biostudies-literatureYu XShanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major ProjectEuropean Union&apos;s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programHBV cure task forceNational Key Projects of Infectious DiseasesNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaFrench National Research Agency797-809https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11041573biostudies-literatureUnknown73(5)<h4>Objective</h4>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can integrate into the chromosomes of infected hepatocytes, contributing to the production of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and to hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, we aimed to explore whether transcriptionally active HBV integration events spread throughout the liver tissue in different phases of chronic HBV infection, especially in patients with HBsAg loss.<h4>Design</h4>We constructed high-resolution spatial transcriptomes of liver biopsies containing 13 059 tissue spots from 18 patients with chronic HBV infection to analyse the occurrence and relative distribution of transcriptionally active viral integration events. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of HBsAg and HBV core antigen. Intrahepatic covalently cloGutSpatial transcriptomics reveals a low extent of transcriptionally active hepatitis B virus integration in patients with HBsAg loss.PMC1104157381974301847939ANRS-EIDZD2021CY001ANR-17-RHUS-00032018ZX10302204-001-003Jing YZoulim FGong QZhang XYu DChen YYu XfalseSpatial transcriptomics reveals a low extent of transcriptionally active hepatitis B virus integration in patients with HBsAg loss.<h4>Objective</h4>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can integrate into the chromosomes of infected hepatocytes, contributing to the production of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and to hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, we aimed to explore whether transcriptionally active HBV integration events spread throughout the liver tissue in different phases of chronic HBV infection, especially in patients with HBsAg loss.<h4>Design</h4>We constructed high-resolution spatial transcriptomes of liver biopsies containing 13 059 tissue spots from 18 patients with chronic HBV infection to analyse the occurrence and relative distribution of transcriptionally active viral integration events. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of HBsAg and HBV core antigen. Intrahepatic covalently clo2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Apr2026-07-15T09:03:47.998Z2026-07-02T03:08:30.04ZS-EPMC110415733796809510.1136/gutjnl-2023-330577