Background: An impaired HBsAg-secretion can increase HBV oncogenicproperties. Here, we investigate genetic-determinants in HBsAg correlated with HBVinduced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and their impact on HBsAg-secretion and cell-proliferation. Methods: This study included 128 chronically HBV-infected patients: 23 with HCC (73.9% D; 26.1% A HBV-genotype), and 105 without cirrhosis/HCC (72.4% D, 27.6% A) as reference-group. The impact of mutations on HBsAg-secretion was assessed by measuring the ratio [secreted/intracellular HBsAg] until day 5 post-transfection. The impact of mutations on cell-cycle advancement was assessed by flow-cytometry. Results: Two HBsAg mutations significantly correlated with HCC: P203Q (17.4% [4/23] in HCC vs 1.0% [1/105] in non-HCC, P=0.004); S210R (34.8% [8/23] in HCC vs 3.8% [4/105] in non-HCC, P < 0.001); P203Q+S210R (17.4% [4/23] in HCC vs 0% [0/110] in non-HCC, P=0.001). Both mutations reside in trans-membrane C-terminal domain critical for HBsAg-secretion. In in-vitro experiments, P203Q, S210R and P203Q+S210R significantly reduced the ratio [secreted/intracellular HBsAg] compared to wt at each time-point analysed (P < 0.05), supporting an impaired HBsAg-secretion. Furthermore, P203Q and P203Q+S210R increased the percentage of cells in S-phase compared to wt, indicating cell-cycle progression (P203Q:26±13%; P203Q+S210R:29±14%; wt:18%±9, P < 0.01. Additionally, S210R increased the percentage of cells in G2/M-phase (26±8% for wt versus 33±6% for S210R, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Specific mutations in HBsAg C-terminus significantly correlate with HBV-induced HCC. They hamper HBsAg-secretion and are associated with increased cellular proliferation, supporting their involvement in HCC-development. The identification of viral genetic markers associated with HCC is critical to identify patients at higher HCC-risk that may deserve intensive liver monitoring, and/or early anti-HBV therapy.

Novel HBsAg mutations correlate with hepatocellular carcinoma, hamper HBsAg secretion and promote cell proliferation in vitro / Salpini, R.; Surdo, M.; Warner, N.; Cortese, M. F.; Colledge, D.; Soppe, S.; Bellocchi, M. C.; Armenia, D.; Carioti, L.; Continenza, F.; Di Carlo, D.; Saccomandi, P.; Mirabelli, C.; Pollicita, M.; Longo, R.; Romano, S.; Cappiello, G.; Spano, A.; Trimoulet, P.; Fleury, H.; Vecchiet, J.; Iapadre, N.; Barlattani, A.; Bertoli, A.; Mari, T.; Pasquazzi, C.; Missale, G.; Sarrecchia, C.; Orecchini, E.; Michienzi, A.; Andreoni, M.; Francioso, S.; Angelico, M.; Verheyen, J.; Ceccherini-Silberstein, F.; Locarnini, S.; Perno, C. F.; Svicher, V.. - In: ONCOTARGET. - ISSN 1949-2553. - 8:9(2017), pp. 15704-15715. [10.18632/oncotarget.14944]

Novel HBsAg mutations correlate with hepatocellular carcinoma, hamper HBsAg secretion and promote cell proliferation in vitro

Mirabelli C.;Pasquazzi C.;Sarrecchia C.;Orecchini E.;
2017

Abstract

Background: An impaired HBsAg-secretion can increase HBV oncogenicproperties. Here, we investigate genetic-determinants in HBsAg correlated with HBVinduced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and their impact on HBsAg-secretion and cell-proliferation. Methods: This study included 128 chronically HBV-infected patients: 23 with HCC (73.9% D; 26.1% A HBV-genotype), and 105 without cirrhosis/HCC (72.4% D, 27.6% A) as reference-group. The impact of mutations on HBsAg-secretion was assessed by measuring the ratio [secreted/intracellular HBsAg] until day 5 post-transfection. The impact of mutations on cell-cycle advancement was assessed by flow-cytometry. Results: Two HBsAg mutations significantly correlated with HCC: P203Q (17.4% [4/23] in HCC vs 1.0% [1/105] in non-HCC, P=0.004); S210R (34.8% [8/23] in HCC vs 3.8% [4/105] in non-HCC, P < 0.001); P203Q+S210R (17.4% [4/23] in HCC vs 0% [0/110] in non-HCC, P=0.001). Both mutations reside in trans-membrane C-terminal domain critical for HBsAg-secretion. In in-vitro experiments, P203Q, S210R and P203Q+S210R significantly reduced the ratio [secreted/intracellular HBsAg] compared to wt at each time-point analysed (P < 0.05), supporting an impaired HBsAg-secretion. Furthermore, P203Q and P203Q+S210R increased the percentage of cells in S-phase compared to wt, indicating cell-cycle progression (P203Q:26±13%; P203Q+S210R:29±14%; wt:18%±9, P < 0.01. Additionally, S210R increased the percentage of cells in G2/M-phase (26±8% for wt versus 33±6% for S210R, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Specific mutations in HBsAg C-terminus significantly correlate with HBV-induced HCC. They hamper HBsAg-secretion and are associated with increased cellular proliferation, supporting their involvement in HCC-development. The identification of viral genetic markers associated with HCC is critical to identify patients at higher HCC-risk that may deserve intensive liver monitoring, and/or early anti-HBV therapy.
2017
Cell proliferation; HBsAg mutations; hepatitis B; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatocellular carcinoma; adult; aged; carcinoma, hepatocellular; cell cycle; cell proliferation; female; gene frequency; genotype; hepatitis B surface antigens; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis B, chronic; host-pathogen Interactions; humans; liver neoplasms; male; middle; multivariate analysis; risk factors; mutation
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Novel HBsAg mutations correlate with hepatocellular carcinoma, hamper HBsAg secretion and promote cell proliferation in vitro / Salpini, R.; Surdo, M.; Warner, N.; Cortese, M. F.; Colledge, D.; Soppe, S.; Bellocchi, M. C.; Armenia, D.; Carioti, L.; Continenza, F.; Di Carlo, D.; Saccomandi, P.; Mirabelli, C.; Pollicita, M.; Longo, R.; Romano, S.; Cappiello, G.; Spano, A.; Trimoulet, P.; Fleury, H.; Vecchiet, J.; Iapadre, N.; Barlattani, A.; Bertoli, A.; Mari, T.; Pasquazzi, C.; Missale, G.; Sarrecchia, C.; Orecchini, E.; Michienzi, A.; Andreoni, M.; Francioso, S.; Angelico, M.; Verheyen, J.; Ceccherini-Silberstein, F.; Locarnini, S.; Perno, C. F.; Svicher, V.. - In: ONCOTARGET. - ISSN 1949-2553. - 8:9(2017), pp. 15704-15715. [10.18632/oncotarget.14944]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Salpini_Novel-HBsAg_2017.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 1.9 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.9 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1415943
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 5
  • Scopus 8
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 9
social impact