Presence of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA sequences in cellular DNA of human hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be one of the agents involved in the aetiology of human primary liver cancer. This hypothesis is supported by (1) the similarity between the geographical distribution of chronic carriers of the viral surface antigen (HBsAg) and that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); (2) the increase in the prevalence of HBV markers in serum of patients with primary liver cancer when compared with the general population; (3) the observation that HBV infection precedes the development of the tumour. Moreover, these epidemiological indications of an association between HBV infecton and hepatocellular carcinoma are supported by the detection of HBV markers such as HBsAg or viral DNA sequences, although in a non-integrated form in tumour tissue. To study the relationship between HBV and primary liver cancer further, we looked for the presence of free or integrated viral DNA in tumour tissue of human hepatocellular carcinomas and in a HBsAg-producing human hepatoma cell line. Using the blot-transfer hybridization technique and cloned HBV DNA as a probe, we have now demonstrated that the viral DNA is integrated in the cellular genome both in tumour tissue and in a hepatoma cell line.     

Controlled synthesis of HBsAg in a differentiated human liver carcinoma-derived cell line.

A significant aspect of primary hepatic carcinoma in man is the high positive correlation of hepatocellular carcinoma with infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV)1. Analysis of the relationship between HBV infection and oncogenesis is difficult because natural infection with HBV is limited to man and experimental infection has been achieved only in chimpanzees and gibbons. Furthermore, because HBV has not been successfully propagated in cell culture, basic study of virus-cell interaction of the aetiological agent of one of the most widespread infections of man has been impossible. Recently, however, a cell line (PLC/PRF/5) derived from a human hepatoma biopsy was described which produces the HRV surface antigen (HBsAg) and so provides a tool for the experimental investigation of HBV in viro. We now report the derivation and characterisation of two additional cell lines primary liver carcinomas. In contrast to the PLC/PRF/5 cell line, these cell lines retain the capacity to synthesise many human plasma proteins, including both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). One of these lines also produces BHsAg. We also present evidence that HBsAg synthesis and secretion in this cell line are correlated with the growth state of the culture. This finding is in contrast to the continuous HBsAg production found in the PLC/PRF/5 cell line.     

Human hepatitis B vaccine from recombinant yeast

The worldwide importance of human hepatitis B virus infection and the toll it takes in chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma, make it imperative that a vaccine be developed for worldwide application. Human hepatitis B vaccines are presently prepared using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) that is purified from the plasma of human carriers of hepatitis B virus infection. The preparation of hepatitis B vaccine from a human source is restricted by the available supply of infected human plasma and by the need to apply stringent processes that purify the antigen and render it free of infectious hepatitis B virus and other possible living agents that might be present in the plasma. Joint efforts between our laboratories and those of Drs W. Rutter and B. Hall led to the preparation of vectors carrying the DNA sequence for HBsAg and antigen expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we describe the development of hepatitis B vaccine of yeast cell origin. HBsAg of subtype adw was produced in recombinant yeast cell culture, and the purified antigen in alum formulation stimulated production of antibody in mice, grivet monkeys and chimpanzees. Vaccinated chimpanzees were totally protected when challenged intravenously with either homologous or heterologous subtype adr and ayw virus of human serum source. This is the first example of a vaccine produced from recombinant cells which is effective against a human viral infection.     

Hepatitis B polypeptide vaccine preparation in micelle form

The immunoprophylaxis of hepatitis B is hampered by the lack of a technique for growing hepatitis B virus (HBV) in tissue culture. Plasma from persistently infected individuals, one source of viral antigen, contains characteristic 22-nm spherical particles which share a common antigen (the hepatitis B surface antigen or HBsAg) with the outer envelope of the 42-nm double-shelled DNA virus. Highly purified inactivated 22-nm particles have been shown to be safe and to confer protective immunity against HBV in a recent large-scale clinical trial. We have already described the extraction from the particles of a complex of two proteins which are antigenic determinants of HBV--the polypeptide with molecular weight (MW) between 22,000 and 24,000 (called p23) and the glycosylated polypeptide (called gp28) with MW in the range 26,000--29,000 which is thought to be the glycosylated form of p23. We now report the preparation from this complex of water-soluble protein micelles which may be a suitable basis for a second-generation hepatitis B vaccine.     

