Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health concern worldwide, with approximately 296 million individuals chronically infected. The HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) is a regulatory protein of 17 kDa, reportedly responsible for a broad range of functions, including viral replication an...

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Main Authors: Dong Li, Yassir Hamadalnil, Thomas Tu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/9/1361
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author Dong Li
Yassir Hamadalnil
Thomas Tu
author_facet Dong Li
Yassir Hamadalnil
Thomas Tu
author_sort Dong Li
collection DOAJ
description Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health concern worldwide, with approximately 296 million individuals chronically infected. The HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) is a regulatory protein of 17 kDa, reportedly responsible for a broad range of functions, including viral replication and oncogenic processes. In this review, we summarize the state of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying HBx functions in viral replication, the antiviral effect of therapeutics directed against HBx, and the role of HBx in liver cancer development (including a hypothetical model of hepatocarcinogenesis). We conclude by highlighting major unanswered questions in the field and the implications of their answers.
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spelling doaj-art-dd6fedcebb074966b795176281566fa42025-08-20T01:56:13ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-08-01169136110.3390/v16091361Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and HepatocarcinogenesisDong Li0Yassir Hamadalnil1Thomas Tu2The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine, Nile University, Khartoum HJW8+2P2, SudanThe Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, AustraliaHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health concern worldwide, with approximately 296 million individuals chronically infected. The HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) is a regulatory protein of 17 kDa, reportedly responsible for a broad range of functions, including viral replication and oncogenic processes. In this review, we summarize the state of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying HBx functions in viral replication, the antiviral effect of therapeutics directed against HBx, and the role of HBx in liver cancer development (including a hypothetical model of hepatocarcinogenesis). We conclude by highlighting major unanswered questions in the field and the implications of their answers.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/9/1361hepadnavirusHBV DNA integrationcccDNADBB1hepatocellular carcinomaHCC
spellingShingle Dong Li
Yassir Hamadalnil
Thomas Tu
Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis
Viruses
hepadnavirus
HBV DNA integration
cccDNA
DBB1
hepatocellular carcinoma
HCC
title Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis
title_full Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis
title_fullStr Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis
title_full_unstemmed Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis
title_short Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis
title_sort hepatitis b viral protein hbx roles in viral replication and hepatocarcinogenesis
topic hepadnavirus
HBV DNA integration
cccDNA
DBB1
hepatocellular carcinoma
HCC
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/9/1361
work_keys_str_mv AT dongli hepatitisbviralproteinhbxrolesinviralreplicationandhepatocarcinogenesis
AT yassirhamadalnil hepatitisbviralproteinhbxrolesinviralreplicationandhepatocarcinogenesis
AT thomastu hepatitisbviralproteinhbxrolesinviralreplicationandhepatocarcinogenesis