1
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Lim YS. Treatment decisions based on HBV DNA. J Viral Hepat 2024. [PMID: 38785204 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The most common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide is chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (CHB). Long-term suppression of HBV replication by antiviral treatment reduces the risk of HCC and mortality. Nonetheless, only 2.2% of CHB patients globally received the treatment in 2019. Current international CHB guidelines recommend antiviral treatment only in subsets of patients with clear evidence of liver damage as evidenced by elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). This review aims to provide existing evidence that the risk of HCC is significantly associated with serum levels of HBV DNA, and the association is non-linear parabolic, in both untreated and treated CHB patients, regardless of HBeAg status or ALT levels. Therefore, the decision for the antiviral treatment should be based on serum HBV DNA levels and age, rather than ALT levels or liver biopsy, to reduce or prevent the risk of HCC in CHB patients. The potential impact and cost-effectiveness data on early antiviral treatment initiation were also collated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Suk Lim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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2
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Choi WM, Kim GA, Choi J, Choi GH, Lee YB, Sinn DH, Lim YS. Non-linear association of baseline viral load with on-treatment hepatocellular carcinoma risk in chronic hepatitis B. Gut 2024; 73:649-658. [PMID: 37813567 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-330225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The association between baseline pretreatment serum HBV DNA levels and on-treatment hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk remains controversial in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We aimed to investigate the association between baseline HBV viral load and on-treatment HCC risk in CHB patients without cirrhosis. DESIGN Using a multicentre historical cohort study including 4693 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative and HBeAg-positive, adult CHB patients without cirrhosis who initiated antiviral treatment, HCC risk was estimated by baseline HBV viral load as a categorical variable. RESULTS During a median of 7.6 years of antiviral treatment, 193 patients developed HCC (0.53 per 100 person- years). Baseline HBV DNA level was independently associated with on-treatment HCC risk in a non-linear, parabolic pattern. Patients with moderate baseline viral loads (5.00-7.99 log10 IU/mL) exhibited the highest HCC risk (HR, 2.60; p<0.001), followed by those with low viral loads (3.30-4.99 log10 IU/mL; HR, 1.66; p=0.11). Patients with high viral loads (≥8.00 log10 IU/mL) presented the lowest HCC risk. Particularly, patients with baseline HBV DNA levels 6.00-6.99 log10 IU/mL had the highest on-treatment HCC risk (HR, 3.36; p<0.001) compared with those with baseline HBV DNA levels≥8.00 log10 IU/mL. These findings were more prominent among HBeAg-positive patients, younger patients, or those with less advanced hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSION Patients with moderate baseline viral load, particularly around 6 log10 IU/mL, demonstrated the highest on-treatment HCC risk, despite long-term antiviral treatment. Early initiation of antiviral treatment, tailored to viral load, should be considered to minimise HCC risk in adult CHB patients without cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Mook Choi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gi-Ae Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jonggi Choi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gwang Hyeon Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Yun Bin Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Sinn
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young-Suk Lim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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3
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Lim YS. Gray zone of hepatitis B virus infection. Saudi J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:76-82. [PMID: 37843134 PMCID: PMC10980295 DOI: 10.4103/sjg.sjg_279_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT A substantial proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) do not fall into any of the defined phases and are considered to be in the "gray zone" or "indeterminate phase." Most of the current clinical practice guidelines have no recommendations for antiviral treatment for them. However, the gray zone CHB patients with significant hepatitis B virus levels (>2000 IU/mL) and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels have a significantly high risk of hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The molecular, clinical, and economic data that we have reviewed collectively in this article provide support for simplification of treatment initiation strategies that incorporate broader treatment of adult patients with CHB in the gray zone (hepatitis B virus [HBV] DNA ≥2000 IU/mL), regardless of ALT levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Suk Lim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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4
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El-Khobar KE, Tay E, Diefenbach E, Gloss BS, George J, Douglas MW. Polo-like kinase-1 mediates hepatitis C virus-induced cell migration, a drug target for liver cancer. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201630. [PMID: 37648284 PMCID: PMC10468647 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a regulator of cell mitosis and cytoskeletal dynamics. PLK1 overexpression in liver cancer is associated with tumour progression, metastasis, and vascular invasion. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A protein stimulates PLK1-mediated phosphorylation of host proteins, so we hypothesised that HCV-PLK1 interactions might be a mechanism for HCV-induced liver cancer. We used a HCV cell-culture model (Jc1) to investigate the effects of virus infection on the cytoskeleton. In HCV-infected cells, a novel posttranslational modification in β-actin was observed with phosphorylation at Ser239. Using in silico and in vitro approaches, we identified PLK1 as the mediating kinase. In functional experiments with a phosphomimetic mutant form of β-actin, Ser239 phosphorylation influences β-actin polymerization and distribution, resulting in increased cell motility. The changes were prevented by treating cells with the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib. In HCV-infected hepatocytes, increased cell motility contributes to cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. PLK1 is an important mediator of these effects and early treatment with PLK1 inhibitors may prevent or reduce HCC progression, particularly in people with HCV-induced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korri E El-Khobar
- https://ror.org/04zj3ra44 Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Researchhttps://ror.org/0384j8v12 , University of Sydney https://ror.org/04gp5yv64 at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Enoch Tay
- https://ror.org/04zj3ra44 Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Researchhttps://ror.org/0384j8v12 , University of Sydney https://ror.org/04gp5yv64 at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
| | - Eve Diefenbach
- https://ror.org/04zj3ra44 Protein Core Facility, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, Australia
| | - Brian S Gloss
- https://ror.org/04zj3ra44 Westmead Research Hub, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, Australia
| | - Jacob George
- https://ror.org/04zj3ra44 Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Researchhttps://ror.org/0384j8v12 , University of Sydney https://ror.org/04gp5yv64 at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
| | - Mark W Douglas
- https://ror.org/04zj3ra44 Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Researchhttps://ror.org/0384j8v12 , University of Sydney https://ror.org/04gp5yv64 at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
- https://ror.org/0384j8v12 Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney https://ror.org/04gp5yv64 at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
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5
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Kim SR, Kim SK. Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatitis: Advanced Diagnosis and Management with a Focus on the Prevention of Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3212. [PMID: 37892033 PMCID: PMC10605503 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13203212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Though the world-wide hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination program has been well completed for almost thirty years in many nations, almost HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs in unvaccinated middle-aged and elderly adults. Apparently, treating 80% of qualified subjects could decrease HBV-related mortality by 65% in a short period. Nevertheless, globally, only 2.2% of CHB patients undergo antiviral therapy. The HBV markers related to HCC occurrence and prevention are as follows: the HCC risk is the highest at a baseline of HBV DNA of 6-7 log copies/mL, and it is the lowest at a baseline of an HBV DNA level of >8 log copies/mL and ≤4 log copies/mL (parabolic, and not linear pattern). The titer of an HBV core-related antigen (HBcrAg) reflecting the amount of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (ccc DNA) in the liver is related to HCC occurrence. The seroclearance of HBs antigen (HBsAg) is more crucial than HBV DNA negativity for the prevention of HCC. In terms of the secondary prevention of hepatitis B-related HCC involving antiviral therapies with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), unsolved issues include the definition of the immune-tolerant phase; the optimal time for starting antiviral therapies with NAs; the limits of increased aminotransferase (ALT) levels as criteria for therapy in CHB patients; the normalization of ALT levels with NAs and the relation to the risk of HCC; and the relation between serum HBV levels and the risk of HCC. Moreover, the first-line therapy with NAs including entecavir (ETV), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) remains to be clarified. Discussed here, therefore, are the recent findings of HBV markers related to HCC occurrence and prevention, unsolved issues, and the current secondary antiviral therapy for the prevention of HBV-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Soo Ki Kim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kobe Asahi Hospital, Kobe 653-0801, Japan;
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6
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Nevola R, Beccia D, Rosato V, Ruocco R, Mastrocinque D, Villani A, Perillo P, Imbriani S, Delle Femine A, Criscuolo L, Alfano M, La Montagna M, Russo A, Marfella R, Cozzolino D, Sasso FC, Rinaldi L, Marrone A, Adinolfi LE, Claar E. HBV Infection and Host Interactions: The Role in Viral Persistence and Oncogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087651. [PMID: 37108816 PMCID: PMC10145402 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the advent of vaccines and potent antiviral agents able to suppress viral replication, recovery from chronic HBV infection is still an extremely difficult goal to achieve. Complex interactions between virus and host are responsible for HBV persistence and the risk of oncogenesis. Through multiple pathways, HBV is able to silence both innate and adaptive immunological responses and become out of control. Furthermore, the integration of the viral genome into that of the host and the production of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) represent reservoirs of viral persistence and account for the difficult eradication of the infection. An adequate knowledge of the virus-host interaction mechanisms responsible for viral persistence and the risk of hepatocarcinogenesis is necessary for the development of functional cures for chronic HBV infection. The purpose of this review is, therefore, to analyze how interactions between HBV and host concur in the mechanisms of infection, persistence, and oncogenesis and what are the implications and the therapeutic perspectives that follow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Nevola
- Liver Unit, Ospedale Evangelico Betania, 80147 Naples, Italy
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Domenico Beccia
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Valerio Rosato
- Liver Unit, Ospedale Evangelico Betania, 80147 Naples, Italy
| | - Rachele Ruocco
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Angela Villani
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Simona Imbriani
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Augusto Delle Femine
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Livio Criscuolo
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Alfano
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco La Montagna
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Russo
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Marfella
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Domenico Cozzolino
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Carlo Sasso
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Rinaldi
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Aldo Marrone
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Elio Adinolfi
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Ernesto Claar
- Liver Unit, Ospedale Evangelico Betania, 80147 Naples, Italy
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7
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Lim YS, Kim WR, Dieterich D, Kao JH, Flaherty JF, Yee LJ, Roberts LR, Razavi H, Kennedy PTF. Evidence for Benefits of Early Treatment Initiation for Chronic Hepatitis B. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040997. [PMID: 37112976 PMCID: PMC10142077 DOI: 10.3390/v15040997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is the most common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Antiviral treatment reduces the risk of HCC and mortality; nonetheless, globally in 2019, only 2.2% of CHB patients received treatment. Current international CHB guidelines recommend antiviral treatment only in subsets of patients with clear evidence of liver damage. This contrasts with hepatitis C or HIV where early treatment is recommended in all infected patients, regardless of end-organ damage. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of data on the early initiation of antiviral treatment and its related potential economic impact. Literature searches were performed using PubMed and abstracts from international liver congresses (2019-2021). Data on risk of disease progression and HCC and the impact of antiviral treatment in currently ineligible patients were summarized. Cost-effectiveness data on early antiviral treatment initiation were also collated. Accumulating molecular, clinical, and economic data suggest that early initiation of antiviral treatment could save many lives through HCC prevention in a highly cost-effective manner. In light of these data, we consider several alternative expanded treatment strategies that might further a simplified 'treatment as prevention' approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Suk Lim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - W Ray Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94063, USA
| | - Douglas Dieterich
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jia-Horng Kao
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Research, Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Lewis R Roberts
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Homie Razavi
- Center for Disease Analysis Foundation, Lafayette, CO 80026, USA
| | - Patrick T F Kennedy
- Barts Liver Centre, Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
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8
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Li Z, Yang D, Ge Y, Song S, Lv Q, Ye Y. Histologic changes in immune-tolerant patients with chronic hepatitis B: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:469. [PMID: 36627364 PMCID: PMC9831999 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27545-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The serological diagnostic criteria for the immune-tolerant (IT) phase have not been strictly defined and it is hard to determine an accurate rate for significant histologic changes among IT patients. The aim of this study was to establish a baseline rate of significant histologic changes and to determine the main characteristics of IT patients. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies reporting liver biopsy results (inflammation grade or fibrosis stage) for adults with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the IT phase diagnosed by serological criterion were included to pool the rate of significant histologic changes. Studies that enrolled subjects with confirmed chronic HBV infection in the IT phase diagnosed by serological and liver biopsy criteria (dual criteria) were included to pool the mean values of main characteristics among IT patients. Of 319 studies screened, 15 were eventually included in the meta-analysis. The pooled rates of significant liver fibrosis and inflammatory activity for 10 studies were 10% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06-0.18) and 16% (95% CI 0.07-0.31), respectively. The pooled mean values of age, alanine aminotransferase level, HBV DNA level, and HBsAg level for another 5 studies with IT patients diagnosed by dual criteria were 30.7 years (95% CI 27.31-34.09), 26.64 IU/mL (95% CI 24.45-28.83), 8.41 log10 cp/mL (95% CI 7.59-9.23), and 4.24 log10 IU/mL (95% CI 3.67-4.82), respectively. Significant histologic changes were not rare events among IT patients. Strictly defined serological diagnostic criteria for the IT phase are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguo Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Fengtai Hospital of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Beijing, 100072, China.
| | - Dongliang Yang
- Department of Math, Cangzhou Medical College, Cangzhou, Hebei China
| | - Yue Ge
- grid.459359.70000 0004 1763 3154Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Fengtai Hospital of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Beijing, 100072 China
| | - Shu Song
- grid.459359.70000 0004 1763 3154Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Fengtai Hospital of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Beijing, 100072 China
| | - Qin Lv
- grid.459359.70000 0004 1763 3154Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Fengtai Hospital of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Beijing, 100072 China
| | - Yong’an Ye
- grid.24695.3c0000 0001 1431 9176Institute of Liver Diseases, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Yeh SH, Li CL, Lin YY, Ho MC, Wang YC, Tseng ST, Chen PJ. Hepatitis B Virus DNA Integration Drives Carcinogenesis and Provides a New Biomarker for HBV-related HCC. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 15:921-929. [PMID: 36690297 PMCID: PMC9972564 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration is an incidental event in the virus replication cycle and occurs in less than 1% of infected hepatocytes during viral infection. However, HBV DNA is present in the genome of approximately 90% of HBV-related HCCs and is the most common somatic mutation. Whole genome sequencing of liver tissues from chronic hepatitis B patients showed integration occurring at random positions in human chromosomes; however, in the genomes of HBV-related HCC patients, there are integration hotspots. Both the enrichment of the HBV-integration proportion in HCC and the emergence of integration hotspots suggested a strong positive selection of HBV-integrated hepatocytes to progress to HCC. The activation of HBV integration hotspot genes, such as telomerase (TERT) or histone methyltransferase (MLL4/KMT2B), resembles insertional mutagenesis by oncogenic animal retroviruses. These candidate oncogenic genes might shed new light on HBV-related HCC biology and become targets for new cancer therapies. Finally, the HBV integrations in individual HCC contain unique sequences at the junctions, such as virus-host chimera DNA (vh-DNA) presumably being a signature molecule for individual HCC. HBV integration may thus provide a new cell-free tumor DNA biomarker to monitor residual HCC after curative therapies or to track the development of de novo HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiou-Hwei Yeh
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; National Taiwan University Center for Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Ling Li
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - You-Yu Lin
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University College of Life Science, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chih Ho
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Pei-Jer Chen
- National Taiwan University Center for Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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10
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Surrogate Markers for Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA. Semin Liver Dis 2022; 42:327-340. [PMID: 35445388 DOI: 10.1055/a-1830-2741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most common causes of liver disease worldwide. Chronic HBV infection is currently incurable because of the persistence of the viral template for the viral transcripts, covalently closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid (cccDNA). Detecting changes in cccDNA transcriptional activity is key to understanding fundamental virology, determining the efficacy of new therapies, and deciding the optimal clinical management of HBV patients. In this review, we summarize surrogate circulating biomarkers that have been used to infer cccDNA levels and activity in people with chronic hepatitis B. Moreover, we outline the current shortcomings of the current biomarkers and highlight the clinical importance in improving them and expanding their use.
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Tu T, Zhang H. Viral integrations in chronic hepatitis B infection: Purposeless passenger or problematic promoter of persistence? Hepatology 2022; 76:15-17. [PMID: 35108435 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Tu
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Clinical School and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Henrik Zhang
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Clinical School and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
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12
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Liver biopsy of chronic hepatitis B patients indicates HBV integration profile may complicate the endpoint and effect of entecavir treatment. Antiviral Res 2022; 204:105363. [PMID: 35709897 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Viral integration profiles attract increased interest in the study of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but their features in the early stage of infection and changes due to antiviral treatments remain largely unknown. METHODS Liver biopsies and paired blood samples were obtained from HBeAg-positive patients before and after 48 weeks of entecavir treatment, and a probe-based capture strategy was applied for analyzing the HBV integrations in these samples. Serum HBV markers, including viral DNA, pgRNA, and HBsAg, were longitudinally assessed. RESULTS Entecavir treatment successfully reduced the levels of ALT, AST, and HBV serological markers (HBeAg, HBV pgRNA, and HBV DNA) in all patients (<40 years old). As expected, HBV integrations contributed to HBsAg production, with the total number of integrations positively correlated with serum HBsAg level (r = 0.47, P = 0.04). Along with repressed HBV replication, the number of viral integrations in liver biopsies decreased by about 1.94-fold after ETV treatment, with viral breakpoints significantly enriched within nt 1600-1900 of the HBV genome. No recurrent events were observed both at baseline and after treatment for the same individual, and only one same integration was found in two patients. Unlike in tumors, integrations in CHB biopsies seemed to have no chromosomal preference. Moreover, CHB integrations demonstrated lower enrichment scores for open active states than tumors, such as DNase, TssA, and ZNF/Rpts, and the scores reduced after ETV treatment. The antiviral therapy led to the disappearance of the enrichment tendency of integrations in both open chromatin and heterochromatin regions. CONCLUSION Reduced HBV replications by the nucleoside analogue may lead to decreased viral integrations in the liver, and those contributing to the HBsAg production may consistently occur. The pattern of HBV integration after ETV treatment is more random and irregular, which may contribute to a reduced risk of liver cancer due to antiviral treatment.
