Hepatitis B virus X protein and hepatitis C virus core protein cooperate to repress E-cadherin expression via DNA methylation.

ABSTRACT: Dual infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is closely associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma; however, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In the present study, we found that HBV X protein (HBx) and HCV core protein work together to inhibit E-cadherin expression in human hepatoma cells. For this effect, they additively increased both the level and activity of enzymes, DNA methyltransferase 1, 3a, and 3b to induce promoter hypermethylation of E-cadherin in a p53-dependent fashion. Their additive effect on E-cadherin levels was reproduced in an in vitro HBV/HCV dual infection system using Huh7D-NTCP cells. As a result, HBV and HCV additively upregulated mesenchymal marker such as N-cadherin, Snail, Twist and Vimentin but coo

SUBMITTER: Yoon H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9272347 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature