scholarly journals Recurrent HBV Integration Targets as Potential Drivers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1294
Author(s):  
Selena Y. Lin ◽  
Adam Zhang ◽  
Jessica Lian ◽  
Jeremy Wang ◽  
Ting-Tsung Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Comprehensive Analysis ◽  
Tert Promoter Mutation ◽  
Promoter Mutation ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Integration Sites ◽  
Driver Identification

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), frequently with HBV integrating into the host genome. HBV integration, found in 85% of HBV-associated HCC (HBV–HCC) tissue samples, has been suggested to be oncogenic. Here, we investigated the potential of HBV–HCC driver identification via the characterization of recurrently targeted genes (RTGs). A total of 18,596 HBV integration sites from our in-house study and others were analyzed. RTGs were identified by applying three criteria: at least two HCC subjects, reported by at least two studies, and the number of reporting studies. A total of 396 RTGs were identified. Among the 28 most frequent RTGs, defined as affected in at least 10 HCC patients, 23 (82%) were associated with carcinogenesis and 5 (18%) had no known function. Available breakpoint positions from the three most frequent RTGs, TERT, MLL4/KMT2B, and PLEKHG4B, were analyzed. Mutual exclusivity of TERT promoter mutation and HBV integration into TERT was observed. We present an RTG consensus through comprehensive analysis to enable the potential identification and discovery of HCC drivers for drug development and disease management.

scholarly journals Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus Integrations Identified in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Genomes

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Pranav Mathkar ◽  
Xun Chen ◽  
Arvis Sulovari ◽  
Dawei Li
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Pathway Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Diagnostic Potential ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Integration Sites

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Almost half of HCC cases are associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, which often lead to HBV sequence integrations in the human genome. Accurate identification of HBV integration sites at a single nucleotide resolution is critical for developing a better understanding of the cancer genome landscape and of the disease itself. Here, we performed further analyses and characterization of HBV integrations identified by our recently reported VIcaller platform in recurrent or known HCC genes (such as TERT, MLL4, and CCNE1) as well as non-recurrent cancer-related genes (such as CSMD2, NKD2, and RHOU). Our pathway enrichment analysis revealed multiple pathways involving the alcohol dehydrogenase 4 gene, such as the metabolism pathways of retinol, tyrosine, and fatty acid. Further analysis of the HBV integration sites revealed distinct patterns involving the integration upper breakpoints, integrated genome lengths, and integration allele fractions between tumor and normal tissues. Our analysis also implies that the VIcaller method has diagnostic potential through discovering novel clonal integrations in cancer-related genes. In conclusion, although VIcaller is a hypothesis free virome-wide approach, it can still be applied to accurately identify genome-wide integration events of a specific candidate virus and their integration allele fractions.

scholarly journals Creation of a Six-fingered Artificial Transcription Factor That Represses the Hepatitis B Virus HBx Gene Integrated into a Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinghui Zhao ◽  
Zhanzhong Zhao ◽  
Junwei Guo ◽  
Peitang Huang ◽  
Xudong Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Artificial Transcription Factor ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
B Virus

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an independent risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV HBx gene is frequently identified as an integrant in the chromosomal DNA of patients with HCC. HBx encodes the X protein (HBx), a putative viral oncoprotein that affects transcriptional regulation of several cellular genes. Therefore, HBx may be an ideal target to impede the progression of HBV infection–related HCC. In this study, integrated HBx was transcriptionally downregulated using an artificial transcription factor (ATF). Two three-fingered Cys2-His2 zinc finger (ZF) motifs that specifically recognized two 9-bp DNA sequences regulating HBx expression were identified from a phage-display library. The ZF domains were linked into a six-fingered protein that specified an 18-bp DNA target in the Enhancer I region upstream of HBx. This DNA-binding domain was fused with a Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) transcriptional repression domain to produce an ATF designed to downregulate HBx integrated into the Hep3B HCC cell line. The ATF significantly repressed HBx in a luciferase reporter assay. Stably expressing the ATF in Hep3B cells resulted in significant growth arrest, whereas stably expressing the ATF in an HCC cell line lacking integrated HBx (HepG2) had virtually no effect. The targeted downregulation of integrated HBx is a promising novel approach to inhibiting the progression of HBV infection–related HCC.

Discovery of novel hepatitis B virus (HBV) antivirals and analysis of mechanisms of action of HBV-targeting agents

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Andrew Douglas Huber
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Viral Inhibition ◽  
University Of Missouri ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
B Virus

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection leads to liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Globally, an estimated 50% of all hepatocellular carcinoma cases are linked to chronic HBV infection. More than 240 million people are chronically infected, and there are 0.5-1 million deaths per year due to HBVrelated liver conditions. HBV treatment options rarely cure infections and are associated with adverse side effects that often outweigh the potential benefits of treatment. New treatments, therefore, are highly desired for HBV therapy. Towards this goal, we have developed novel compounds targeting two viral targets and assessed the mechanisms of action by which these compounds act. We have developed systems for the discovery and evaluation of compounds that inhibit 2 distinct steps in the HBV life cycle. Using these systems, we have developed potent inhibitors of HBV replication that have potential to become clinically used HBV drugs. Furthermore, we have used our methods to evaluate which properties of these compounds are likely to result in better viral inhibition. The work described in this thesis has led to at least 2 new compound groups for potential use as HBV antivirals and provides insight into mechanisms by which potent antivirals can be achieved.

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