The mechanism of HBx protein to promote the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide and the third most common cause of death from cancer, after lung and stomach cancer. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is closely related to HCC and is a major cause of HCC. HBV is a lysogenic virus of the hepadnavirus family. Its genome presents a slack, ring-like, double-chain structure, containing four open reading frames. The X region encodes the product HBV X protein (HBx), which is a multifunctional regulatory protein that plays an important role in intracellular signal transduction, viral genome replication and transcription, cell proliferation and apoptosis, cell cycle progression, protein degradation, and genetic stability of hepatocytes. This article summarizes the recent research on the mechanism of promotion of initiation and progression of HCC by HBx protein.

Anti‐hepatitis B virus activity and hepatoprotective effect of des(rhamnosyl) verbascoside from Lindernia ruellioides in vitro

“…It is known that the HBx gene and its encoded multifunctional protein HBx are necessary factors for the transcription of HBV genes and play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma (M. Y. Zhang, Wei, & Wang, 2018). When HBV infects the human body, the protein encoded by the HBx gene plays a role in transactivation and regulation, which can affect the intracellular localization and replication of HBV and the biological activity of host liver cells (W. Zhang, Yan, & Sun, 2018).…”

“…Therefore, it is necessary to continue exploring whether des(rhamnosyl) verbascoside inhibits HBV DNA synthesis by inhibiting polymerase activity in a similar manner as lamivudine, or if some other mechanisms are responsible for the anti-HBV effects.It is known that the HBx gene and its encoded multifunctional protein HBx are necessary factors for the transcription of HBV genes and play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma (M. Y Zhang, Wei, & Wang, 2018)…”