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13
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Mitosis of Hepatitis B virus-infected cells in vitro results in uninfected daughter cells. JHEP Rep 2022; 4:100514. [PMID: 35898957 PMCID: PMC9309680 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims The chronicity of HBV (and resultant liver disease) is determined by intrahepatic persistence of the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), an episomal form that encodes all viral transcripts. Therefore, cccDNA is a key target for new treatments, with the ultimate therapeutic aim being its complete elimination. Although established cccDNA molecules are known to be stable in resting hepatocytes, we aimed to understand their fate in dividing cells using in vitro models. Methods We infected HepG2-NTCP and HepaRG-NTCP cells with HBV and induced mitosis by passaging cells. We measured cccDNA copy number (by precise PCR assays) and HBV-expressing cells (by immunofluorescence) with wild-type HBV. We used reporter viruses expressing luciferase or RFP to track number of HBV-expressing cells over time after mitosis induction using luciferase assays and live imaging, respectively. Results In all cases, we observed dramatic reductions in cccDNA levels, HBV-positive cell numbers, and cccDNA-dependent protein expression after each round of cell mitosis. The rates of reduction were highly consistent with mathematical models of a complete cccDNA loss in (as opposed to dilution into) daughter cells. Conclusions Our results are concordant with previous animal models of HBV infection and show that HBV persistence can be efficiently overcome by inducing cell mitosis. These results support therapeutic approaches that induce liver turnover (e.g. immune modulators) in addition to direct-acting antiviral therapies to achieve hepatitis B cure. Lay summary Chronic hepatitis B affects 300 million people (killing 884,000 per year) and is incurable. To cure it, we need to clear the HBV genome from the liver. In this study, we looked at how the virus behaves after a cell divides. We found that it completely clears the virus, making 2 new uninfected cells. Our work informs new approaches to develop cures for chronic hepatitis B infections. HBV persists over decades in the liver, leading to chronic inflammation and serious liver disease. Controversy exists over the fate of viral DNA after cell mitosis, which is crucial to understanding viral persistence. We find here that 2 completely uninfected daughter cells are generated when infected cells undergo mitosis. Our results suggest that therapies that induce turnover of infected cells could facilitate the clearance of chronic HBV infection.
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Jang H, Yoon JS, Park SY, Lee HA, Jang MJ, Kim SU, Sinn DH, Seo YS, Kim HY, Kim SE, Jun DW, Yoon EL, Sohn JH, Ahn SB, Shim JJ, Jeong SW, Cho YK, Kim HS, Nam JY, Lee YB, Kim YJ, Yoon JH, Zoulim F, Lampertico P, Dalekos GN, Idilman R, Sypsa V, Berg T, Buti M, Calleja JL, Goulis J, Manolakopoulos S, Janssen HLA, Papatheodoridis GV, Lee JH. Impact of HBeAg on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk During Oral Antiviral Treatment in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:1343-1353.e16. [PMID: 34500103 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Antiviral treatment from hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive status may attenuate the integration of hepatitis B virus DNA into the host genome causing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the impact of HBeAg status at the onset of antiviral treatment on the risk of HCC. METHODS The incidence of HCC was evaluated in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis B who started entecavir or tenofovir in either HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative phase. The results in the Korean cohort were validated in a Caucasian PAGE-B cohort. RESULTS A total of 9143 Korean patients (mean age, 49.2 years) were included: 49.1% were HBeAg-positive and 49.2% had cirrhosis. During follow-up (median, 5.1 years), 916 patients (10.0%) developed HCC. Baseline HBeAg positivity was not associated with the risk of HCC in the entire cohort or cirrhotic subcohort. However, in the non-cirrhotic subcohort, HBeAg positivity was independently associated with a lower risk of HCC in multivariable (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.66), propensity score-matching (aHR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28-0.76), and inverse probability weighting analyses (aHR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.28-0.70). In the Caucasian cohort (n = 719; mean age, 51.8 years; HBeAg-positive, 20.3%; cirrhosis, 34.8%), HBeAg-positivity was not associated with the risk of HCC either in the entire cohort or cirrhotic subcohort. In the non-cirrhotic subcohort, none of the HBeAg-positive group developed HCC, although the difference failed to reach statistical significance (aHR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.00-1.67). CONCLUSIONS This multinational cohort study implies that HBeAg positivity at the onset of antiviral treatment seems to be an independent factor associated with a lower risk of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis, but not in those with cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejoon Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun Sik Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Young Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Ah Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung-Jin Jang
- Medical Research Collaboration Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Up Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Yonsei Liver Center, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Sinn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yeon Seok Seo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwi Young Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Eun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Won Jun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eileen L Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Hyun Sohn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Bong Ahn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Shim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soung Won Jeong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Kyun Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung Su Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Yeul Nam
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Bin Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Jun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hwan Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- Cancer Research Centre of Lyon, INSERM U, Lyon University, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Milan, Italy; CRC "A. M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - George N Dalekos
- Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, National Expertise Center of Greece in Autoimmune Liver Diseases, General University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece
| | - Ramazan Idilman
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Vana Sypsa
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thomas Berg
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maria Buti
- Hospital General Universitario Vall Hebron and Ciberehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - John Goulis
- The Department of Internal Medicine, Αristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School, General Hospital of Thessaloniki "Hippokratio", Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Spilios Manolakopoulos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Hippokratio", Athens, Greece
| | - Harry LA Janssen
- Liver Clinic, Toronto Western and General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - George V Papatheodoridis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Laiko", Athens, Greece.
| | - Jeong-Hoon Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Koffas A, Mak LY, Gill US, Kennedy PTF. Early Treatment Consideration in Patients with Hepatitis B 'e' Antigen-Positive Chronic Infection: Is It Time for a Paradigm Shift? Viruses 2022; 14:v14050900. [PMID: 35632642 PMCID: PMC9143099 DOI: 10.3390/v14050900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, due to the adverse sequelae of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, antiviral therapy has been reserved for patients with ostensibly active liver disease, fibrosis or cirrhosis, and/or increased risk of HCC. Historically, patients with hepatitis B 'e' antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic infection, were not offered antiviral therapy. Nevertheless, there has been compelling evidence emerging in recent years, demonstrating that this disease phase is in fact not characterized by immunological tolerance. HBV integration into the human genome is a frequent event found in these patients. Additionally, it may well be associated with active inflammation and fibrosis, even in the presence of persistently normal liver enzymes. Likewise, it appears that the mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis are already present during this early stage of the disease. This was reflected in the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) guidelines, where treating patients above the age of 30 years with HBeAg-positive chronic infection was proposed. Lowering the treatment threshold to broaden treatment eligibility is likely to slow disease progression and reduce the risk of developing HCC. The current review discusses the reasons to consider early antiviral therapy in HBeAg-positive chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apostolos Koffas
- Barts Liver Centre, Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (A.K.); (L.-Y.M.); (U.S.G.)
| | - Lung-Yi Mak
- Barts Liver Centre, Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (A.K.); (L.-Y.M.); (U.S.G.)
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Upkar S. Gill
- Barts Liver Centre, Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (A.K.); (L.-Y.M.); (U.S.G.)
| | - Patrick T. F. Kennedy
- Barts Liver Centre, Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (A.K.); (L.-Y.M.); (U.S.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Hsu YC, Suri V, Nguyen MH, Huang YT, Chen CY, Chang IW, Tseng CH, Wu CY, Lin JT, Pan DZ, Gaggar A, Podlaha O. Inhibition of Viral Replication Reduces Transcriptionally Active Distinct Hepatitis B Virus Integrations With Implications on Host Gene Dysregulation. Gastroenterology 2022; 162:1160-1170.e1. [PMID: 34995536 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.12.286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may arise from integration of viral DNA into the host genome. We aimed to gauge the effect of viral inhibition on transcriptionally active HBV-host integration events and explore the correlation of viral integrations with host gene dysregulation. METHODS We leveraged data and biospecimens from an interventional trial, in which patients with HBV viremia above 2000 IU/mL and minimally raised serum liver enzyme were randomized to receive tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or placebo for 3 years. Total RNA-sequencing was performed on paired liver biopsies taken before and after the 3-year intervention in 119 patients. Virus-host chimeric reads were captured to quantify the number of distinct viral integrations. Dysregulation of a host gene disrupted by viral integration was defined by aberrant expression >2 standard deviations away from samples without viral integration. RESULTS The TDF (n = 64) and placebo groups (n = 55) were comparable at baseline. Expressed viral integrations were detected in all pre- and posttreatment samples. The number of distinct viral integrations significantly correlated with circulatory biomarkers indicative of viral activities including HBV DNA, RNA, and viral antigens (P < .0003 for all correlations). Moreover, TDF vs placebo achieved a significantly greater reduction in distinct viral integrations, with 3.28-fold and 1.81-fold decreases in the expressed integrations per million reads, respectively (analysis of covariance, P = .037). Besides, viral integrations significantly correlated with host gene dysregulation. CONCLUSION Inhibition of viral replication reduces the number of transcriptionally active distinct HBV-host DNA integrations in patients with substantial viremia. Given the mutagenic potentials of viral integrations, such treatment effects should be considered in patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Chun Hsu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fu-Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Vithika Suri
- Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, California, USA
| | - Mindie H Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Yen-Tsung Huang
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Yi Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - I-Wei Chang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Clinical Pathology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hao Tseng
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, E-Da Cancer Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ying Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Translational Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jaw-Town Lin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - David Z Pan
- Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, California, USA
| | - Anuj Gaggar
- Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, California, USA
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Choi WM, Kim GA, Choi J, Han S, Lim YS. Increasing on-treatment hepatocellular carcinoma risk with decreasing baseline viral load in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:154833. [PMID: 35358094 PMCID: PMC9106348 DOI: 10.1172/jci154833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unclear whether the level of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA at baseline affects the on-treatment risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis B e antigen–positive (HBeAg-positive), noncirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS We conducted a multicenter cohort study including 2073 entecavir- or tenofovir-treated, HBeAg-positive, noncirrhotic adult CHB patients with baseline HBV DNA levels of 5.00 log10 IU/mL or higher at 3 centers in South Korea between January 2007 and December 2016. We evaluated the on-treatment incidence rate of HCC according to baseline HBV DNA levels. RESULTS During a median 5.7 years of continuous antiviral treatment, 47 patients developed HCC (0.39 per 100 person-years). By Kaplan-Meier analysis, the risk of HCC was lowest in patients with baseline HBV DNA levels of 8.00 log10 IU/mL or higher, increased incrementally with decreasing viral load, and was highest in those with HBV DNA levels of 5.00–5.99 log10 IU/mL (P < 0.001). By multivariable analysis, the baseline HBV DNA level was an independent factor that was inversely associated with HCC risk. Compared with HBV DNA levels of 8.00 log10 IU/mL or higher, the adjusted HRs for HCC risk with HBV DNA levels of 7.00–7.99 log10 IU/mL, 6.00–6.99 log10 IU/mL, or 5.00–5.99 log10 IU/mL were 2.48 (P = 0.03), 3.69 (P = 0.002), and 6.10 (P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION On-treatment HCC risk increased incrementally with decreasing baseline HBV DNA levels in the range of 5.00 log10 IU/mL or higher in HBeAg-positive, noncirrhotic adult patients with CHB. Early initiation of antiviral treatment when the viral load is high (≥8.00 log10 IU/mL) may maintain the lowest risk of HCC for those patients. FUNDING Patient-Centered Clinical Research Coordinating Center (PACEN) (grant no. HC20C0062) of the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency; National R&D Program for Cancer Control through the National Cancer Center (grant no. HA21C0110), Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Mook Choi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
| | - Gi-Ae Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
| | - Jonggi Choi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
| | - Seungbong Han
- Department of Biostatistics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
| | - Young-Suk Lim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
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Liu Z, Zhou X, Zheng P, Bu C, Yan X, Yu H, Xu Y. Clinical significance of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases in hepatitis B virus -related hepatocellular carcinoma and underlying mechanism exploration. Bioengineered 2022; 13:6819-6838. [PMID: 35311629 PMCID: PMC9278978 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2037224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to explore the diagnostic/prognostic significance and prospective molecular mechanisms of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAP3Ks) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Diagnostic/prognostic significance of MAP3Ks was screened in the GSE1450 data set and validated in the Guangxi cohort. Various bioinformatics tools were used to explore the biological functions of prognosis-related genes. Subsequently, molecular biology assays were used to verify the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of specific gene. MAP3K9 was observed to be differentially expressed in HCC and adjacent tissues with satisfactory diagnostic value. It was discovered in survival analysis that MAP3K13 and MAP3K15 were associated with overall survival (OS) of patients with HBV-related HCC in the GSE1450 data set and the Guangxi cohort. Nomograms were established based on prognosis-related genes and clinical factors for individualized risk assessment. The assays on HCC cells demonstrated that MAP3K13 regulated the death and proliferation of HCC cells by activating the JNK pathway and inducing the expression of apoptosis-related factors. In conclusion, our results suggested that MAP3K9 might serve as a diagnostic biomarker in HBV-related HCC and MAP3K13 and MAP3K15 might serve as useful prognostic biomarkers. Besides, cytological assays prompted that MAP3K13 might impact the prognosis of HCC by regulating the JNK pathway and inducing apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengqian Liu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, P. R. China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Peng Zheng
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, P. R. China
| | - Chenheng Bu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, P. R. China
| | - Xiao'ou Yan
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, P. R. China
| | - Haizhou Yu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, P. R. China
| | - Yong Xu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, P. R. China
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van Buuren N, Ramirez R, Soulette C, Suri V, Han D, May L, Turner S, Parvangada P, Martin R, Chan HLY, Marcellin P, Buti M, Bui N, Bhardwaj N, Gaggar A, Li L, Mo H, Feierbach B. Targeted long-read sequencing reveals clonally expanded HBV-associated chromosomal translocations in patients with chronic hepatitis B. JHEP Rep 2022; 4:100449. [PMID: 35295767 PMCID: PMC8918852 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Methods Results Conclusions Lay summary Fresh frozen liver biopsies from patients with CHB were subjected to targeted long-read RNA and DNA sequencing. Inter-chromosomal translocations associated with HBV integration events detected in one-third of patients. Chromosomal translocations were unique to each biopsy sample, suggesting that each originated randomly. A larger fraction of the HBV transcriptome originates from cccDNA in patients who are HBeAg-positive.
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20
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Zheng Y, Xu M, Zeng D, Tong H, Shi Y, Feng Y, Zhang X. In situ analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen and DNA in HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Diagn Pathol 2022; 17:11. [PMID: 35034659 PMCID: PMC8761330 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-022-01194-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is the major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in East Asia. Here we aimed to further investigate the abundance of viral antigen and DNA within HBV-related HCC and surrounding tissues at histological level. Method In addition to routine histopathology, in situ hybridization (ISH) of HBV DNA and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of HBsAg were performed in tissues from 131 HBsAg-positive HCC patients undergoing liver resection. Serum α-fetoprotein together with basic biochemical and immunological parameter was also measured. Results Overall, the ISH of HBV DNA and IHC of HBsAg showed 31.3% and 92.9% positive rate respectively (p < 0.0001). The level of correlation between these two markers was much more significant in tumor (p < 0.0001) than in tumor-surrounding tissue (p = 0.01). HBsAg exhibited a much higher positive rate in tumor-adjacent tissue than in tumor tissue (86.6% versus 29.9%, p < 0.0001) with significantly different staining pattern. By contrast, the positive rate of HBV DNA ISH was comparable in tumor and surrounding tissue (17.6% versus 22.9%, p = 0.36). Yet the HBV DNA signal in tumor tissue showed predominant nuclear localization (87.0%) whereas staining pattern in adjacent tissue was mixed (43.3% nuclear localization, p = 0.0015). Finally, no significant association between intra-tumor HBV DNA/HBsAg positivity and major histological markers (microvascular invasion, tumor differentiation, etc.) or recurrence after surgery was observed. Conclusions These data confirmed the largely integrated state of HBV DNA, weaker expression and altered localization of surface antigen in tumor compared with surrounding tissue. The strikingly different prevalence and localization of HBsAg and HBV DNA reflected the complex and heterogeneous mechanisms leading to HBV-induced tumorigenesis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13000-022-01194-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zheng
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingzhu Xu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong Zeng
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haitao Tong
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhan Shi
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanling Feng
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. .,Centre for Research in Therapeutic Solutions, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
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Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a non-cytopathic, hepatotropic virus with the potential to cause a persistent infection, ultimately leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Over the past four decades, the basic principles of HBV gene expression and replication as well as the viral and host determinants governing infection outcome have been largely uncovered. Whereas HBV appears to induce little or no innate immune activation, the adaptive immune response mediates both viral clearance as well as liver disease. Here, we review our current knowledge on the immunobiology and pathogenesis of HBV infection, focusing in particular on the role of CD8+ T cells and on several recent breakthroughs that challenge current dogmas. For example, we now trust that HBV integration into the host genome often serves as a relevant source of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression during chronic infection, possibly triggering dysfunctional T cell responses and favouring detrimental immunopathology. Further, the unique haemodynamics and anatomy of the liver - and the changes they frequently endure during disease progression to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis - profoundly influence T cell priming, differentiation and function. We also discuss why therapeutic approaches that limit the intrahepatic inflammatory processes triggered by HBV-specific T cells might be surprisingly beneficial for patients with chronic infection.
