• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.1-18
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• 2008

1980년대부터 시행된 HBV 감염의 예방 백신접종으로 HBV 감염율이 감소되고 1997년부터 시작된 핵산유사체인 LMV의 항바이러스치료 효과로 인하여 CHB 환자에서 HBV 증식 억압이 가능하게 되면서 10~20여년 동안 HCC 발생율이 현저히 감소된다는 보고가 증가하고 있으며 21세기 전반기에는 1980년대 부터인 백신접종가능 시기 이후의 출생자들이 성인이 되는 시점이 되면 HBV 감염율 감소로 동반된 HCC 발생율의 현저한 감소를 예측하고 있다. 이미 백신 개발 이 전에 또는 백신접종의 기회를 얻지 못하고 이미 영유아 시기에 감염되어 CHB에 이환된 환자들의 간경변증, HCC 등 만성 합병증을 치료하기 위해서는 적극적인 항바이러스치료가 필요하였으나 1980년대 후반에 유일하게 CHB 치료제로 인정된 인터페론은 치료 적응증이나 그 효과에 있었으나 극소수의 제한된 환자에서 제한된 효과만이 입증되었으며 특히 역학적 차이로 인한 바이러스학적, 개체 면역학적 조건에 따라 전혀 고려되지 않는 경우가 많고 수직감염자가 대다수인 우리나라를 포함한 대부분의 고감역지역에서는 우선 선택되지 않는 약제였으며 장기 효과에 대해서는 이십여년이 지난 시점에도 확실하지 않은 상황에서, 1997년부터 극적인 항바이러스 효과를 나타내는 LMV을 투약할 수 있게 되었다. LMV의 HCC 발생 억제효과를 높이기 위해 개선해야 할 점은 필수적인 장기투약에 의해 발생되는 내성 바이러스의 출현이며 이는 간기능뿐 만아니라 HCC 발생의 위험도 높일 수 있다는 보고도 있다. LMV 이후 처방 허가된 ADV, telbivudine(LdT), ETV, CLV, TDF 등도 장기 투약시 내성바이러스 발생이 가능하나 내성 발생을 줄이기 위해서는 적절한 약의 선택과 새로운 약제의 개발과 동시에 치료 원칙의 정립이 필요하다. 그러나 이러한 문제점이 있음에도 불구하고 항바이러스치료로 CHB의 진행 및 만성 합병증 발생의 빈도가 감소되고 있으며 HCC 발생 역시 감소될 것이며, 그 효과를 더 높이기 위해서는 내성변이종 발생 문제를 해결해야 하며 치료대상, 치료기준, 약제의 선택과 방법 및 면밀한 검사관리가 필요하다. 그러나 무엇보다 중요한 것은 일단 HBV에 감염되면 과거감염이건 현재 감염이건 현재의 핵산유사체 제제로 HBV DNA 증식을 억제하더라도 간조직내 cccDNA와 융합된 HBV DNA를 보유할 수 있으며 그 증거로는 HBsAg이 음성인 HCC 환자의 혈청이나 간조직에서 HBV DNA가 발견되는 빈도가 높다는 증거가 무수히 많고, 상황에 따라서는 간질환의 원인이 된다는 보고가 다수 있으므로 가장 완벽하고 확실한 예방법인 HBV 백신 접종이 무엇보다 필수적이며 전세계 대부분의 HCC 발생을 예방할 수 있다. 또한 현재 제시되고 있는 항바이러스제 치료기준은 혈청 간세포괴사치 상승을 조건으로 제한하는데 혈청 ALT치나 HBeAg 상태에 무관하게 간 조직의 상태나 HBV DNA치의 증가와 비례해서 간경변이나 HCC 발생의 위험이 높아진다는 사실이 중요하다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권7호
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• pp.696-703
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• 2008

Korea is now classified as an area of intermediate endemicity for hepatitis B virus (HBV), due to the implementation of universal HBV vaccination and national preventive programs for HBV infection. A national program of HBV vaccination was launched in Korea in 1988 for school-going children and was listed on a vaccination guideline in 1991. In 1995, universal vaccination for newborn infants was started for the prevention of perinatal HBV transmission. The prevalence of HBsAg among Korean middle school students has shown marked decreased from 3.2% in the late 1990s to 0.44% in 2007. HBsAg positivity in preschool children was 0.9% in 1995, decreased to 0.2% in 2007 by national prevention program of hepatitis B vertical transmission, launched in 2002. Vaccine failure rate of HBV immunoprophylaxis is 4.2% by this program. The infected children should be monitored per 6-12 months interval. Lamivudine and interferon are approved therapies for children with chronic hepatitis B in immune-clearance phase in Korea.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.440-447
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• 2000

