A comparative study of hepatitis B virus X protein mutants K130M, V131I and KV130/131MI to investigate their roles in fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomic mutations A1762T, G1764A and AG1762/1764TA cause production of HBV X protein (HBx) mutants, namely K130M, V131I and KV130/131MI. These mutations are important biomarkers for the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic HBV patients. This study comparatively analyses the impact of intracellular expression of HBx mutants on HCC cell line Huh7. It was found that expression of KV130/131MI induced: cell proliferation, altered expression of cell cycle regulatory genes in favour of cell proliferation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial depolarization. KV130/131MI may be directly involved in host cell proliferation and hepatocarcinogenesis via altering expression of cell cycle regulatory genes. KV130/131MI may also play pivotal roles in fibrosis and cirrhosis via inducing ROS production and mitochondrial depolarization. Furthermore, these might be the possible reasons for higher occurrence of AG1762/1764TA as compared to A1762T and G1764A in cirrhosis and HCC patients.

Novel chimeric vectors harboring hepatitis B viral promoter and reporter gene demonstrated liver-specific significance

Aim: Expression of EGFP was investigated to ascertain the strength and specificity of CMV, U6 and hepatitis B virus (HBV) core promoters in hepatic and non-hepatic cells. Materials and methods: pSilencer-2.1 plasmid vector is known for siRNA-based inhibition. To achieve target-specific correction of disease-causing genes, pSilencer-GFP was constructed. For liver specific expression of therapeutic genes, endogenous U6 promoter of pSilencer-2.1 was replaced with HBV core promoter and ubiquitously active CMV promoter. Results: Transfection results showed that GFP expression under the control of HBV core promoter was higher in hepatic Hep3B than non-hepatic HEK293T cells. Conclusion: HBV core promoter could lead to specific expression in hepatocytes, which might be used in gene therapy of liver diseases as well as for siRNA-based therapeutic strategies.

An in vitro Study on the Role of Hepatitis B Virus X Protein C-Terminal Truncation in Liver Disease Development

Hepatitis B virus X protein C-terminal 127 amino acid truncation is often found expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue samples. The present in vitro study tried to determine the role of this truncation mutant in the hepatitis B-related liver diseases such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, HCC, and metastasis. HBx gene and its 127 amino acid truncation mutant were cloned in mammalian expression vectors and transfected in human hepatoma cell line. Changes in cell growth/proliferation, cell cycle phase distribution, expression of cell cycle regulatory genes, mitochondrial depolarization, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were analyzed. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged version of HBx and the truncation mutant were also created and the effects of truncation on HBx intracellular expression pattern and localization were studied. Effect of time lapse on protein expression pattern was also analyzed. The truncation mutant of HBx is more efficient in inducing cell proliferation, and causes more ROS production and less mitochondrial depolarization as compared with wild type (wt) HBx. In addition, gene expression is altered in favor of carcinogenesis in the presence of the truncation mutant. Furthermore, mitochondrial perinuclear aggregation is achieved earlier in the presence of the truncation mutant. Therefore, HBx C-terminal 127 amino acid truncation might be playing important roles in the development of hepatitis B-related liver diseases by inducing cell proliferation, altering gene expression, altering mitochondrial potential, inducing mitochondrial clustering and oxidative stress, and changing HBx expression pattern.

Predictive value of MCV/RBC count ratio to discriminate between iron deficiency anaemia and beta thalassaemia trait

AIM AND BACKGROUND

Two forms of hypochromic microcytic anaemia i.e. iron deficiency and beta-thalassaemia trait are common in our society. This study reports the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and beta-thalassaemia trait and predictive value of MCV/RBC count ratio to discriminate between two.

METHODS

Venous blood was taken from 299 students of Karachi Medical & Dental College and Ziauddin Medical University in Na2 EDTA and analyzed by semi-automated Sysmex K-1000 haematology analyzer. MCV/RBC count ratio was used to discriminate between iron deficiency and beta-thalassaemia trait and > 14% was marked as iron deficiency. Hb electrophoresis was used as gold standard test for confirmation. Serum iron and TIBC was performed to confirm iron deficiency anaemia.

RESULTS

Iron deficiency was found in 9% while beta-thalassaemia was seen in 3% students. MCV/RBC count ratio showed a positive predictive value of 91%.

CONCLUSIONS

In areas where iron deficiency anaemia and beta-thalassaemia trait are common, MCV/RBC count ratio can be used to screen out beta-thalassaemia trait.