title: Hepatitis B virus and microRNAs: Complex interactions affecting hepatitis B virus replication and hepatitis B virus-associated diseases.
abstract: Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). With nearly 750000 deaths yearly, hepatocellular carcinoma is the second highest cause of cancer-related death in the world. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of HBV-associated HCC remain incompletely understood. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs), a family of small non-coding RNAs that play a role primarily in post-transcriptional gene regulation, have been recognized as important regulators of cellular homeostasis, and altered regulation of miRNA expression has been suggested to play a significant role in virus-associated diseases and the development of many cancers. With this in mind, many groups have begun to investigate the relationship between miRNAs and HBV replication and HBV-associated disease. Multiple findings suggest that some miRNAs, such as miR-122, and miR-125 and miR-199 family members, are playing a role in HBV replication and HBV-associated disease, including the development of HBV-associated HCC. In this review, we discuss the current state of our understanding of the relationship between HBV and miRNAs, including how HBV affects cellular miRNAs, how these miRNAs impact HBV replication, and the relationship between HBV-mediated miRNA regulation and HCC development. We also address the impact of challenges in studying HBV, such as the lack of an effective model system for infectivity and a reliance on transformed cell lines, on our understanding of the relationship between HBV and miRNAs, and propose potential applications of miRNA-related techniques that could enhance our understanding of the role miRNAs play in HBV replication and HBV-associated disease, ultimately leading to new therapeutic options and improved patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Jason Lamontagne, Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lamontagne
authors.affiliation: Jason Lamontagne, Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States.
authors.forename: Laura F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.affiliation: Jason Lamontagne, Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bouchard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus replication; Hepatocellular carcinoma; MicroRNA