In this study HepG2 cells were used to express and purify HBV pol proteins. In order to facilitate purification of HBV pol proteins, HBV pol and its deletion mutants were fused to MBP (Maltose Binding Protein). As a result we successfully expressed and partially purified both wild type and mutant recombinant HBV pol proteins by using an amylose resin and anti-MBP antibody. In the case of wild type, the anti-MBP antibody detected three bands. One was full-length and the others were generated by proteolysis of the terminal domain region. The expressed MBP/POL proteins were localized both in the cytoplasm and in the perinuclear region. The purified proteins had polymerase activity toward an exogenous homo-polymer template. The MBP/POL protein also had DNA synthesis activity in vivo, since the MBP/POL expression construct was able to complement a HBV polymerase mutant in trans.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권10호
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• pp.4643-4646
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• 2016

The CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) delta 32 allele results in a nonfunctional form of the chemokine receptor and has been implicated in a variety of immune-mediated diseases. $CCR5{\Delta}32$ may also predispose one to chronic liver disease or be linked with resistance to HBV infection. This study was undertaken to investigate any association between CCR5 polymorphism with resistance to hepatitis B or susceptibility to HBV infection. A total of 812 Iranian individuals were enrolled into two groups: HBV infected cases (n=357), who were HBsAg-positive, and healthy controls (n=455). We assessed polymorphisms in the CCR5 gene using specific CCR5 oligonucleotide primers surrounding the breakpoint deletion. Genotype distributions of the HBV infected cases and healthy controls were determined and compared. The CCR5/CCR5 (WW) and $CCR5/CCR5{\Delta}32$ (W/D) genotypes were found in (98%) and (2%) of HBV infected cases, respectively. The $CCR5{\Delta}32/{\Delta}32$genotype was not found in HBV infected cases. Genotype distributions of CCR5 in healthy controls were W/W genotype in (87.3%), W/D genotype in (11.2%) and D/D genotype in (1.5%). Heterozygosity for $CCR5/CCR5{\Delta}32$ (W/D) in healthy controls was greater than in HBV infected cases (11.2% vs 2%, p < 0.001). W/D and D/D genotypes were more prominent in healthy controls than in HBV infected cases. This study provides evidence that the $CCR5{\Delta}32$ polymorphism may have a protective effect in resistance to HBV infection at least in the Iranian population.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.365-370
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• 2012

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is often integrated into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although the relationship between HBV integration and HCC development has been widely studied, the role of HBV integration in HCC development is still not completely understood. In the present study, we constructed a pooled BAC library of 9 established cell lines derived from HCC patients with HBV infections. By amplifying viral genes and superpooling of BAC clones, we identified 2 clones harboring integrated HBV DNA. Screening of host-virus junctions by repeated sequencing revealed an HBV DNA integration site on chromosome 11q13 in the SNU-886 cell line. The structure and rearrangement of integrated HBV DNA were extensively analyzed. An inverted duplicated structure, with fusion of at least 2 HBV DNA molecules in opposite orientations, was identified in the region. The gene expression of cancer-related genes increased near the viral integration site in HCC cell line SNU-886.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권18호
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• pp.7563-7567
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• 2014

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the first cause of death in cirrhotic patients, mostly due to viral hepatitis with HCV or HBV infection. This study was performed to estimate the true prevalence of viral hepatitis-related HCC and the demographic and clinical-pathological associations with the two virus types. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional observational study enrolled clinical data base of 188 HCC patients and variables included from baseline were age, sex, area of residence, clinical-pathological features such as underlying co-morbidity, presence or absence of liver cirrhosis, macrovascular involvement, tumor extension and metastasis, liver lobes involved, serum alpha-fetoprotein level, and hepatitis serologies. Results: Overall prevalence of HCV- and HBV-related HCC was 66.0% and 34.0%, respectively. Patients with HCV were more likely to develop HCC at advanced age ($52.4{\pm}11.9$ vs. $40.7{\pm}12.09$ years), with highly raised serum AFP levels (${\geq}400ng/ml$) 78.2% (HBV 67.1%), large tumor size (HCV-66% >5 cm, HBV-59.3%), and presence of portal vein thrombosis (8.06%, HBV 1.56%). A binominal multivariate analysis showed that HCV-HCC group were more likely to be cirrhotic (OR=0.245, 95%CI: 0.117, 0.516) and had more than two times higher rate of solitary macrovascular involvement (OR=2.533, 95%CI: 1.162, 5.521) as compared with HBV associated HCC. Conclusions: Statistically significant variations were observed from baseline to clinical-pathological characteristics in HCV vs HBV associated HCC. Our study suggests prompt and early screening for high risk patients so that the rate of progression of these chronic viral diseases to cirrhosis and cancer can be decreased.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5489-5494
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• 2013

