title: Sequence analysis and functional characterization of full-length hepatitis B virus genomes from Korean cirrhotic patients with or without liver cancer.
abstract: This study aimed to identify and characterize mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome associated with advanced liver diseases. The 3.2-kb HBV genome of the C2 subgenotype was amplified from sera of 18 cirrhotic Korean patients with (10) or without (8) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and two clones per patient were characterized by transient transfection experiments in human hepatoma cells. While A1762T/G1764A core promoter mutations were highly prevalent in both groups, the G1896A precore mutation to abolish hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) expression was more common in HCC clones (55% vs. 20%). High replication capacity was mostly found in HCC clones and associated with core promoter mutations, whereas more non-HCC clones harbored a nonfunctional core gene (34% vs. 8%). Large in-frame deletions in the preS region were found in 60% of HCC clones and 38% of non-HCC clones. They removed the first 11 residues of large envelope protein or impaired small envelope protein expression, or deleted a neutralizing epitope in the preS2 domain. Additional point mutations prevented middle envelope protein expression, or caused nonsense mutations in the preS or S region to truncate large and/or small envelope protein. Consequently, many clones were unable to express or secrete hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). In conclusion, mutations associated with the advanced stage of chronic HBV infection are complex and diverse. Host immune pressure most likely selected for mutations in the HBV genome to abolish or reduce HBeAg or HBsAg production, to enhance genome replication, or to escape neutralizing antibodies. Some of these mutations may contribute to liver cirrhosis or HCC development.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology School of Basic Medical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai, China. Electronic address: 1661753336@qq.com.
authors.forename: Huailiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 1661753336@qq.com. Electronic address: dina.gewaily@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gewaily
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ahnsh@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 1661753336@qq.com. Electronic address: cpreskil@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Preskill
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology School of Basic Medical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai, China. Electronic address: yxwang712@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yongxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology School of Basic Medical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai, China. Electronic address: zongli1226@163.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zong
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology School of Basic Medical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai, China. Electronic address: 2471633990@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gihankhys@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Kwang-Hyub
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 1661753336@qq.com. Electronic address: jack_wands_md@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wands
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 1661753336@qq.com. Electronic address: ji_su_li_md@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Jisu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology School of Basic Medical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai, China; Liver Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 1661753336@qq.com. Electronic address: shuping_tong_md@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Shuping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D009154:Mutation; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D014779:Virus Replication
keywords: Core promoter mutations; Genome replication; Hepatitis B surface antigen; Hepatitis B virus; Liver cancer; PreS deletions