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22
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Svicher V, Salpini R, Piermatteo L, Carioti L, Battisti A, Colagrossi L, Scutari R, Surdo M, Cacciafesta V, Nuccitelli A, Hansi N, Ceccherini Silberstein F, Perno CF, Gill US, Kennedy PTF. Whole exome HBV DNA integration is independent of the intrahepatic HBV reservoir in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. Gut 2021; 70:2337-2348. [PMID: 33402415 PMCID: PMC8588301 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-323300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The involvement of HBV DNA integration in promoting hepatocarcinogenesis and the extent to which the intrahepatic HBV reservoir modulates liver disease progression remains poorly understood. We examined the intrahepatic HBV reservoir, the occurrence of HBV DNA integration and its impact on the hepatocyte transcriptome in hepatitis B 'e' antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). DESIGN Liver tissue from 84 HBeAg-negative patients with CHB with low (n=12), moderate (n=25) and high (n=47) serum HBV DNA was analysed. Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) were evaluated by quantitative PCR, whole exome and transcriptome sequencing was performed by Illumina, and the burden of HBV DNA integrations was evaluated by digital droplet PCR. RESULTS Patients with low and moderate serum HBV DNA displayed comparable intrahepatic cccDNA and pgRNA, significantly lower than in patients with high HBV DNA, while hepatitis B core-related antigen correlated strongly with the intrahepatic HBV reservoir, reflecting cccDNA quantity. Whole exome integration was detected in a significant number of patients (55.6%, 14.3% and 25% in high, moderate and low viraemic patients, respectively), at a frequency ranging from 0.5 to 157 integrations/1000 hepatocytes. Hepatitis B surface antigen >5000 IU/mL predicted integration within the exome and these integrations localised in genes involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, regulation of lipid/drug metabolism and antiviral/inflammatory responses. Transcript levels of specific genes, including the proto-oncogene hRAS, were higher in patients with HBV DNA integration, supporting an underlying oncogenic risk in patients with low-level to moderate-level viraemia. CONCLUSIONS HBV DNA integration occurs across all HBeAg-negative patients with CHB, including those with a limited HBV reservoir; localising in genes involved in carcinogenesis and altering the hepatocyte transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Svicher
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Romina Salpini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piermatteo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Luca Carioti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Arianna Battisti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Lazio, Italy,Barts Liver Cente, Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Luna Colagrossi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Lazio, Italy,Department of Microbiology and Virology, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Rossana Scutari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Matteo Surdo
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Eurofins GENOMA, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | | | | | - Navjyot Hansi
- Barts Liver Cente, Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Carlo Federico Perno
- Department of Oncology and Haematooncology, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Upkar S Gill
- Barts Liver Cente, Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Patrick T F Kennedy
- Barts Liver Cente, Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Zhang H, Tu T. Approaches to quantifying Hepatitis B Virus covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA. Clin Mol Hepatol 2021; 28:135-149. [PMID: 34674513 PMCID: PMC9013611 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2021.0283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B is a major cause of liver disease worldwide and is currently incurable. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA is a key form of the virus responsible for its persistence and is the transcriptional template for all viral transcripts. The field is focussed on methods to clear HBV cccDNA but this been limited by technical difficulties in its quantification due to: identical sequence to other forms of HBV DNA; low copy number per cell; and high resistance to denaturation by heat, leading to difficulty using polymerase chain reaction or hybridization methods for detection. A number of assays have been developed in order to overcome these hurdles either directly or detecting cccDNA levels indirectly via its transcriptional products. In this review, we summarize the approaches to cccDNA quantification that are currently used, and outline key open questions in the cccDNA biology field which remain to be answered due to the limitations of current methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Zhang
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Clinical School and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Thomas Tu
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Clinical School and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia
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24
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Meier MA, Calabrese D, Suslov A, Terracciano LM, Heim MH, Wieland S. Ubiquitous expression of HBsAg from integrated HBV DNA in patients with low viral load. J Hepatol 2021; 75:840-847. [PMID: 34004216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.04.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Loss of serum HBsAg is a hallmark of spontaneous and therapy induced resolution of HBV infection, since it generally reflects a profound decrease in viral replication. However, integrated HBV DNA can contribute to HBsAg expression independent of viral replication. The relative contributions of these sources of HBsAg are not well understood. Specifically, it is not known whether actively transcribed HBV integration could spread throughout the entire liver. METHODS The relative distribution of HBsAg and HBV RNA in liver biopsy tissue from HBeAg-negative (HBe-) patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH), respectively. Frozen biopsy tissue was used for molecular analysis of intrahepatic viral RNA, virus-host chimeric transcripts and viral DNA. RESULTS Immunohistochemistry and ISH analysis revealed HBsAg and HBV RNA positivity in virtually all hepatocytes in the liver of some HBe- patients despite very low viremia. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR and RNA-sequencing analysis confirmed high expression levels of HBV envelope-encoding RNAs. However, the amount of viral transcriptional template (covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA) was too low to support this ubiquitous HBV RNA expression. In contrast, levels of total cellular HBV DNA were consistent with ubiquitous HBV integration. Finally, RNA-sequencing revealed the presence of many HBV-host chimeric transcripts with the potential for HBsAg expression. CONCLUSIONS Transcriptionally active HBV integration can extend to the entire liver in some HBe- patients. This can lead to ubiquitous HBsAg expression independent of HBV replication. In such patients, HBsAg is probably not a clinically useful surrogate marker for viral resolution or functional cure. LAY SUMMARY Loss of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) indicates resolution of HBV infection. However, integrated HBV DNA can contribute to HBsAg production independently of viral replication. We investigated the extent of HBsAg-producing viral integration in the livers of patients with low serum viral loads. Our findings suggest that transcriptionally active HBV integration can extend to the entire liver in some patients, questioning the clinical utility of HBsAg as a surrogate marker for viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Anne Meier
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland; Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland
| | - Diego Calabrese
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland
| | - Aleksei Suslov
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland
| | - Luigi M Terracciano
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Basel, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland
| | - Markus H Heim
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland; Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland.
| | - Stefan Wieland
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland.
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25
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Zhang H, Tu T. A River From the Liver: Detecting Hepatocyte Genomic DNA in Urine. Hepatol Commun 2021; 5:1629-1631. [PMID: 34596978 PMCID: PMC8485880 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Zhang
- Storr Liver CentreThe Westmead Institute for Medical ResearchThe University of Sydney and Westmead HospitalSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Thomas Tu
- Storr Liver CentreThe Westmead Institute for Medical ResearchThe University of Sydney and Westmead HospitalSydneyNSWAustralia.,Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and BiosecurityUniversity of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
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26
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Bousali M, Papatheodoridis G, Paraskevis D, Karamitros T. Hepatitis B Virus DNA Integration, Chronic Infections and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1787. [PMID: 34442866 PMCID: PMC8398950 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is an Old World virus with a high mutation rate, which puts its origins in Africa alongside the origins of Homo sapiens, and is a member of the Hepadnaviridae family that is characterized by a unique viral replication cycle. It targets human hepatocytes and can lead to chronic HBV infection either after acute infection via horizontal transmission usually during infancy or childhood or via maternal-fetal transmission. HBV has been found in ~85% of HBV-related Hepatocellular Carcinomas (HCC), and it can integrate the whole or part of its genome into the host genomic DNA. The molecular mechanisms involved in the HBV DNA integration is not yet clear; thus, multiple models have been described with respect to either the relaxed-circular DNA (rcDNA) or the double-stranded linear DNA (dslDNA) of HBV. Various genes have been found to be affected by HBV DNA integration, including cell-proliferation-related genes, oncogenes and long non-coding RNA genes (lincRNAs). The present review summarizes the advances in the research of HBV DNA integration, focusing on the evolutionary and molecular side of the integration events along with the arising clinical aspects in the light of WHO's commitment to eliminate HBV and viral hepatitis by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bousali
- Bioinformatics and Applied Genomics Unit, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece;
| | - George Papatheodoridis
- Department of Gastroenterology, “Laiko” General Hospital of Athens, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Dimitrios Paraskevis
- Department of Hygiene Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece;
| | - Timokratis Karamitros
- Bioinformatics and Applied Genomics Unit, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece;
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece
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27
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Zhang D, Zhang K, Protzer U, Zeng C. HBV Integration Induces Complex Interactions between Host and Viral Genomic Functions at the Insertion Site. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2021; 9:399-408. [PMID: 34221926 PMCID: PMC8237140 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2021.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), one of the well-known DNA oncogenic viruses, is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In infected hepatocytes, HBV DNA can be integrated into the host genome through an insertional mutagenesis process inducing tumorigenesis. Dissection of the genomic features surrounding integration sites will deepen our understanding of mechanisms underlying integration. Moreover, the quantity and biological activity of integration sites may reflect the DNA damage within affected cells or the potential survival benefits they may confer. The well-known human genomic features include repeat elements, particular regions (such as telomeres), and frequently interrupted genes (e.g., telomerase reverse transcriptase [i.e. TERT], lysine methyltransferase 2B [i.e. KMT2B], cyclin E1 [CCNE1], and cyclin A2 [CCNA2]). Consequently, distinct genomic features within diverse integrations differentiate their biological functions. Meanwhile, accumulating evidence has shown that viral proteins produced by integrants may cause cell damage even after the suppression of HBV replication. The integration-derived gene products can also serve as tumor markers, promoting the development of novel therapeutic strategies for HCC. Viral integrants can be single copy or multiple copies of different fragments with complicated rearrangement, which warrants elucidation of the whole viral integrant arrangement in future studies. All of these considerations underlie an urgent need to develop novel methodology and technology for sequence characterization and function evaluation of integration events in chronic hepatitis B-associated disease progression by monitoring both host genomic features and viral integrants. This endeavor may also serve as a promising solution for evaluating the risk of tumorigenesis and as a companion diagnostic for designing therapeutic strategies targeting integration-related disease complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dake Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- SCG Cell Therapy Pte. Ltd, Singapore
