title: Hepatitis delta virus induces specific DNA methylation processes in Huh-7 liver cancer cells.
abstract: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a small, defective RNA virus that can infect only individuals carrying hepatitis B virus. HBV/HDV co-infection results in more severe liver disease than HBV single infection and more rapid progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The epigenetic events involved in hepatocyte transformation towards malignancy in this context are poorly known. Here we report that, in Huh-7 cells, HDV induces DNMT3b expression and is associated to E2F1 transcription factor hypermethylation. Moreover our cell cycle analysis showed that HDV induces G2/M arrest. These findings suggest that HDV could play a role in HCC development at least in part by altering DNA methylation events. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in HDV-related carcinogenesis could help to identify new therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benegiamo
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinciguerra
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.forename: Grazia Anna
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Niro
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andriulli
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pazienza
mesh_terms: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000097584:DNA Methyltransferase 3B
chemical_list: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001374:Azacitidine; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D000097584:DNA Methyltransferase 3B; C493753:E2F1 protein, human; C520337:NSC 74859