Mapping the Heterogeneity of Histone Modifications on Hepatitis B Virus DNA Using Liver Needle Biopsies Obtained from Chronically Infected Patients.

ABSTRACT: Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) forms the basis for replication and persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the chronically infected liver. We have previously shown that viral transcription is subject to regulation by posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histone proteins bound to cccDNA through analysis of de novo HBV-infected cell lines. We now report the successful adaptation of this chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIPseq) approach for analysis of fine-needle patient liver biopsy specimens to investigate the role of histone PTMs in chronically HBV-infected patients. Using 18 specimens from patients in different stages of chronic HBV infection, our work shows that the profile of histone PTMs in chronic infection is more nuanced than previously observed in

SUBMITTER: Flecken T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6475771 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature