexpressing Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly heterogeneous disease encompassing multiple subtypes with different molecular and histopathological features, disease prognosis, and therapeutic responses. Among these, the Triple Negative BC form (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with poor prognosis and therapeutic outcome. With respect to HER2 overexpressing BC, although advanced targeted therapies have improved the survival of patients, disease relapse and metastasis remains a challenge for therapeutic efficacy. In this study the aim was to identify key membrane-associated proteins which are overexpressed in these aggressive BC subtypes and can serve as potential biomarkers or drug targets. We leveraged on the development of a membrane enrichment protocol in combination with the global profiling GeLC-MS/MS technique, and compared the proteomic profiles of a HER2 overexpressing (HCC-1954) and a TNBC (MDA-MB-231) cell line with that of a benign control breast cell line (MCF-10A). An average of 2300 proteins were identified from each cell line, of which approximately 600 were membrane-associated proteins. Our global proteomic methodology in tandem with invigoration by Western blot and Immunofluorescence analysis, readily detected several previously-established BC receptors like HER2 and EPHA2, but importantly STEAP4 and CD97 emerged as novel potential candidate markers. This is the first time that the mitochondrial iron reductase STEAP4 protein up-regulation is linked to BC (HER2+ subtype), while for CD97, its role in BC has been previously described, but never before by a global proteomic technology in TNBC. STEAP4 was selected for further detailed evaluation by the employment of Immunohistochemical analysis of BC xenografts and clinical tissue microarray studies. Results showed that STEAP4 expression was evident only in malignant breast tissues whereas all the benign breast cases had no detectable levels. A functional role of STEAP4 intervention was established in HER2 overexpressing BC by pharmacological studies, where blockage of the STEAP4 pathway with an iron chelator (Deferiprone) in combination with the HER2 inhibitor Lapatinib led to a significant reduction in cell growth in vitro. Furthermore, siRNA mediated knockdown of STEAP4 also suppressed cell proliferation and enhanced the inhibition of Lapatinib in HER2 overexpressing BC, confirming its potential oncogenic role in BC. In conclusion, STEAP4 may represent a novel BC related biomarker and a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of HER2 overexpressing BC.

Phosphorylated form of pyruvate dehydrogenase α1 mediates tumor necrosis factor α-induced glioma cell migration

Cell migration is an important factor influencing the treatment outcomes of high-grade glioma (World Health Organization grades III–IV). Using immunohistochemical staining, the present study demonstrated that the protein levels of phosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase α1 (p-PDHA1) were increased according to the grade of glioma. Moreover, p-PDHA1 mediated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cell migration in glioma cells. Phalloidin staining and western blot analysis were used to detect the protein level of p-PDHA1 in U251 glioma cells stimulated by TNF-α at different time points. Phalloidin staining was used to observe the cytoskeletal structure. The effects on the expression of specific migration markers and on the cytoskeletal structure were also detected. Dichloroacetic acid is an inhibitor of PDK. These results indicated that p-PDHA1 served an important role in the migration of glioma cells, and consequently in the development of glioma.

Targeted treatment of alcoholic liver disease based on inflammatory signalling pathways

Targeted therapy is an emerging treatment strategy for alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Inflammation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of ALD, and is a key choice for its targeted treatment, and anti-inflammatory treatment has been considered beneficial for liver disease. Surprisingly, immune checkpoint inhibitors have become important therapeutic agents for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, studies have shown that the combination of inflammatory molecule inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors can exert better effects than either alone in mouse models of HCC. This review discusses the mechanism of hepatic ethanol metabolism and the conditions under which inflammation occurs. In addition, we focus on the potential molecular targets in inflammatory signalling pathways and summarize the potential targeted inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors, providing a theoretical basis for the targeted treatment of ALD and the development of new combination therapy strategies for HCC.

2-Aminoethyldiphenyl Borinate: A Multitarget Compound with Potential as a Drug Precursor

BACKGROUND

Boron is considered a trace element that induces various effects in systems of the human body. However, each boron-containing compound exerts different effects.

OBJECTIVE

To review the effects of 2-Aminoethyldiphenyl borinate (2-APB), an organoboron compound, on the human body, but also, its effects in animal models of human disease.

METHODS

In this review, the information to showcase the expansion of these reported effects through interactions with several ion channels and other receptors has been reported. These effects are relevant in the biomedical and chemical fields due to the application of the reported data in developing therapeutic tools to modulate the functions of the immune, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and nervous systems.

RESULTS

Accordingly, 2-APB acts as a modulator of adaptive and innate immunity, including the production of cytokines and the migration of leukocytes. Additionally, reports show that 2-APB exerts effects on neurons, smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes, and it provides a cytoprotective effect by the modulation and attenuation of reactive oxygen species.