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Urlike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
| | - Changqing Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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28
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Suresh M, Menne S. Application of the woodchuck animal model for the treatment of hepatitis B virus-induced liver cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2021; 13:509-535. [PMID: 34163570 PMCID: PMC8204361 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i6.509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This review describes woodchucks chronically infected with the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) as an animal model for hepatocarcinogenesis and treatment of primary liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Since laboratory animal models susceptible to HBV infection are limited, woodchucks experimentally infected with WHV, a hepatitis virus closely related to HBV, are increasingly used to enhance our understanding of virus-host interactions, immune response, and liver disease progression. A correlation of severe liver pathogenesis with high-level viral replication and deficient antiviral immunity has been established, which are present during chronic infection after WHV inoculation of neonatal woodchucks for modeling vertical HBV transmission in humans. HCC in chronic carrier woodchucks develops 17 to 36 mo after neonatal WHV infection and involves liver tumors that are comparable in size, morphology, and molecular gene signature to those of HBV-infected patients. Accordingly, woodchucks with WHV-induced liver tumors have been used for the improvement of imaging and ablation techniques of human HCC. In addition, drug efficacy studies in woodchucks with chronic WHV infection have revealed that prolonged treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs, alone or in combination with other compounds, minimizes the risk of liver disease progression to HCC. More recently, woodchucks have been utilized in the delineation of mechanisms involved in innate and adaptive immune responses against WHV during acute, self-limited and chronic infections. Therapeutic interventions based on modulating the deficient host antiviral immunity have been explored in woodchucks for inducing functional cure in HBV-infected patients and for reducing or even delaying associated liver disease sequelae, including the onset of HCC. Therefore, woodchucks with chronic WHV infection constitute a well-characterized, fully immunocompetent animal model for HBV-induced liver cancer and for preclinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of new modalities, which are based on chemo, gene, and immune therapy, for the prevention and treatment of HCC in patients for which current treatment options are dismal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasa Suresh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Stephan Menne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States
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29
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Goyal A. Modeling reveals no direct role of the extent of HBV DNA integrations on the outcome of infection. J Theor Biol 2021; 526:110793. [PMID: 34087271 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) with its high prevalence and death toll is one of the most important infectious diseases to study. Yet, there is very little progress in the development of within-host models for HBV, which has subsequently hindered our understanding of this virus. The uncertainty around the proliferation of infected hepatocytes has been studied but never in association with other important biological continuous events such as integrations and superinfections. This is despite the fact that these processes affect the diversity and composition of infected cell population in the liver and an improved understanding of the cellular composition will undoubtedly assist in strategizing against this viral infection. Here, we developed novel mathematical models that incorporate these key biological processes and analyzed them both analytically and numerically. Unaffected by the extent of integrated DNA (IDNA), the outcome of HBV infection was primarily dictated by the balance between processes generating and killing infected hepatocytes containing covalent closed circular DNA (cccDNA). The superinfection was found to be a key process in the spread of HBV infection as its exclusion could not reproduce experimentally observed composition of infected hepatocytes at peak of acute HBV infection, a stage where our model predicts that infected hepatocytes most likely carry both cccDNA and IDNA. Our analysis further suggested the existence of some form of selective advantage of infected hepatocytes containing only IDNA to explain the viral dynamics observed during antiviral treatment and the transition from peak to acute infection. Finally, the fine line between liver destruction and resolution of acute HBV infection was found to be highly influenced by the fate of cccDNA during cellular proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Goyal
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States
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30
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Transaminase Elevations during Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection: Safety Considerations and Role in Achieving Functional Cure. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050745. [PMID: 33922828 PMCID: PMC8146791 DOI: 10.3390/v13050745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While current therapies for chronic HBV infection work well to control viremia and stop the progression of liver disease, the preferred outcome of therapy is the restoration of immune control of HBV infection, allowing therapy to be removed while maintaining effective suppression of infection and reversal of liver damage. This “functional cure” of chronic HBV infection is characterized by the absence of detectable viremia (HBV DNA) and antigenemia (HBsAg) and normal liver function and is the goal of new therapies in development. Functional cure requires removal of the ability of infected cells in the liver to produce the hepatitis B surface antigen. The increased observation of transaminase elevations with new therapies makes understanding the safety and therapeutic impact of these flares an increasingly important issue. This review examines the factors driving the appearance of transaminase elevations during therapy of chronic HBV infection and the interplay of these factors in assessing the safety and beneficial nature of these flares.
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31
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HBV-Integration Studies in the Clinic: Role in the Natural History of Infection. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030368. [PMID: 33652619 PMCID: PMC7996909 DOI: 10.3390/v13030368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem causing acute and chronic liver disease that can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is essential for viral replication and the establishment of a persistent infection. Integrated HBV DNA represents another stable form of viral DNA regularly observed in the livers of infected patients. HBV DNA integration into the host genome occurs early after HBV infection. It is a common occurrence during the HBV life cycle, and it has been detected in all the phases of chronic infection. HBV DNA integration has long been considered to be the main contributor to liver tumorigenesis. The recent development of highly sensitive detection methods and research models has led to the clarification of some molecular and pathogenic aspects of HBV integration. Though HBV integration does not lead to replication-competent transcripts, it can act as a stable source of viral RNA and proteins, which may contribute in determining HBV-specific T-cell exhaustion and favoring virus persistence. The relationship between HBV DNA integration and the immune response in the liver microenvironment might be closely related to the development and progression of HBV-related diseases. While many new antiviral agents aimed at cccDNA elimination or silencing have been developed, integrated HBV DNA remains a difficult therapeutic challenge.
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32
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Hu G, Huang MX, Li WY, Gan CJ, Dong WX, Peng XM. Liver damage favors the eliminations of HBV integration and clonal hepatocytes in chronic hepatitis B. Hepatol Int 2021; 15:60-70. [PMID: 33534083 PMCID: PMC7886763 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-020-10125-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background HBV integration is suspected to be an obstinate risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the era of antiviral therapy. Integration events start to occur in the immunotolerance phase, but their fates in the immune clearance phase have not yet been clarified. Here, we report the influences of liver damage on HBV integration and clonal hepatocyte expansion in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods HBV integration breakpoints in liver biopsy samples from 54 CHB patients were detected using a modified next-generation sequencing assay. Results A total of 3729 (69 per sample) integration breakpoints were found in the human genome, including some hotspot genes and KEGG pathways, especially in patients with abnormal transaminases. The number of breakpoint types, an integration risk parameter, was negatively correlated with HBV DNA load and transaminase levels. The average, maximum and total frequencies of given breakpoint types, parameters of clonal hepatocyte expansion, were negatively correlated with HBV DNA load, transaminase levels and liver inflammation activity grade score. The HBV DNA load and inflammation activity grade score were further found to be positively correlated with transaminase levels. Moreover, nucleos(t)ide analog (NUC) treatment that normalized transaminases nonsignificantly reduced the types, but significantly increased the average frequency and negated the enrichments of integration breakpoints. Conclusion Liver damage mainly removed the inventories of viral integration and clonal hepatocytes in CHB. NUC treatment may have reduced HBV integration but clearly increased clonal hepatocyte expansion, which may explain why HCC risk cannot be ruled out by NUC treatment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12072-020-10125-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Hu
- Center of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 52 Meihua East Road, Zhuhai, 519000 Guangdong China
| | - Ming X. Huang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 52 Meihua East Road, Zhuhai, 519000 Guangdong China
| | - Wei Y. Li
- Jining Medical University, Jining, 272057 Shandong China
| | - Chong J. Gan
- Center of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 52 Meihua East Road, Zhuhai, 519000 Guangdong China
| | - Wen X. Dong
- Center of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 52 Meihua East Road, Zhuhai, 519000 Guangdong China
| | - Xiao M. Peng
- Center of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 52 Meihua East Road, Zhuhai, 519000 Guangdong China
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Hepatitis B Virus DNA Integration and Clonal Expansion of Hepatocytes in the Chronically Infected Liver. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020210. [PMID: 33573130 PMCID: PMC7911963 DOI: 10.3390/v13020210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause chronic, lifelong infection of the liver that may lead to persistent or episodic immune-mediated inflammation against virus-infected hepatocytes. This immune response results in elevated rates of killing of virus-infected hepatocytes, which may extend over many years or decades, lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis, and play a role in the high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in HBV carriers. Immune-mediated inflammation appears to cause oxidative DNA damage to hepatocytes, which may also play a major role in hepatocarcinogenesis. An additional DNA damaging feature of chronic infections is random integration of HBV DNA into the chromosomal DNA of hepatocytes. While HBV DNA integration does not have a role in virus replication it may alter gene expression of the host cell. Indeed, most HCCs that arise in HBV carriers contain integrated HBV DNA and, in many, the integrant appears to have played a role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Clonal expansion of hepatocytes, which is a natural feature of liver biology, occurs because the hepatocyte population is self-renewing and therefore loses complexity due to random hepatocyte death and replacement by proliferation of surviving hepatocytes. This process may also represent a risk factor for the development of HCC. Interestingly, during chronic HBV infection, hepatocyte clones detected using integrated HBV DNA as lineage-specific markers, emerge that are larger than those expected to occur by random death and proliferation of hepatocytes. The emergence of these larger hepatocyte clones may reflect a survival advantage that could be explained by an ability to avoid the host immune response. While most of these larger hepatocyte clones are probably not preneoplastic, some may have already acquired preneoplastic changes. Thus, chronic inflammation in the HBV-infected liver may be responsible, at least in part, for both initiation of HCC via oxidative DNA damage and promotion of HCC via stimulation of hepatocyte proliferation through immune-mediated killing and compensatory division.
