Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection?
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem that can lead to liver dysfunction, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current antiviral therapies can control viral replication in patients with chronic HBV infection; however, there is a risk of HCC dev...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/10/1920 |
| _version_ | 1827678477014269952 |
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| author | Masataka Tsuge |
| author_facet | Masataka Tsuge |
| author_sort | Masataka Tsuge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem that can lead to liver dysfunction, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current antiviral therapies can control viral replication in patients with chronic HBV infection; however, there is a risk of HCC development. HBV-related proteins may be produced in hepatocytes regardless of antiviral therapies and influence intracellular metabolism and signaling pathways, resulting in liver carcinogenesis. To understand the mechanisms of liver carcinogenesis, the effect of HBV infection in human hepatocytes should be analyzed. HBV infects human hepatocytes through transfer to the sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP). Although the NTCP is expressed on the hepatocyte surface in several animals, including mice, HBV infection is limited to human primates. Due to this species-specific liver tropism, suitable animal models for analyzing HBV replication and developing antivirals have been lacking since the discovery of the virus. Recently, a humanized mouse model carrying human hepatocytes in the liver was developed based on several immunodeficient mice; this is useful for analyzing the HBV life cycle, antiviral effects of existing/novel antivirals, and intracellular signaling pathways under HBV infection. Herein, the usefulness of human hepatocyte chimeric mouse models in the analysis of HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis is discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:08:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b375a807be6a4351aea3620cc6b8b165 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:08:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-b375a807be6a4351aea3620cc6b8b1652023-11-22T20:18:04ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-09-011310192010.3390/v13101920Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection?Masataka Tsuge0Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Department of Biomedical Science, Research and Development Division, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanChronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem that can lead to liver dysfunction, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current antiviral therapies can control viral replication in patients with chronic HBV infection; however, there is a risk of HCC development. HBV-related proteins may be produced in hepatocytes regardless of antiviral therapies and influence intracellular metabolism and signaling pathways, resulting in liver carcinogenesis. To understand the mechanisms of liver carcinogenesis, the effect of HBV infection in human hepatocytes should be analyzed. HBV infects human hepatocytes through transfer to the sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP). Although the NTCP is expressed on the hepatocyte surface in several animals, including mice, HBV infection is limited to human primates. Due to this species-specific liver tropism, suitable animal models for analyzing HBV replication and developing antivirals have been lacking since the discovery of the virus. Recently, a humanized mouse model carrying human hepatocytes in the liver was developed based on several immunodeficient mice; this is useful for analyzing the HBV life cycle, antiviral effects of existing/novel antivirals, and intracellular signaling pathways under HBV infection. Herein, the usefulness of human hepatocyte chimeric mouse models in the analysis of HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis is discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/10/1920HBVHCCHBsHBxhumanized mouse |
| spellingShingle | Masataka Tsuge Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection? Viruses HBV HCC HBs HBx humanized mouse |
| title | Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection? |
| title_full | Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection? |
| title_fullStr | Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection? |
| title_short | Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection? |
| title_sort | are humanized mouse models useful for basic research of hepatocarcinogenesis through chronic hepatitis b virus infection |
| topic | HBV HCC HBs HBx humanized mouse |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/10/1920 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT masatakatsuge arehumanizedmousemodelsusefulforbasicresearchofhepatocarcinogenesisthroughchronichepatitisbvirusinfection |