RNA interference-mediated inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus replication

Persistent and recurrent infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) represents one of the most common and severe viral infections of humans, and has caused a formidable health problem in the affected countries. Currently used antiviral drugs have a very limited success on controlling HBV replication and infection. RNA interference (RNAi), a process by which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) directs sequence-specific degradation of target mRNA in mammalian and plant cells, has recently been used to knockdown gene expression in various species. In this study, we sought to determine whether RNAi-mediated silencing of HBV viral gene expression could lead to the effective inhibition of HBV replication. We first developed RNAi vectors that expressed small interfering RNA (siRNA) and targeted the HBV core or surface gene sequence. Our results demonstrated that these specific siRNAs efficiently reduced the levels of corresponding viral RNAs and proteins, and thus suppressed viral replication. Treatment with siRNA gave the greatest reduction in the levels of HBsAg (92%) and in HBeAg (85%) respectively in the cultured cell medium. Our findings further demonstrated that the RNAi-mediated antiviral effect was sequence-specific and dose-dependent. Therefore, our findings strongly suggest that RNAi-mediated silencing of HBV viral genes could effectively inhibit the replication of HBV, hence RNAi-based strategy should be further explored as a more efficacious antiviral therapy of HBV infection.     

吉林地区病毒性肝炎分型分析

目的 了解吉林地区病毒性肝炎的型别分布及感染状况．方法 采用ELlSA法检测．结果 男性检出39例，女性检出21例，检出HAV23例，占38％；HBV25例，占42％，NCV6例，占10％；HVD未检出，HEV4例，占7％，HGV2例，占3％．乙型肝炎检出率最高，其次为甲型肝炎、丙型肝炎、戊型肝炎、庚型肝炎．丁型肝炎检出率为0．单纯感染56例；1例甲、丙、庚三重感染，1例为甲、乙二重感染．结论 甲、乙型肝炎仍为吉林地区人群感染的主要病原．     

Nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for the major protein of hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

DNA extracted from hepatitis B virus Dane particles has been cloned in bacteria using a plasmid vector. A full-length clone has been examined by restriction endonuclease analysis, and the nucleotide sequence of an 892-base pair fragment from cloned hepatitis B viral DNA encoding the surface antigen gene is reported. The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA indicates that the surface antigens is a protein consisting of 226 amino acids and with a molecular weight of 25,398. The portion of the gene coding for this protein apparently contains no intervening sequences.     

Hepatitis B virus DNA integration in a sequence homologous to v-erb-A and steroid receptor genes in a hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is clearly involved in the aetiology of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the finding of HBV DNA integration into human liver DNA in almost all HCCs studied suggested that these integrated viral sequences may be involved in liver oncogenesis. Several HBV integrations in different HCCs and HCC-derived cell lines have been analysed after molecular cloning without revealing any obvious role for HBV. From a comparison of a HBV integration site present in a particular HCC with the corresponding unoccupied site in the non-tumorous tissue of the same liver, we now report that HBV integration places the viral sequence next to a liver cell sequence which bears a striking resemblance to both an oncogene (v-erb-A) and the supposed DNA-binding domain of the human glucocorticoid receptor and human oestrogen receptor genes. We suggest that this gene, usually silent or transcribed at a very low level in normal hepatocytes, becomes inappropriately expressed as a consequence of HBV integration, thus contributing to the cell transformation.     

乙型肝炎病毒蛋白及COX-2在乙肝相关性肝细胞癌发展与转移中的作用机制

目的探讨乙型肝炎病毒蛋白及环氧合酶-2(COX-2)在乙肝相关性肝细胞癌发展与转移中的作用机制.方法取42例慢性乙肝患者行穿刺活检时乙型肝炎病毒ccc DNA为阳性乙肝相关性肝细胞癌组织;另取同期手术切除的11例ccc DNA为阴性的非乙型肝炎相关性肝癌组织.免疫组化法检测乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白、COX-2、CD34的表达水平,Werdner法计算微血管密度;分析上述因子与乙肝相关性肝细胞癌组织微血管生成的相关性.RT-PCR和Western blot检测人肝癌细胞系(HepG2)和稳定转染乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HepG2-X)细胞中COX-2mRNA和蛋白表达情况;ELISA法检测细胞上清液中PGE2表达水平和不同浓度COX-2抑制剂塞来昔布作用后PGE2水平.结果乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阳性表达组织中COX-2阳性率明显高于乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阴性表达组织和非乙型肝炎相关性肝癌组织(P0.01).乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阳性表达组织中早期癌症微血管密度明显低于进展期癌症组织,乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阴性表达组织中微血管密度明显低于阳性表达组织(P0.01);COX-2阳性表达组织中微血管密度明显高于COX-2阴性表达组织(P0.01);非乙型肝炎相关性肝癌组织中微血管密度明显低于乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白、COX-2阳性表达组织(P0.01),与乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阴性表达组织和COX-2阴性表达组织之间差异无统计学意义(P0.05);乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白、COX-2在乙型肝炎相关性人肝细胞癌组织微血管生成呈正相关.HepG2-X细胞中COX-2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平明显高于空载体对照HepG2细胞,并且细胞培养上清液中PGE2水平明显增加;与HepG2细胞相比,塞来昔布对HepG2-X细胞分泌PGE2具有更强的抑制作用.结论乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白、COX-2在乙肝相关性肝细胞癌组织中高表达,促进了癌组织微血管生成;乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白可通过COX-2/PEG2信号通路促进了肝癌的发生和发展.     