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34
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Choi J, Lim YS. Secondary prevention of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma with current antiviral therapies. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2021; 37:262-267. [PMID: 33502828 DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, marked advancement has been made in the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Due to highly effective antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), long-term clinical outcomes in patients with CHB has also been dramatically improved. However, current antiviral therapies for CHB cannot completely abolish the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, current treatment guidelines for CHB should be interpreted with caution given that HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis could be underway in patients who are not eligible for antiviral therapies by current guidelines. Therefore, efforts to reconcile treatment guidelines with recent clinical evidence should be made for reducing further development of HCC. In this article, we review the secondary prevention of HBV-related HCC with current antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonggi Choi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young-Suk Lim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Tu T, Zhang H, Urban S. Hepatitis B Virus DNA Integration: In Vitro Models for Investigating Viral Pathogenesis and Persistence. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020180. [PMID: 33530322 PMCID: PMC7911709 DOI: 10.3390/v13020180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a globally-distributed pathogen and is a major cause of liver disease. HBV (or closely-related animal hepadnaviruses) can integrate into the host genome, but (unlike retroviruses) this integrated form is replication-defective. The specific role(s) of the integrated HBV DNA has been a long-standing topic of debate. Novel in vitro models of HBV infection combined with sensitive molecular assays now enable researchers to investigate this under-characterised phenomenon with greater ease and precision. This review covers the contributions these systems have made to understanding how HBV DNA integration induces liver cancer and facilitates viral persistence. We summarise the current findings into a working model of chronic HBV infection and discuss the clinical implications of this hypothetical framework on the upcoming therapeutic strategies used to curb HBV-associated pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Tu
- Storr Liver Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead Clinical School and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia;
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Henrik Zhang
- Storr Liver Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead Clinical School and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia;
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Heidelberg Partner Site, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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36
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Zeng G, Gill US, Kennedy PTF. Prioritisation and the initiation of HCC surveillance in CHB patients: lessons to learn from the COVID-19 crisis. Gut 2020; 69:1907-1912. [PMID: 32451325 PMCID: PMC7295856 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Zeng
- Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Upkar S Gill
- Barts Liver Centre, Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Patrick T F Kennedy
- Barts Liver Centre, Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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D e novo synthesis of hepatitis B virus nucleocapsids is dispensable for the maintenance and transcriptional regulation of cccDNA. JHEP Rep 2020; 3:100195. [PMID: 33385130 PMCID: PMC7771110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2020.100195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Chronic HBV infection cannot be cured by current therapeutics owing to their limited ability to reduce covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA levels in the livers of infected individuals. Therefore, greater understanding of the molecular determinants of cccDNA formation and persistence is required. One key issue is the extent to which de novo nucleocapsid-mediated replenishment (reimport) contributes to cccDNA levels in an infected hepatocyte. Methods We engineered an infectious HBV mutant with a genome encoding a stop codon at position T67 in the HBV core open reading frame (ΔHBc HBV). Importantly, ΔHBc HBV virions cannot initiate nucleocapsid synthesis upon infection. Long-term in vitro HBV infection markers were followed for up for 9 weeks in HepG2-NTCP cells (A3 clone) and HBV DNA was quantified using a newly-developed, highly-precise PCR assay (cccDNA inversion quantitative PCR). Results ΔHBc and wild-type (WT) HBV resulted in comparable expression of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), which could be blocked using the entry inhibitor Myrcludex B, confirming bona fide infection via the receptor sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP). In primary human hepatocytes, Huh7-NTCP, HepG2-NTCP, and HepaRG-NTCP cells, comparable copy numbers of cccDNA were formed. cccDNA levels, transcription of viral RNA, and HBsAg secretion remained comparably stable in WT and ΔHBc HBV-infected cells for at least 9 weeks. Conclusions Our results imply that de novo synthesised HBc plays a minor role in transcriptional regulation of cccDNA. Importantly, we show that initially-formed cccDNA is stable in hepatocytes without requiring continuous replenishment in in vitro infection systems and contribution from de novo DNA-containing nucleocapsids is not required. Thus, short-term therapeutic targeting of capsid-reimport is likely an inefficient strategy in eliminating cccDNA in chronically infected hepatocytes. Lay summary The hepatitis B virus can maintain itself in the liver for a patient's lifetime, causing liver injury and cancer. We have clarified exactly how it maintains itself in an infected cell. This now means we have a better idea at how to target the virus and cure a chronic infection. Covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA is key for maintaining chronic HBV infection. Virus core protein expression is not required for cccDNA formation, stability, or transcription within 9 weeks of in vitro infection. Our results suggest that targeting HBV core with short-term treatment is inefficient in clearing intrahepatic cccDNA. Viral entry inhibitors or capsid inhibitors could prevent breakthrough of novel HBV variants.
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Key Words
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- Antivirals
- Bulevirtide
- CIs, capsid inhibitors
- Capsid inhibitors
- Core protein
- Covalently closed circular DNA
- DHBV, duck hepatitis B virus
- HBV DNA integration
- HBV persistence
- HBV, hepatitis B virus
- HBcAg
- HBsAg, hepatitis B virus surface antigen
- Hepcludex
- Myrcludex B
- NC, naked capsids
- NTCP, sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide
- NUCs, nucleos(t)ide analogues
- ORF, open reading frame
- PEG, polyethylene glycol
- PHH, primary human hepatocytes
- SN, supernatant
- VP, virions
- WT, wild-type
- cccDNA, covalently closed circular DNA
- dpi, days post inoculation
- mge, multiplicity of genomic equivalent
- pgRNA, pregenomic RNA
- rcDNA, relaxed circular DNA
- vge, viral genome equivalents
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38
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The evolution and clinical impact of hepatitis B virus genome diversity. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 17:618-634. [PMID: 32467580 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-020-0296-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The global burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is enormous, with 257 million persons chronically infected, resulting in more than 880,000 deaths per year worldwide. HBV exists as nine different genotypes, which differ in disease progression, natural history and response to therapy. HBV is an ancient virus, with the latest reports greatly expanding the host range of the Hepadnaviridae (to include fish and reptiles) and casting new light on the origins and evolution of this viral family. Although there is an effective preventive vaccine, there is no cure for chronic hepatitis B, largely owing to the persistence of a viral minichromosome that is not targeted by current therapies. HBV persistence is also facilitated through aberrant host immune responses, possibly due to the diverse intra-host viral populations that can respond to host-mounted and therapeutic selection pressures. This Review summarizes current knowledge on the influence of HBV diversity on disease progression and treatment response and the potential effect on new HBV therapies in the pipeline. The mechanisms by which HBV diversity can occur both within the individual host and at a population level are also discussed.
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39
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Lau KC, Burak KW, Coffin CS. Impact of Hepatitis B Virus Genetic Variation, Integration, and Lymphotropism in Antiviral Treatment and Oncogenesis. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1470. [PMID: 32987867 PMCID: PMC7599633 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global health burden. Although, effective treatment and vaccinations against HBV are available, challenges still exist, particularly in the development of curative therapies. The dynamic nature and unique features of HBV such as viral variants, integration of HBV DNA into host chromosomes, and extrahepatic reservoirs are considerations towards understanding the virus biology and developing improved anti-HBV treatments. In this review, we highlight the importance of these viral characteristics in the context of treatment and oncogenesis. Viral genotype and genetic variants can serve as important predictive factors for therapeutic response and outcomes in addition to oncogenic risk. HBV integration, particularly in coding genes, is implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, we will discuss emerging research that has identified various HBV nucleic acids and infection markers within extrahepatic sites (lymphoid cells). Intriguingly, the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-associated HBV variants and viral integration within the lymphoid cells may contribute towards the development of extrahepatic malignancies. Improved understanding of these HBV characteristics will enhance the development of a cure for chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith C.K. Lau
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Kelly W. Burak
- Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Carla S. Coffin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
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40
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Zhao K, Liu A, Xia Y. Insights into Hepatitis B Virus DNA Integration-55 Years after Virus Discovery. Innovation (N Y) 2020; 1:100034. [PMID: 34557710 PMCID: PMC8454683 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2020.100034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which was discovered in 1965, is a threat to global public health. HBV infects human hepatocytes and leads to acute and chronic liver diseases, and there is no cure. In cells infected by HBV, viral DNA can be integrated into the cellular genome. HBV DNA integration is a complicated process during the HBV life cycle. Although HBV integration normally results in replication-incompetent transcripts, it can still act as a template for viral protein expression. Of note, it is a primary driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, with the development of detection methods and research models, the molecular biology and the pathogenicity of HBV DNA integration have been better revealed. Here, we review the advances in the research of HBV DNA integration, including molecular mechanisms, detection methods, research models, the effects on host and viral gene expression, the role of HBV integrations in the pathogenesis of HCC, and potential treatment strategies. Finally, we discuss possible future research prospects of HBV DNA integration. HBV DNA integration is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis via multiple mechanisms HBV double-stranded linear DNA (dslDNA) is the dominant substrate for integration into the host genome The insertion sites of HBV DNA integration occur throughout the whole host genome using the NHEJ or MMEJ DNA repair pathway HBV DNA integration should be used as a clinical indicator for disease monitoring and treatment of patients with HBV infection
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41
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Brunetto MR. Hepatitis B Virus RNA Detection and a Mindful Use of Serum Hepatitis B Virus DNA and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Measures in Clinical Practice. Hepatol Commun 2020; 4:949-952. [PMID: 32626828 PMCID: PMC7327203 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maurizia R. Brunetto
- Internal MedicineDepartment of Clinical and Experimental MedicineUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
- Hepatology Unit and Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Pathology of Hepatitis VirusesUniversity Hospital of PisaPisaItaly
- Institute of Biostructure and BioimagingNational Research CouncilNaplesItaly
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42
