Hepatitis B virus DNA methylation and its potential role in chronic hepatitis B

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-16-2022

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection led to 66% liver deaths world-wide in year 2015. Thirty-seven per cent of these deaths were the result of chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although early diagnosis of HCC improves survival, early detection is rare. Methylation of HBV DNA including covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is more often encountered in HCC cases than those in CHB and cirrhosis. Three typical CpG islands within the HBV genome are the common sites for methylation. The HBV cccDNA methylation affects the viral replication and protein expression in the course of infection and may associate with the disease pathogenesis and HCC development. We review the current findings in HBV DNA methylation that provide insights into its role in HCC diagnosis.

Keywords

Biomarker, Chronic hepatitis B, Covalently closed circular DNA, CpG islands, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Methylation

Publication Title

Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine

Divisions

fac_med,medicinedept

Funders

Ministry of Education, Malaysia (Grant No: FRGS/1/2019/SKK08/SYUC/03/2),Sunway Medical Centre (Grant No: SRC/006/2017/FR)

Volume

25

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Publisher Location

32 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY 10013-2473 USA

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