• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2000.12a
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• pp.39-43
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• 2000

HBV는 인체에 감염하여 간염, 간경변 및 간암을 유발하는 hepadnaviruses의 일종으로써 임상적으로 매우 중요한 바이러스이다. 그러나 이 바이러스에 의한 간암(HCC)의 발생 메커니즘은 아직 불확실하다. 최근에는 HBV의 X 단백질(HBx)이 간암 발생에 중요한 역할을 수행하는 것으로 보고되고 있다. HBx 단백질은 전사 활성인자(transcriptional activator)로써 숙주세포의 유전자발현에 영향을 미치어 세포증식 및 분화에 영향을 줄 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 HBx 단백질이 NIH 3T3 cell의 증식 및 형질전환에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. HBx 단백질을 발현하는 세포주는 정상세포에 비하여 증식 속도가 2배 정도 빠르며, soft agar assay 결과에 의하면 대조군과 비교하여 더 많은 수의 colony를 형성하였다. 또한, 이들 HBx 발현 세포들은 접촉 저해 능력을 상실하여 HBx가 세포 형질 전환 능력을 가짐을 알수 있다 또한 HBx 발현 세포주에 있어서 p21의 RNA 및 protein수준이 정상세포에 비하여 낮으므로 HBx에 의한 증식 촉진 및 세포 형질 전환이 p21을 매개하여 이루어 짐을 알 수 있었다. HBx에 의한 p21 유전자의 발현 감소는 p21의 전사 수준에서 이루어지며 이는 p53-비의존적 경로에 의하여 이루어졌다.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.330-335
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• 2019

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encoding the HBV x protein (HBx) is a known causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its pathogenic activities in HCC include interference with several signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mutant C-terminal-truncated HBx isoforms are frequently found in human HCC and have been shown to enhance proliferation and invasiveness leading to HCC malignancy. We investigated the molecular mechanism of the reduced doxorubicin cytotoxicity by C-terminal truncated HBx. Cells transfected with C-terminal truncated HBx exhibited reduced cytotoxicity to doxorubicin compared to those transfected with full-length HBx. The doxorubicin resistance of cells expressing C-terminal truncated HBx correlated with upregulation of the ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1(ABCB1) transporter, resulting in the enhanced efflux of doxorubicin. Inhibiting the activity of ABCB1 and silencing ABCB1 expression by small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) increased the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin. These results indicate that elevated ABCB1 expression induced by C-terminal truncation of HBx was responsible for doxorubicin resistance in HCC. Hence, co-treatment with an ABCB1 inhibitor and an anticancer agent may be effective for the treatment of patients with liver cancer containing the C-terminal truncated HBx.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.614-619
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• 2021

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a highly aggressive cancer. HBV X protein (HBx), one of four HBV gene products, plays pivotal roles in the development and metastasis of HCC. It has been reported that HBx induces liver cancer cell migration and reorganizes actin cytoskeleton, however the molecular basis for actin cytoskeleton reorganization remains obscure. In this study, we for the first time report that HBx promotes actin polymerization and liver cancer cell migration by regulating calcium modulated protein, calmodulin (CaM). HBx physically interacts with CaM to control the level of phosphorylated cofilin, an actin depolymerizing factor. Mechanistically, HBx interacts with CaM, liberates Hsp90 from its inhibitory partner CaM, and increases the activity of Hsp90, thus activating LIMK1/cofilin pathway. Interestingly, the interaction between HBx and CaM is calcium-dependent and requires the CaM binding motif on HBx. These results indicate that HBx modulates CaM which plays a regulatory role in Hsp90/LIMK1/cofilin pathway of actin reorganization, suggesting a new mechanism of HBV-induced HCC metastasis specifically derived by HBx.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.122-137
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• 2005

The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is highly linked with liver diseases and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. HBx-interacting protein (XIP) has been shown to abolish the transactivation functions of HBx. Here, we define the structural characteristics and HBx binding properties of XIP. Under physiological conditions, XIP was composed mainly of random-coils but significant helicity was induced in the hydrophobic condition. NMR spectroscopy defined the secondary structure of XIP in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Four putative helices were mapped to the amino acids 8-12, 32-38, 42-54 and 82-91. Any deletion of defined putative helices in XIP led to loss of binding to HBx, and truncated mutant lacking last putative helix decreased helicity more than that it could. Our results suggest that XIP requires its entire sequence for HBx binding and it may be under drastic conformational change when binds to HBx.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.37.1-37.17
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• 2021

Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein has been reported as a key protein regulating the pathogenesis of HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent evidence has shown that HBx is implicated in the activation of autophagy in hepatic cells. Nevertheless, the precise molecular and cellular mechanism by which HBx induces autophagy is still controversial. Herein, we investigated the molecular and cellular mechanism by which HBx is involved in the TRAF6-BECN1-Bcl-2 signaling for the regulation of autophagy in response to TLR4 stimulation, therefore influencing the HCC progression. HBx interacts with BECN1 (Beclin 1) and inhibits the association of the BECN1-Bcl-2 complex, which is known to prevent the assembly of the pre-autophagosomal structure. Furthermore, HBx enhances the interaction between VPS34 and TRAF6-BECN1 complex, increases the ubiquitination of BECN1, and subsequently enhances autophagy induction in response to LPS stimulation. To verify the functional role of HBx in liver cancer progression, we utilized different HCC cell lines, HepG2, SK-Hep-1, and SNU-761. HBx-expressing HepG2 cells exhibited enhanced cell migration, invasion, and cell mobility in response to LPS stimulation compared to those of control HepG2 cells. These results were consistently observed in HBx-expressed SK-Hep-1 and HBx-expressed SNU-761 cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that HBx positively regulates the induction of autophagy through the inhibition of the BECN1-Bcl-2 complex and enhancement of the TRAF6-BECN1-VPS34 complex, leading to enhance liver cancer migration and invasion.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2003

Background: Intracellular antibody specific to hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) might be useful for studying the role of HBx in hepatocellular carcinogenesis and HBV replication. Methods: With variable region genes for H7 monoclonal anti-HBx Ab, we constructed a vector for bacterial expression of single chain Ab (scFv) and a vector for eukaryotic cell expression of it. The expression of H7 scFv and its binding activity against HBx was examined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: H7 scFv expressed in bacterial cells retained reactivity to HBx. We demonstrated its intracytoplasmic expression in CosM6 eukaryotic cells. Conclusion: This is the first study showing the expression of intracellular anti-HBx Ab in eukaryotic cells. H7 scFv may be a good tool to study the function of HBx in HBV infection.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2019

Methylation of HBV cccDNA has been detected in vivo and in vitro; however, the mechanism and its effects on HBV replication remain unclear. HBx derived from a 1.2-mer HBV replicon upregulated protein levels and enzyme activities of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), 3a, and 3b, resulting in methylation of the negative regulatory region (NRE) in cccDNA, while none of these effects were observed with an HBx-null mutant. The HBx-positive HBV cccDNA expressed higher levels of HBc and produced about 4-fold higher levels of HBV particles than those from the HBx-null counterpart. For these effects, HBx interrupted the action of NRE binding protein via methylation of the C-1619 within NRE, resulting in activation of the core promoter. Treatment with 5-Aza-2′dC or DNMT1 knock-down drastically impaired the ability of HBx to activate the core promoter and stimulate HBV replication in 1.2-mer HBV replicon and in vitro infection systems, indicating the positive role of HBx-mediated cccDNA methylation in HBV replication.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 2008

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is essential for hepatitis B virus infection and exerts a pleiotropic effect on various cellular machineries. HBx has been also demonstrated as an indirect transcriptional transactivator of various different viral and cellular promoters. In addition, HBx is involved in the development of various liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma. However the mechanism of HBx in hepatocellular carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. In this study, to identify possible new cellular proteins interacting with HBx, we carried out yeast two-hybrid assay. We obtained several possible cellular partners including VBP1, a binding factor for VHL tumor suppressor protein. The direct physical interaction between HBx and VBP1 in vitro and in vivo was confirmed by immunoprecipitation assay. In addition, we found that VBP1 facilitates HBx-induced $NF{\kappa}B$ activation and cell proliferation. These results implicate the important role of HBx in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma through its interaction with VBP1.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.126-134
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• 2010

Background: $CD8^+$ T cells contribute to the clearance of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and an insufficient $CD8^+$ T cell response may be one of the major factors leading to chronic HBV infection. Since the HBx antigen of HBV can up-regulate cellular expression of several immunomodulatory molecules, we hypothesized that HBx expression in hepatocytes might affect $CD8^+$ T cell activity. Methods: We analyzed the activation and apoptosis of $CD8^+$ T cells co-cultured with primary hepatocytes rendered capable of expressing HBx by recombinant baculovirus infection. Results: Expression of HBx in hepatocytes induced low production of $interferon-{\gamma}$ and apoptosis of CD8+ T cells, with no effect on CD8 T cell proliferation. However, transcriptional levels of H-2K, ICAM-1 and PD-1 ligand did not correlate with HBx expression in hepatocytes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that HBx may inhibit $CD8^+$ T cell response by regulation of $interferon-{\gamma}$ production and apoptosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.6 s.86
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• pp.766-771
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• 2007

The co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is associated with a more severe liver disease and increased frequency in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma com-pared to those with single infection. Here, we demonstrated that HBV X protein (HBx) and HCV Core cooperatively up-regulated the level of p53 in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The elevated p53 subsequently stimulated the expression of proapoptotic Bax whereas it repressed the expression of antiapoptotic Bcl2. These effects, however, were not observed in p53-negative Hep3B cells. Consistently to their cooperative regulation of apoptotic effectors, HBx and HCV Core additively stimulated cisplatin-mediated apoptotic cell death of HepG2 but not of Hep3B cells. These results may help to explain the development of a more severe liver disease in patients co-infection with HBV and HCV as well as some contradictory results on the roles of HBx and Core in apoptosis.