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Lau KC, Joshi SS, Gao S, Giles E, Swidinsky K, van Marle G, Bathe OF, Urbanski SJ, Terrault NA, Burak KW, Osiowy C, Coffin CS. Oncogenic HBV variants and integration are present in hepatic and lymphoid cells derived from chronic HBV patients. Cancer Lett 2020; 480:39-47. [PMID: 32229190 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), partly driven by viral integration and specific oncogenic HBV variants. However, the biological significance of HBV genomes within lymphoid cells (i.e., peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMCs) is unclear. Here, we collected available plasma, PBMC, liver, and tumor from 52 chronic HBV (CHB) carriers: 32 with HCC, 19 without HCC, and one with dendritic cell sarcoma, DCS. Using highly sensitive sequencing techniques, next generation sequencing, and AluPCR, we demonstrate that viral genomes (i.e., HBV DNA, RNA, and cccDNA), oncogenic variants, and HBV-host integration are often found in all sample types collected from 52 patients (including lymphoid cells and a DCS tumor). Viral integration was recurrently identified (n = 90 such hits) in genes associated with oncogenic consequences in lymphoid and liver cells. Further, HBV genomes increased in PBMCs derived from 7 additional (treated or untreated) CHB carriers after extracellular mitogen stimulation. Our study shows novel HBV molecular data and replication not only liver, but also within 63.8% of lymphoid cells analysed (including a representative lymphoid cell malignancy), that was enhanced in ex vivo stimulated PBMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Ck Lau
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shivali S Joshi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shan Gao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Giles
- Viral Hepatitis and Bloodborne Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ken Swidinsky
- Viral Hepatitis and Bloodborne Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Guido van Marle
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Oliver F Bathe
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stefan J Urbanski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Norah A Terrault
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kelly W Burak
- Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Carla Osiowy
- Viral Hepatitis and Bloodborne Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Carla S Coffin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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43
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Laser capture microdissection: techniques and applications in liver diseases. Hepatol Int 2019; 13:138-147. [DOI: 10.1007/s12072-018-9917-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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44
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Weinman SA, Gudima SO. What roles HBV integrant-derived RNAs could play in the life cycles of HBV and HDV? Future Virol 2018. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2018-0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Weinman
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics & Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Severin O Gudima
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics & Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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45
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Guo JT, Block TM. Do hepatitis B virus surface antigens have any role in viral carcinogenesis? Hepatology 2018; 68:801-803. [PMID: 29572901 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Tao Guo
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, 18902
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46
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Sequence analysis of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA during HBeAg-seroconversion. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:142. [PMID: 30087321 PMCID: PMC6081408 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0145-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration into the host cell genome occurs early on in infection and reportedly induces pro-oncogenic changes in hepatocytes that drive HCC initiation. However, it remains unclear when these changes occur during hepatocarcinogenesis. Extensive expansion of hepatocyte clones with a selective advantage was shown to occur prior to cancer formation during the HBeAg-seroconversion phase of chronic HBV infection. We hypothesized that since integrations occur during the early stages of infection, cell phenotype could be altered and induce a selection advantage (e.g., through insertional mutagenesis or cis-mediated activation of downstream genes). Here, we analyzed the enrichment of genomic and functional patterns in the cellular host sequence adjacent to HBV DNA integration events. We examined 717 unique integration events detected in patients who have and have not undergone HBeAg-seroconversion (n = 41) or in an in vitro model system. We also used an in silico model to control for detection biases. We showed that the sites of HBV DNA integration were distributed throughout the entire host genome without obvious enrichment of specific structural or functional genomic features in the adjacent cellular genome during HBeAg-seroconversion. Currently, this is the most comprehensive characterization of HBV DNA integration events prior to hepatocarcinogenesis. Our results suggest no significant selection for (or against) specific cellular sites of HBV DNA integration occur during the clonal expansion phase of chronic HBV infection. Thus, HBV DNA integration events likely represent passenger events rather than active drivers of liver cancer, which was previously suggested.
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47
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Budzinska MA, Shackel NA, Urban S, Tu T. Cellular Genomic Sites of Hepatitis B Virus DNA Integration. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E365. [PMID: 30037029 PMCID: PMC6071206 DOI: 10.3390/genes9070365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is one of the strongest risk-factors for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). One of the reported drivers of HCC is the integration of HBV DNA into the host cell genome, which may induce pro-carcinogenic pathways. These reported pathways include: induction of chromosomal instability; generation of insertional mutagenesis in key cancer-associated genes; transcription of downstream cancer-associated cellular genes; and/or formation of a persistent source of viral protein expression (particularly HBV surface and X proteins). The contribution of each of these specific mechanisms towards carcinogenesis is currently unclear. Here, we review the current knowledge of specific sites of HBV DNA integration into the host genome, which sheds light on these mechanisms. We give an overview of previously-used methods to detect HBV DNA integration and the enrichment of integration events in specific functional and structural cellular genomic sites. Finally, we posit a theoretical model of HBV DNA integration during disease progression and highlight open questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas A Shackel
- Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2050, Australia.
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Liverpool NSW 2170, Australia.
- Gastroenterology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool NSW 2170, Australia.
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg Hospital University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Thomas Tu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg Hospital University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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48
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Larsson SB, Tripodi G, Raimondo G, Saitta C, Norkrans G, Pollicino T, Lindh M. Integration of hepatitis B virus DNA in chronically infected patients assessed by Alu-PCR. J Med Virol 2018; 90:1568-1575. [PMID: 29797342 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the main risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Integration of HBV DNA into the human genome has been found in >80% of HBV-related HCC cases. Some studies have, however, found similar integration patterns in tumorous and nontumorous tissues. Thus, the role of integrations for the development of HCC as well as the rate of integration in different stages of infection remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate integrations in patients without HCC, representing different stages of chronic HBV (CHB) infection. Extracted DNA in liver biopsies from 74 patients (one with 2 available biopsies) with CHB infection was analyzed by Alu-PCR. Amplicons were further analyzed by Sanger sequencing. Integration was detected in 39 biopsies (52%) as an amplicon containing both human and HBV sequences by Alu-PCR with one primer targeting a region in the HBV genome. Integrations were found in patients representing the different stages of CHB infection. A majority of the HBV sequences were located upstream or downstream of nucleotide position 1820, which previously has been identified as a common breakpoint in the HBV genome in integrated sequences. Approximately 60% of the HBV integrations were found in noncoding regions of the human genome. Integrations of HBV DNA into the human genome is an event frequently found in mild phases of chronic hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon B Larsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gianluca Tripodi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Division of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giovanni Raimondo
- Division of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Carlo Saitta
- Division of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Gunnar Norkrans
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Teresa Pollicino
- Division of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Magnus Lindh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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49
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Virus entry and its inhibition to prevent and treat hepatitis B and hepatitis D virus infections. Curr Opin Virol 2018; 30:68-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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50
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Wooddell CI, Yuen MF, Chan HLY, Gish RG, Locarnini SA, Chavez D, Ferrari C, Given BD, Hamilton J, Kanner SB, Lai CL, Lau JYN, Schluep T, Xu Z, Lanford RE, Lewis DL. RNAi-based treatment of chronically infected patients and chimpanzees reveals that integrated hepatitis B virus DNA is a source of HBsAg. Sci Transl Med 2018; 9:9/409/eaan0241. [PMID: 28954926 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 305] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health concern worldwide, frequently leading to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Evidence suggests that high viral antigen load may play a role in chronicity. Production of viral proteins is thought to depend on transcription of viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). In a human clinical trial with an RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutic targeting HBV transcripts, ARC-520, HBV S antigen (HBsAg) was strongly reduced in treatment-naïve patients positive for HBV e antigen (HBeAg) but was reduced significantly less in patients who were HBeAg-negative or had received long-term therapy with nucleos(t)ide viral replication inhibitors (NUCs). HBeAg positivity is associated with greater disease risk that may be moderately reduced upon HBeAg loss. The molecular basis for this unexpected differential response was investigated in chimpanzees chronically infected with HBV. Several lines of evidence demonstrated that HBsAg was expressed not only from the episomal cccDNA minichromosome but also from transcripts arising from HBV DNA integrated into the host genome, which was the dominant source in HBeAg-negative chimpanzees. Many of the integrants detected in chimpanzees lacked target sites for the small interfering RNAs in ARC-520, explaining the reduced response in HBeAg-negative chimpanzees and, by extension, in HBeAg-negative patients. Our results uncover a heretofore underrecognized source of HBsAg that may represent a strategy adopted by HBV to maintain chronicity in the presence of host immunosurveillance. These results could alter trial design and endpoint expectations of new therapies for chronic HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Man-Fung Yuen
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Henry Lik-Yuen Chan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics and Institute of Digestive Disease, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Robert G Gish
- Liver Transplant Program, Stanford University Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
| | - Stephen A Locarnini
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.,WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Hepatitis B, Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Deborah Chavez
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | - Carlo Ferrari
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, University of Parma, Parma 43126, Italy.,Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma 43126, Italy
| | - Bruce D Given
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, 502 South Rosa Road, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - James Hamilton
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, 225 South Lake Avenue, Suite 1050, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
| | - Steven B Kanner
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, 502 South Rosa Road, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Ching-Lung Lai
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Thomas Schluep
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, 225 South Lake Avenue, Suite 1050, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
| | - Zhao Xu
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, 502 South Rosa Road, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Robert E Lanford
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | - David L Lewis
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, 502 South Rosa Road, Madison, WI 53719, USA
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