CONCLUSION

The molecular pharmacology of 2-APB supports both its potential to act as a drug and the desirable inclusion of its moieties in new drug development. Research evaluating its efficacy in treating pain and specific maladies, such as immune, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and neurodegenerative disorders, is scarce but interesting.

Short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 3 exhibits tumor-suppressing effects in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with high mortality-to-incidence ratios. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 3 (NFE2L3), also known as NRF3, is a member of the cap ‘n’ collar basic-region leucine zipper family of transcription factors. NFE2L3 is involved in the regulation of various biological processes, whereas its role in HCC has not been elucidated.

AIM

To explore the expression and biological function of NFE2L3 in HCC.

METHODS

We analyzed the expression of NFE2L3 in HCC tissues and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data portal. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) interference technology was utilized to knock down NFE2L3 in vitro. Cell apoptosis, clone formation, proliferation, migration, and invasion assays were used to identify the biological effects of NFE2L3 in BEL-7404 and SMMC-7721 cells. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers was examined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

TCGA analysis showed that NFE2L3 expression was significantly positively correlated with tumor grade, T stage, and pathologic stage. The qPCR and Western blot results showed that both the mRNA and protein levels of NFE2L3 were significantly decreased after shRNA-mediated knockdown in BEL-7404 and SMMC-7721 cells. The shRNA-mediated knockdown of NFE2L3 could induce apoptosis and inhibit the clone formation and cell proliferation of SMMC-7721 and BEL-7404 cells. NFE2L3 knockdown also significantly suppressed the migration, invasion, and EMT of the two cell lines.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that shRNA-mediated knockdown of NFE2L3 exhibited tumor-suppressing effects in HCC cells.

Bergapten induces G1 arrest and pro-apoptotic cascade in colorectal cancer cells associating with p53/p21/PTEN axis

Bergapten is a natural compound and has potent anticancer activities. In this study, we explored the cytotoxicity of bergapten on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell DLD-1 and LoVo and its underlying mechanisms. We observed that bergapten (30 and 50 μM) decreased the viability of the CRC cells and induced the G0/G1 and sub-G1 phase arrest. Furthermore, immunoblotting results indicated that bergapten increased p53, phospho-p53(Ser-46), p21, PUMA, Bax, PTEN, and the caspase-9 and caspase-3 cleavage, but decreased cyclin E, CDK2, and phosphor-AKT(Ser-473) in the CRC cells. Inhibition of p53 by pifithrin-α reversed the bergapten-induced p53-mediated apoptotic cascade and restored the survival signaling and cell viability. Collectively, our findings reveal that bergapten decrease the cell viability and induce cell cycle arrest in the CRC cells, which may be attributed to p53-mediated apoptotic cascade, upregulation of p21 and PTEN, and inhibition of AKT.

Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Approach Reveals the Therapeutic Mechanism of Action of Baicalein in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the greatest proportion of these deaths. Baicalein, a flavonoid isolated from the root of Scutellariae radix, is considered a potential candidate to treat HCC. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, a network pharmacological approach was combined with microarray data (GSE95504) acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to reveal the therapeutic mechanisms of action of baicalein at a systemic level. We identified 38 baicalein targets and 76 differently expressed genes (DEGs) following treatment with baicalein, including 55 upregulated and 21 downregulated genes. The DEGs were significantly enriched in the biological functions of apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and PERK-mediated unfolded protein response. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and topological screening revealed a core module of PPIs including two baicalein targets, TP53 and CDK1, and two downregulated DEGs, HSPA1A and HSPA1B. Expression and survival data for these genes in the module derived from Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) were subjected to Kaplan–Meier analysis of overall survival and disease-free survival. Overexpression of CDK1, BRCA1, TUBB, HSPA1A, HSPA1B, and HSPA4 was associated with significantly worse overall survival, while overexpression of CDK1, CLU7, BRCA1, and TUBB was associated with significantly worse disease-free survival. These data suggest that baicalein exerts therapeutic effects against HCC via a PPI network involving TP53, CDK1, HSPA1A, and HSPA1B.

Angiotensin II and tumor necrosis factor-α stimulate the growth, migration and invasion of BEL-7402 cells via down-regulation of GRK2 expression

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on the biological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and the associated changes in G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) expression.

METHODS

The mean serum levels of Ang II and TNF-α in normal subjects and patients with benign liver tumors (BLTs) and HCC were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and liver samples from the patients with HCC and HCC mice were used to assess the protein levels of both cytokines, their major receptors and GRK2. In addition, the dynamics of Bel-7402 cells were determined with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell experiments, while the levels of the primary cytokine receptors Ang II type-1 receptor (AT1R) and type-2 receptor (AT2R) as well as TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The effects of Ang II and TNF-α on the GRK2 levels in Bel-7402 cells and on the dynamics of GRK2-knockdown HCC cells were also investigated.

