Sequence analysis of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA during HBeAg-seroconversion.

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 integrat

SUBMITTER: Budzinska MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6081408 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature