biostudies-literatureUnknown8(39)Huang FHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause for HCC. Hepatitis B virus X (HBx), one of four proteins encoded by HBV genome, plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of HBV-induced HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms of HBx-triggered HCC remain largely undetermined. Here we revealed that the expression of Brain-expressed X-linked 2 (BEX2) and Osteopontin (OPN) were elevated in liver tissues of HBV transgenic mice and human HCC specimens. Moreover, a positive correlation between BEX2 and OPN was exhibited in samples from HCC patients with HBV infection. The protein levels of BEX2 and OPN were both higher in HBV-positive HCC specimens compared to that of HBV-negative HCC specimens. HBxOncotarget65789-65799https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5630372biostudies-literatureUp-regulation of brain-expressed X-linked 2 is critical for hepatitis B virus X protein-induced hepatocellular carcinoma development.PMC5630372Huang FHu ZCai PLiao WZhang HChen HWang YZhou XMao YZha XfalseUp-regulation of brain-expressed X-linked 2 is critical for hepatitis B virus X protein-induced hepatocellular carcinoma development.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause for HCC. Hepatitis B virus X (HBx), one of four proteins encoded by HBV genome, plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of HBV-induced HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms of HBx-triggered HCC remain largely undetermined. Here we revealed that the expression of Brain-expressed X-linked 2 (BEX2) and Osteopontin (OPN) were elevated in liver tissues of HBV transgenic mice and human HCC specimens. Moreover, a positive correlation between BEX2 and OPN was exhibited in samples from HCC patients with HBV infection. The protein levels of BEX2 and OPN were both higher in HBV-positive HCC specimens compared to that of HBV-negative HCC specimens. HBx2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Sep2025-04-22T05:52:40.603Z2021-02-21T03:07:46ZS-EPMC56303722902947210.18632/oncotarget.19477