Downregulation of Gsk3β and Upregulation of Urg7 in Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Publisher



Javanmard D¹ ; Karbalaie Niya MH² ; Kalafkhany D³ ; Najafi M⁴ ; Ziaee M⁵ ; Babaei MR⁶ ; Kiani SJ¹ ; Esghaei M¹ ; Jazayeri SM⁷ ; Panahi M² ; Safarnezhad Tameshkel F² ; Mehrabi M⁸ ; Monavari SH¹ ; Bokharaeisalim F¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Hepatitis Monthly Published:2020

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The exact molecular contributors to the development of HBV-related HCC are not yet completely understood. Recent studies demonstrated that the deregulation of the Wnt pathway is highly associated with the development of HCC. Besides, HBV is known to have roles in the deregulation of this pathway. The present study evaluated the molecular aspects of the Wnt pathway in HBV-related HCC in liver tissue samples. Viral characterization was done by identifying the HBx mutations and the assessment of intrahepatic viral load. The expression of Wnt pathway genes was assessed using real-time PCR and methylation-specific PCR. The intrahepatic viral load was significantly higher in tumor samples than in normal tissues (P = 0.0008). Aberrant expression was observed in Wnt-1, Wnt-7a, FZD2, FZD7, β-catenin, URG7, c-Myc, SFRP5, and GSK3β, among which Wnt1, FZD2, SFRP5, Gsk3β, and URG7 were associated with HBV. HBx mutations at positions M88, V116, and 127 + 123 were associated with the decreased expression of GSK3β and overexpression of URG7 and Wnt1. Alterations in the expression level of β-catenin, as well as some mutants of HBx, were correlated with the level of c-Myc. HBV-related HCC seems to be mostly coordinated with epigenetic behaviors of HBx, such a multi-functional peptide with suppressing/trans-activating functions. © 2020, Author(s).