乙肝病毒感染数量的一个数学模型

乙型肝炎是由乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)引起的肝病,该病毒干扰肝功能并造成病理损害.一小部分受感染者无法消灭该病毒而成为慢性感染,进而面临极高的死于肝硬化和肝癌的危险.乙型肝炎病毒通过与受感染者的血液或体液接触传播,这与人类免疫缺陷病毒(艾滋病毒)的方式相同.但是,乙型肝炎病毒的感染性比艾滋病毒高50至100倍.接种乙型肝炎疫苗是预防乙型肝炎的主要方法.如何有效防控乙肝的传染,不只是政府的事,也是每个国民应关注的问题.文章建立一个乙肝病毒传染的数学模型,并对模型进行实证分析;同时,对乙肝病毒的传染也做了一个预测.     

Biosynthesis of hepatitis B virus surface antigen in Escherichia coli

Hepatitis B is a widespread viral disease. In the absence of cell cultures capable of propagating the virus (HBV) an efficient vaccine has been prepared from viral envelopes isolated from the plasma of chronic carriers. The major polypeptide of the envelope is one of molecular weight 25,000 which carries the surface antigen (HBsAg). Therefore, the biosynthesis of this polypeptide in Escherichia coli may offer an alternative procedure to produce HbsAg free from human proteins. Recently, the HBV genome has been cloned in E.coli. Determination of its primary structure allowed the localization of the gene (called gene S) coding for HBsAg and the synthesis of the core antigen in E.coli has been reported. We have constructed a derivative of bacteriophage lambda carrying a fusion between the beta-galactosidase gene (lacZ) and the HBsAg coding sequence (lambdalacHBs-1). Infection of E.coli with lambdalacHBs-1 leads to the biosynthesis of a polypeptide of molecular weitht 138,000 carrying antigenic determinants of HBV surface antigen.     

Solid lipid nanoparticles loading adefovir dipivoxil for antiviral therapy

Herein, solid lipid nanoparticles （SLN） were proposed as a new drug delivery system for adefovir dipivoxil （ADV）. The octadecylamine-fluorescein isothiocynate （ODA-FITC） was synthesized and used as a fluorescence maker to be incorporated into SLN to investigate the time-dependent cellular uptake of SLN by HepG2.2.15. The SLN of monostearin with ODA-FITC or ADV were prepared by solvent diffusion method in an aqueous system. About 15 wt% drug entrapment efficiency （EE） and 3 wt% drug loading （DL） could be reached in SLN loading ADV. Comparing with free ADV, the inhibitory effects of ADV loaded in SLN on hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg）, hepatitis B e antigen （HBeAg） and hepatitis B virus （HBV） DNA levels in vitro were significantly enhanced.     

Overview of HBV whole genome data in public repositories and the Chinese HBV reference sequences

The number of Hepatitis B virus （HBV） whole genomic sequences in public nucleotide databases （GenBank, EMBL, and DDBJ） had reached 866 by January 1, 2007. Coming from 46 countries and regions, these sequences were categorized as eight genotypes （A-H）. With the statistical and phylogenetic analysis on all available complete genomic data of HBV, we here present an overview of HBV sequences in public databases. From all registered 229 HBV genomes in Chinese regions as well as 59 sequencing data from our research group, we report the establishment of reference sequences of HBV strains prevailing in China. These analyses provide clues for the effects of HBV genotypes in host clinical progressions, geographic distribution of the infection, and the viral evolutionary history. Moreover, the viral sequence reference would be helpful in the identification of various HBV mutations. Based on the analysis of various public databases, we suggest that the Chinese HBV database with the clinical information should be constructed.     

