title: Wild type HBx and truncated HBx: Pleiotropic regulators driving sequential genetic and epigenetic steps of hepatocarcinogenesis and progression of HBV-associated neoplasms.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the causative agents of hepatocellular carcinoma. The molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis are complex. One of the host factors involved is apparently the long-lasting inflammatory reaction which accompanies chronic HBV infection. Although HBV lacks a typical viral oncogene, the HBx gene encoding a pleiotropic regulatory protein emerged as a major player in liver carcinogenesis. Here we review the tumorigenic functions of HBx with an emphasis on wild type and truncated HBx variants, and their role in the transcriptional dysregulation and epigenetic reprogramming of the host cell genome. We suggest that HBx acquired by the HBV genome during evolution acts like a cellular proto-onc gene that is activated by deletion during hepatocarcinogenesis. The resulting viral oncogene (v-onc gene) codes for a truncated HBx protein that facilitates tumor progression. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans Helmut
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Niller
authors.affiliation: Department of Retrovirology, National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ay
authors.affiliation: RT-Europe Nonprofit Research Center, Mosonmagyarovar, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Banati
authors.affiliation: University of Szeged, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Anett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demcsák
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takacs
authors.affiliation: University of Szeged, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minarovits