In the current study we aimed to show the common YMDD motif mutations in viral polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients during lamivudine and adefovir therapy. Forty-one serum samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients (24 male, 17 female; age range: 34-68 years) were included in the study. HBV-DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the patients using an extraction kit (Invisorb, Instant Spin DNA/RNA Virus Mini Kit, Germany). A line probe assay and direct sequencing analyses (INNO-LIPA HBV DR v2; INNOGENETICS N.V, Ghent, Belgium) were applied to determine target mutations of the viral polymerase gene in positive HBV-DNA samples. A total of 41 mutations located in 21 different codons were detected in the current results. In 17 (41.5%) patients various point mutations were detected leading to lamivudin, adefovir and/or combined drug resistance. Wild polymerase gene profiles were detected in 24 (58.5%) HBV positive patients of the current cohort. Eight of the 17 samples (19.5%) having rtM204V/I/A missense transition and/or transversion point mutations and resistance to lamivudin. Six of the the mutated samples (14.6%) having rtL180M missense transversion mutation and resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having rtG215H by the double base substituation and resistance to adefovir. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having codon rtL181W due to the missense transversion point mutations and showed resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Unreported novel point mutations were detected in the different codons of polymerase gene region in the current HBV positive cohort fromTurkish population. The current results provide evidence that rtL180M and rtM204V/I/A mutations of HBV-DNA may be associated with a poor antiviral response and HBV chronicity during conventional therapy in Turkish patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.233-239
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• 2024

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation has recently emerged as a significant co-transcriptional modification involved in regulating various RNA functions. It plays a vital function in numerous biological processes. Enzymes referred to as m6A methyltransferases, such as the methyltransferase-like (METTL) 3-METTL14-Wilms tumor 1 (WT1)-associated protein (WTAP) complex, are responsible for adding m6A modifications, while m6A demethylases, including fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) and alkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), can remove m6A methylation. The functions of m6A-methylated RNA are regulated through the recognition and interaction of m6A reader proteins. Recent research has shown that m6A methylation takes place at multiple sites within hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNAs, and the location of these modifications can differentially impact the HBV infection. The addition of m6A modifications to HBV RNA can influence its stability and translation, thereby affecting viral replication and pathogenesis. Furthermore, HBV infection can also alter the m6A modification pattern of host RNA, indicating the virus's ability to manipulate host cellular processes, including m6A modification. This manipulation aids in establishing chronic infection, promoting liver disease, and contributing to pathogenesis. A comprehensive understanding of the functional roles of m6A modification during HBV infection is crucial for developing innovative approaches to combat HBV-mediated liver disease. In this review, we explore the functions of m6A modification in HBV replication and its impact on the development of liver disease.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.126-132
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• 2000

The hepadnaviruses replicate their nucleic acid through a reverse transcription step. The MBP-fused HBV polymerase was expressed in E. coli and purified by using amylase affinity column chromatography. The purified protein represented DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity. In this report, the MBP-HBV polymerase was shown to lack 3'$\rightarrow$5' exonuclease activity, like other retroviral RTs. The ratio of the insertion efficiency for the wrong versus right vase pairs indicates the misinsertion frequency (f). The nucleotide insertion fidelity (1/f), observed with the MBP-HBV polymerase and HIV-1 RT, was between 60 and 54,000, and between 50 and 73,000, respectively, showing that they are in close range. A relatively efficient nucleotide incorporation by the MBP-HBV polymerase was observed with a specificity of three groups: (1) A : T, T : A>C : G, G : C (matched pairs), (2) A : C, C : A>G: T, T : G (purine-pyrimidine and pyrimidine-purine mispairs), and (3) C : C, A : A, G : G, T : T>T : C, C : T>A : G, G : A (purine-purine or pyrimidine-pyrimidine mispairs), and their order is (1)>(2)>(3). The data from the nucleotide insertion fidelity by the MBP-HBV polymerase suggest that the HBV polymerase may be as error-prone as HIV-1 RT.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제26권9호
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• pp.1385-1389
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• 2005

Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a pathogen related to the development of liver diseases including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the efficient methods to suppress HBV replication have not been developed yet. Therefore, we have used RNA interference (RNAi) as a potential tool for the suppression of HBV replication. Here, we designed a 21 nt small intefering dsRNA (siRNA) against hepatitis B virus X (HBx) RNA with 3' overhanging ends derived from T7 promoter. It has been reported that HBV X protein plays an important role in HBV gene expression and viral replication. The suppression of HBx gene expression by the 21 nt siRNA was investigated by Northern blot analysis and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) assay. The level of HBx mRNA was decreased by siRNA in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that the 21 nt siRNA inhibited the HBV replication in hepatocellular carcinoma cell.