Abstract
The envelope of hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is required for the entry to hepatocytes, consists of a lipid bilayer derived from hepatocyte and HBV envelope proteins, large/middle/small hepatitis B surface antigen (L/M/SHBs). The mechanisms and host factors for the envelope formation in the hepatocytes are being revealed. HBV-infected hepatocytes release a large amount of subviral particles (SVPs) containing L/M/SHBs that facilitate escape from the immune system. Recently, novel drugs inhibiting the functions of the viral envelope and those inhibiting the release of SVPs have been reported. LHBs that accumulate in ER is considered to promote carcinogenesis and, especially, deletion mutants in the preS1/S2 domain have been reported to be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this review, we summarize recent reports on the findings regarding the biological characteristics of HBV envelope proteins, their involvement in HCC development and new agents targeting the envelope.
Highlights
Involvement in Carcinogenesis.Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects 292 million people chronically in the world despite the availability of an effective vaccine [1], and they are at risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2]
Antiviral therapies such as nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and interferon have been developed, complete eradication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is still difficult because covalently closed circular DNA, which is a highly stable and active episomal genome, is formed in the nucleus of HBV-infected hepatocytes [3]
We summarize marize the biological characteristics of HBV envelope and subviral particles (SVPs) and the roles of envelope the biological characteristics of HBV envelope and SVPs and the roles of envelope proteins proteins in the hepatocarcinogenesis
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects 292 million people chronically in the world despite the availability of an effective vaccine [1], and they are at risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2]. The. HBV envelope, which is considered to be essential for the infection [12], is composed of a cellular lipid bilayer and three HBV surface proteins: large/middle/small hepatitis B surface proteins (LHBs/MHBs/SHBs). Viruses 2021, 13, 1124 cellular lipid bilayer and three HBV surface proteins: large/middle/small hepatitis B surface proteins (LHBs/MHBs/SHBs).
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