Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Dec 27, 2014; 6(12): 851-859
Published online Dec 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i12.851
How did hepatitis B virus effect the host genome in the last decade?
Pinar Ozkal-Baydin
Pinar Ozkal-Baydin, Ankara University, Stem Cell Institute, 06520 Ankara, Turkey
Author contributions: Ozkal-Baydin P solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Pinar Ozkal-Baydin, PhD, Ankara University, Stem Cell Institute, Ceyhun Atuf Kansu Street, Cevizlidere, 06520 Ankara, Turkey. ozkal@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-312-5836601
Received: April 25, 2014
Revised: September 23, 2014
Accepted: October 14, 2014
Published online: December 27, 2014
Processing time: 231 Days and 22.1 Hours
Abstract

The principal reason of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is chronic viral hepatitis all over the world. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has some mutagenic effects on the host genome. HBV may be exhibiting these mutagenic effects through integrating into the host genome, through its viral proteins or through some epigenetic mechanisms related with HBV proteins. This review aims to summarize the molecular mechanisms used by HBV for effecting host genome determined in the last decade. The focus will be on the effects of integration, HBV proteins, especially HBV X protein and epigenetic mechanisms on the host genome. These interactions between HBV and the host genome also forms the underlying mechanisms of the evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Host genome; Integration; Hepatitis B virus proteins; Epigenetic

Core tip: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has some mutagenic effects on the host genome. This review aims to summarize the molecular mechanisms used by HBV for effecting host genome determined in the last decade.