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

Oncotarget. 2017 Feb 28;8(9):15704-15715. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.14944.

Abstract

Background: An impaired HBsAg-secretion can increase HBV oncogenic-properties. Here, we investigate genetic-determinants in HBsAg correlated with HBV-induced 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.

Keywords: HBsAg mutations; cell proliferation; hepatitis B; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatocellular carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / genetics*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / metabolism
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis B virus / metabolism
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / pathology*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / virology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Mutation*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens