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Li, D.* ; Ho, V.* ; Teng, C.F.* ; Tsai, H.W.* ; Liu, Y.* ; Bae, S.* ; Ajoyan, H.* ; Wettengel, J.M. ; Protzer, U. ; Gloss, B.S.* ; Rockett, R.J.* ; Asady, R.A.* ; Li, J.* ; So, S.* ; George, J.* ; Douglas, M.W.* ; Tu, T.*

Novel digital droplet inverse PCR assay shows that natural clearance of Hepatitis B infection is associated with fewer viral integrations.

Emerg. Microbes Infect. 14:2450025 (2025)
Publ. Version/Full Text Research data DOI PMC
Open Access Gold
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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration into the host cell genome is reportedly a major cause of liver cancer, and a source of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). High HBsAg levels can alter immune responses which therefore contributes to the progression of HBV-related disease. However, to what extent integration leads to the persistent circulating HBsAg is unclear. Here, we aimed to determine if the extent of HBV DNA integration is associated with the persistence of circulating HBsAg in people exposed to HBV. We established a digital droplet quantitative inverse PCR (dd-qinvPCR) method to quantify integrated HBV DNA in patients who had been exposed to HBV (anti-HBc positive and HBeAg-negative). Total DNA extracts from both liver resections (n = 32; 14 HBsAg-negative and 18 HBsAg-positive) and fine-needle aspirates (FNA, n = 10; 2 HBsAg-negative and 8 HBsAg-positive) were analysed. Using defined in vitro samples for assay establishment, we showed that dd-qinvPCR could detect integrations within an input of <80 cells. The frequency of integrated HBV DNA in those who had undergone HBsAg loss (n = 14, mean ± SD of 1.514 × 10-3 ± 1.839 × 10-3 integrations per cell) was on average 9-fold lower than those with active HBV infection (n = 18, 1.16 × 10-2 ± 1.76 × 10-2 integrations per cell; p = 0.0179). In conclusion, we have developed and validated a highly precise, sensitive and quantitative PCR-based method for the quantification of HBV integrations in clinical samples. Natural clearance of HBV is associated with fewer viral integrations. Future studies are needed to determine if dynamics of integrated HBV DNA can inform the development of curative therapies.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Keywords Digital Droplet Pcr ; Fine Needle Aspiration ; Functional Cure ; Hbsag ; Hbv Dna Integration; Cellular Flanking Dna; Virus-dna; Hbv Dna; Recurrent Mutations; Clonal Expansion; Liver Cancers; Hepatocytes; Expression; Sequences; Persistence
Language english
Publication Year 2025
HGF-reported in Year 2025
ISSN (print) / ISBN 2222-1751
e-ISSN 2222-1751
Journal Emerging Microbes and Infections
Quellenangaben Volume: 14, Issue: 1, Pages: , Article Number: 2450025 Supplement: ,
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Publishing Place 2-4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon Or14 4rn, Oxon, England
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Virology (VIRO)
POF-Topic(s) 30203 - Molecular Targets and Therapies
Research field(s) Immune Response and Infection
PSP Element(s) G-502700-003
G-502799-701
Grants Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research
Cancer Data Bank of National Cheng Kung University Hospital
DOI 10.1080/22221751.2025.2450025
WOS ID 001397161900001
Scopus ID 85214929529
PubMed ID 39749570
Erfassungsdatum 2025-03-18
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