树对人乙型肝炎病毒易感性的验证

为验证树对人乙型肝炎病毒 (HBV)的易感性 ,用含 HBV的人血清接种给 10只成年树 (雌雄各半 )。然后每周抽血 1次 ,每只动物共抽血 11次。用不同公司生产的 EL ISA试剂检测接种后的动物血清感染指标。实验观察至 13周 ,结果分别有 9只和 7只动物出现 HBs Ag阳性 ,持续最短 1周 ,最长 7周。用 PCR检测 ,结果有 1只动物连续 4周在血清中检测出 HBV DNA。表明树能感染人 HBV,但实验有待改进以延长感染持续时间     

Selective killing of hepatitis B envelope antigen-specific B cells by class I-restricted, exogenous antigen-specific T lymphocytes

Specific B lymphocytes can act as very efficient antigen-presenting cells. They bind antigen with high affinity via their immunoglobulin receptors, process it through the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) pathway, and present its fragments to class II-restricted T lymphocytes. In general, exogenous antigens and noninfectious viral particles enter the class II pathway and are selectively associated with class II MHC molecules. The presentation of an exogenous antigen in association with class I molecules has been reported for only a few antigens, including the hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBenvAg). Here we demonstrate that antigen-specific B cells can efficiently deliver HBenvAg to the class I pathway, presenting its fragments to class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) which kill the specific B cells. This could represent a mechanism of suppression of neutralizing anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibody response, a phenomenon that accompanies the development of the chronic HBV-carrier state.     

树鼩对人乙型肝炎病毒易感性的验证

为验证树Ｑｕ对人乙型肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）的易感性,用含ＨＢＶ的人血清接种给１０只成年树Ｑｕ（雌雄各半）。然后每周抽血１次,每只动物共抽血１１次。用不同公司生产的ＥＬＩＳＡ试剂检测接种后的动物血清感染指标。实验观察至１３周,结果分别有９只和８只动物出现ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性,持续最短１周,最长７周。用ＰＣＲ检测,结果有１只动物连续４周在血清中检测出ＨＢＶ ＤＮＡ。表明树Ｑｕ能感染人ＨＢＶ,但实验有待改进以延长感染持续时间。     

反向线性探针杂交技术检测慢性乙型肝炎病毒拉米夫定耐药研究

目的:建立起简单、快速、灵敏、准确的慢性乙型肝炎病毒拉米夫定耐药位点的反向线性探针(reverse line probe,RLP)检测方法.方法:根据HBV野生及耐药基因序列设计通用探针、3'、5'对称加有poly-C的特异性探针和5'标记生物素的扩增引物.将探针线性固定在硝酸纤维膜上,使HBV PCR扩增产物与探针进行杂交.通过优化杂交条件,建立RLP检测方法.利用该方法对重庆地区86个慢性乙肝病人进行检测,同时与直接测序结果比较.结果:半巢式PCR可对103拷贝/ml的血清样本进行有效特异扩增,新建的RLP检测方法可对PCR扩增产物在1 ng/ml以上,或血清样本中突变型DNA占野生型DNA比例为5％以上的均可有效检测,86例临床的检测灵敏度为100％,野生型和耐药型的检测准确性分别为98.09％(103/105)、100％ (43/43),与直接测序法比,RLP检测野生与耐药混合型准确性更好.结论:反向线性探针杂交检测方法检测HBV拉米夫定耐药位点方便、灵敏、准确,是HBV拉米夫定治疗有效的监控工具,该方法适合临床应用.     

大鼠细小病毒KRV株培养方法的建立

目的 建立用大鼠胶质瘤细胞系( Rat glial cell line C6)替代大鼠原代胚细胞(Primary rat embryo cells,RE)来 培养大鼠细小病毒（Kilham Rat Virus,KRV）的方法。方法 将500 TCID50 KRV培养物接种到75T-C6细胞培养瓶 中（ 细胞接种量为2×105/mL）, 培养过夜, 待细胞病变CPE达++～+++时, 分别用免疫荧光(FITC)鉴定所培 养病毒的特异抗原,用血球凝集试验(HA)测定培养物上清的效价,用DNA测序鉴定所培养的病毒,最后用96孔 板培养法测定KRV的TCID50。结果 KRV在接种到C6细胞的第4～5天, 细胞发生明显的病变,CPE可达++++, FITC鉴定呈KRV抗原阳性, 病毒的培养上清中HA效价为1:5 120,测序结果表明, 该病毒序列与NCBI中KRV序 列同源性达98％ , 确定为KRV。收获的KRV的TCID50为104.6/0.1 mL。结论 通过对C6细胞系培养KRV方法 的标准化和对所培养病毒的一系列鉴定表明,用大鼠胶质瘤细胞系可以替代大鼠原代胚细胞系进行大鼠细小病毒 的培养。     

乙肝免疫球蛋白联合乙肝疫苗阻断母婴传播136例疗效分析

孕妇乙型肝炎或表面抗原阳性者对胎儿的影响已得到公认,本文通过对乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原阳性的孕妇在妊娠期间应用乙肝免疫球蛋白(HBIG)进行母婴传播的阻断疗效观察,显示HBIG联合乙肝疫苗对治疗组的阻断成功率为97.1%,疫苗接种成功率为82.4%,而未接种母婴阻断的乙肝病毒感染为15.96%,疫苗接种成功率为57.1%,明显低于治疗组.