Upon clinicopathological analysis, the presence of natural COOH-truncated HBx significantly correlated with the presence of venous invasion, a hallmark of metastasis (P = 0.005). Inducible stable expression of the COOH-truncated HBx protein (with 24 amino acids truncated at the C-terminal end) enhanced

the cell-invasive ability of HepG2 cells, as compared to full-length HBx, using the Matrigel cell-invasion assay. It also resulted in increased C-Jun transcriptional activity and enhanced transcription of matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP10), whereas activation of the MMP10 promoter by COOH-truncated HBx was abolished when the activator selleck chemicals protein 1–binding sites on the MMP10 promoter were mutated. Furthermore, silencing of MMP10 by short interfering RNA in HBxΔC1-expressing HepG2 cells resulted in significant reduction of cell invasiveness. Conclusions: Our data suggest that COOH truncation of HBx, particularly with 24

amino acids truncated at the C-terminal end, plays a role in enhancing cell invasiveness and metastasis in HCC by activating MMP10 through C-Jun. (HEPATOLOGY 2013) Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major malignancies worldwide and the second-most common fatal cancer in Southeast Asia, China, and Hong Kong, as a result of the high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV is a partial double-stranded DNA virus with a 3.2-kb genome containing four PI3K inhibitor open reading frames, including the viral DNA polymerase (P), viral envelope (surface antigens) proteins (PreS1, PreS2, or S), core proteins (PreC or C), and HBV X protein (HBx). Integration of the HBV DNA into the host genome is common in HCC and this may lead to alterations of the Cytidine deaminase host cells by disrupting the

expression of cellular genes that are important for cell growth, survival, and cellular differentiation. These cellular genes include cyclin A2,1 retinoic acid receptor,2 and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT).3, 4 Moreover, full-length HBx can alter the expression of cellular genes by transcription factors, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), activator protein 1 (AP-1), cyclic adenosine monophospahte response element-binding protein (CREB), and TATA-binding protein (TBP), and can promote cell survival.5 It is well established that random HBV genome integration can lead to truncation of the HBV genome, especially on the HBx gene locus at the C-terminus.6-8 Furthermore, ectopic expression of the truncated, but not full-length, form of HBx leads to overgrowth of tumor cells in mouse models.6, 7 Previous studies have observed enhanced cell invasiveness with full-length HBx in in vitro studies; however, the effects of HBx with C-terminal truncation remain to be investigated.9-11 In this study, by examining the status of HBx integration in human HCC samples, we found a significant association between the presence of C-terminal truncation of HBx DNA and venous invasion.