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Viruses Prompt Oncogenic Transformation By Genetically Altering Infected Cells As Seen In Hepatitis B

Main Category: Liver Disease / Hepatitis
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 18 Jan 2013

Several recent studies have demonstrated that viruses alter the expression of microRNAs, non-coding RNA molecules that can block the expression of target genes.

In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Xiaoje Xu and colleagues at the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology report that miR-148a is repressed by hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) to promote growth and metastasis of liver cancer.

In normal liver cells, miR-148a represses the expression of the oncogenic protein HPIP, but the hepatitis B virus prevents expression of miR-148a, leading to increased levels of HPIP and subsequent oncogenic transformation.

This study demonstrates that a cancer-associated virus promotes carcinogenesis through direct manipulation of a microRNA.

TITLE: Hepatitis B virus X protein represses miRNA-148a to enhance tumorigenesis

View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/64265?key=267b145ad442aacf5c02

Original article posted on Medical News Today.
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