RESULTS

Both cytokines independently enhanced Bel-7402 cell growth, migration and invasion by decreasing the GRK2 level. In contrast, down-regulating the GRK2 level in Bel-7402 cells suppressed these effects. No synergistic effects were discovered when Ang II and TNF-α were administered together. Furthermore, increased AT1R and TNFR1 levels stimulated HCC initiation and progression, whereas AT2R overexpression produced the opposite effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results suggested that Ang II and TNF-α promote Bel-7402 cell growth, migration and invasion by down-regulating GRK2 expression, and that the associated receptors AT1R, AT2R and TNFR1 participate in HCC initiation and progression.

Bioinformatics analysis of the interactions among lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA expression, genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma

The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory networks involving long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), mRNA, genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by analyzing datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. TCGA was mined, and miRNAs, lncRNAs and mRNAs that were differentially expressed in HCC were identified using R software. A gene regulatory network was constructed using Cytoscape software. Representative genes were selected for functional enrichment analysis using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. The associations among various proteins and protein networks were identified using the online software Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins. The cBioPortal database was used to analyze the association between genetic mutations and epigenetic modification, and the development of HCC. A total of 35 mRNAs were predicted to be targeted by 77 lncRNAs and 16 miRNAs, establishing a lncRNA‑miRNA‑mRNA regulatory network for HCC. Multivariable Cox regression analysis suggested that long intergenic non‑protein coding RNA 200, miRNA‑137, PDZ binding kinase and DNA polymerase θ were independent prognostic factors. In a regulatory network centered on miRNA‑424, six mRNA target genes were associated with HCC survival rates. Protein‑protein interaction analysis suggested that cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A) interacted with centrosomal protein 55 (CEP55), claspin, E2F transcription factor 7 and cyclin E1 (CCNE1. Mutations in CEP55 affected overall survival and disease‑free survival in HCC, whereas, mutations in CDC25A affected overall survival, and mutations in E2F7 affected disease‑free survival. Decreased methylation levels of CEP55, CDC25A and CCNE1 were associated with vascular invasion. The survival rate of patients with hypermethylation of CCNE1 and CEP55 was significantly associated with the rate of methylation of these loci. The present study provides an integrated bioinformatics analysis of gene expression, genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications that may be associated with the development of HCC.

Suitability of hepatocyte cell lines HepG2, AML12 and THLE-2 for investigation of insulin signalling and hepatokine gene expression

Immortal hepatocyte cell lines are widely used to elucidate insulin-dependent signalling pathways and regulation of hepatic metabolism, although the often tumorigenic origin might not represent the metabolic state of healthy hepatocytes. We aimed to investigate if murine cell line AML12 and human cell line THLE-2, which are derived from healthy liver cells, are comparable to hepatoma cell line HepG2 for studying acute insulin signalling and expression of gluconeogenic enzymes and hepatokines. Insulin responsiveness of AML12 and THLE-2 cells was impaired when cells were cultured in the recommended growth medium, but comparable with HepG2 cells by using insulin-deficient medium. THLE-2 cells showed low abundance of insulin receptor, while protein levels in HepG2 and AML12 were comparable. AML12 and THLE-2 cells showed only low or non-detectable transcript levels of G6PC and PCK1. Expression of ANGPTL4 was regulated similarly in HepG2 and AML12 cells upon peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ activation but only HepG2 cells resemble the in vivo regulation of hepatic ANGPTL4 by cAMP. Composition of the culture medium and protein expression levels of key signalling proteins should be considered when AML12 and THLE-2 are used to study insulin signalling. With regard to gluconeogenesis and hepatokine expression, HepG2 cells appear to be closer to the in vivo situation despite the tumorigenic origin.

The association between TNFR gene polymorphisms and the risk of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Liver Diseases in Chinese population

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 2 (TNFR2) plays an important role in controlling the progression of antiviral and antitumorr. Evidence suggests that TNFR2 is involved in the pathogenesis of HBV-induced liver injury. We therefore examined whether TNFR2 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of HBV-related liver disease in Chinese population. In this case-control study, 115 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 86 HBV-related liver cirrhosis patients (LC), 272 HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients (HCC) and 269 healthy controls were recruited. TNFR2 rs1061622 and rs1061624 polymorphisms were examined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that the A allele of rs1061624 was positively associated with the risk of CHB (AA vs. GG, P = 0.026; AA vs. GA+GG, P = 0.021), LC (AA vs. GG, P = 0.027; AA+GA vs. GG, P = 0.036), and HCC (GA vs. GG, P = 0.046; GA+AA vs. GG, P = 0.031). Moreover, subgroup analysis indicated that male subjects have increased risk in developing CHB and LC. Nevertheless, no association was found between rs1061622 polymorphism and HBV-related liver diseases in the overall or subgroup analyses. Our retrospective study suggests that the TNFR2 rs1061624 polymorphism is associated with HBV-related CHB, LC, and HCC in Chinese population, particularly in males.