Long-Term Hepatitis B Virus Infection Induces Cytopathic Effects in Primary Human Hepatocytes, and Can Be Partially Reversed by Antiviral Therapy

Authors: Wenjing Zai, Kongying Hu, Jianyu Ye, Jiahui Ding, Chao Huang, Yaming Li, Zhong Fang, Min Wu, Cong Wang, Jieliang Chen, Zhenghong Yuan - Microbiology Spectrum 2022 cited by 22

Global temporal quantitative proteomic and transcriptomic analysis using long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected primary human hepatocytes uncovered extensive remodeling of the host proteome and transcriptome and revealed cytopathic effects of long-term viral replication. Metabolic-, complement-, cytoskeleton-, mitochondrial-, and oxidation-related pathways were modulated at transcriptional or posttranscriptional levels, which could be partially rescued by early, rather than late, NA therapy and could be relieved by blocking viral antigens with RNAi. Overexpression screening identified a series of pro- or anti-HBV host factors. These data have deepened the understanding of the mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and HBV-host interactions in hepatocytes, with implications for therapeutic intervention.