Molecular functions and biological roles of hepatitis B virus x protein

Abstract

Chronic infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) isH epatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide health problem and is one of the major causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the world. However, new incidences of HBV infection have been dramatically reduced by several prevention programs. The crucial role of HBV in hepatocarcinogenesis is beyond doubt, however, the mechanism by which HBV causes transformation of hepatocytes remains uncertain.(1-3) Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) has long been suspected to play a positive role in hepatocarcinogenesis because HCC incidence has been reported in animals infected with mammalian hepadnaviruses. Among these hepadnaviruses, open reading frame-X (X-ORF) is conserved in the genomes. However, hepatocarcinogenesis has not been found in avian infected with avian hepadnaviruses where X-ORF is absent. In addition to the putative contribution of HBx, other oncogenic mechanisms of the HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis have also been proposed, such as the integration-dependent scenario of HBV DNA in host genomes, (4) and the inflammation-dependent scenario.(5) Since no higher incidence of HCC has been reported in HBV-expressing transgenic mice, (6) host immunological responses to HBV infection (but not HBV proliferation by itself ) might be primarily contributing to the HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis. HBx, a small protein of 154 amino acids, is a multifunctional regulator that modulates a variety of host processes through directly or indirectly interacting with virus and host factors. (2,3) In this short review, we briefly summarize the life cycle of HBV, expression of HBx, and the molecular functions of HBx. We then focus on the recent progress on the biological roles of HBx in HBV replication and cellular transformation. Expression and functions of HBx. HBV is a prototype of Hepadnaviridae, hepatotropic small DNA viruses, of which hosts are among limited species of water birds, squirrels and primates. The HBV genome is a 3.2-kb circular, partially double-stranded DNA molecule with four overlapping ORFs, PC-C, PS-S, P, and X-ORFs (Fig. 1). (7) Once HBV infection of hepatocytes occurs, its genome is converted to covalently closed circular (CCC) DNA, which serves as the template for transcription by the host RNA polymerase II, generating the 3.5-, 2.4-, 2.1-, and 0.7-kb transcripts under control of four HBV promoters (Cp, PS1p, Sp, and Xp), respectively (Fig. 1). Two HBV enhancers (Enh I and Enh II) positively regulate transcription of the HBV promoters in combination with the transcription factors that bind these promoters.(7-9) HBV replicates by reverse transcription of the viral pregenomic 3.5-kb RNA (pgRNA) using the HBV polymerase that catalyzes RNA-dependent DNA synthesis and DNA-dependent DNA synthesis. (7,10) The reverse transcription of hepadnaviruses is unique among DNA viruses, and the primer of the reverse transcription is a tyrosine residue of an N-terminal domain of Pol that is distinct from reverse transcription of retroviruses. (10)

Role of the HBx oncoprotein in carbonic anhydrase 9 induction

“…As can be seen in Fig.5, [Tang et al, 2006]. Knock-down of HBx reduces the tumourigenicity of HCC cells [Chan and Ng, 2006].…”

Hepatitis B Virus Activates Deoxynucleotide Synthesis in Nondividing Hepatocytes by Targeting the R2 Gene

“…4), thus demonstrating the surprising fact that R2 gene expression was activated in quiescent cells. HBV encodes the regulatory HBx protein that modulates transcription and other cellular functions (reviewed in Tang et al 28 ). Remarkably, the expression of HBx alone was sufficient to induce R2 (Fig.…”

TP53 mutations and hepatocellular carcinoma: insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of liver cancer

“…Among these, the HBx protein has been the focus of attention, because it seems to play a strong causal role in HCC (Tang et al, 2006). The most commonly integrated HBV gene is the HBx gene ( Figure 5) (Unsal et al, 1994).…”