Occult infection with hepatitis B virus PreS variants synergistically promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development in a high-fat diet context by generating abnormal ceramides.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Some occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are resulted from PreS mutations that reduce secretion of envelope protein (HBsAg). We investigated the ceramide amounts and species in hepatocytes infected with PreS variants that were isolated from HBsAg-seronegative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the ceramide effects on autochthonous HCC development in murine models.

Methods

HBV PreS/S regions from 35 HBsAg-seronegative HCC patients were sequenced. Hepatocyte cell lines and male C57BL/6J mouse livers were transfected with two PreS variant representatives. The ceramides with variated lengths of fatty acyl chains were quantified. Tumour development was examined in the HBV-transfected mice fed different diet types.

Results

In HBsAg-seronegativ

SUBMITTER: Liu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9442965 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature