Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in chronic hepatitis B and the effects of anti-viral therapy
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Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle
Published on: February 1, 2017
A S L Cheng1, H L Y Chan, N W Y Leung
1Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ROC.
Background:
Cyclooxygenase-2 may play a role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, but the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 and chronic hepatitis B is unknown.
Aim:
To investigate the expression and cellular localization of cyclooxygenase-2 in chronic hepatitis B patients and the effects of anti-viral therapy.
Methods:
Using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, protein and messenger RNA expression and cellular localization of cyclooxygenase-2 in 35 chronic hepatitis B patients were assessed. Fourteen histologically normal and non-viral-infected livers were used as controls. The cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivities of paired liver biopsies from 12 patients receiving anti-viral therapy were compared.
Results:
Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed that cyclooxygenase-2 expression was confined to hepatocytes. Patients with chronic hepatitis B had significantly higher cyclooxygenase-2 expression compared with controls. The cyclooxygenase-2 expression of hepatitis B e antigen-positive and -negative chronic hepatitis B patients was not significantly different, although the necro-inflammatory activity of the latter group was significantly lower. Over-expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in patients with chronic hepatitis B was further confirmed by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Twelve hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients received anti-viral therapy: lamivudine in seven and interferon in five. Despite hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion, disappearance of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum, normalization of liver enzymes and a significant reduction in necro-inflammatory activity in all 12 patients, no significant change in cyclooxygenase-2 expression was found.
Conclusions:
Chronic hepatitis B is associated with elevated cyclooxygenase-2 levels in hepatocytes, and the over-expression of this enzyme does not reflect inflammatory activity. Up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 persists after successful anti-viral therapy.
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