The correlation of hepatitis B virus pre-S mutation with cellular oxidative DNA damage in hepatocellular carcinoma

Recent research has proposed a role for HBV pre-S mutation in the development of HCC. Although the mechanism is not clear, pre-S mutant-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and oxidative DNA damage may participate in this process. Therefore, we investigated the correlation of HBV pre-S mutation with ER stress and cellular oxidative DNA damage in HBV-related HCC patients.

Thirty HBV-related HCC patients and 8 control patients were included. HBV DNA was extracted from sera and the HBV S coding region was analyzed by PCR and sequencing. Immunohistochemical staining for 8-oxoG and OGG1 were performed in HCC and non-neoplastic tissues.

Study subjects were categorized into three groups: the pre-S mutant HBV-infected HCC patients (group 1, n=20), wild-type HBV-infected HCC patients (group 2, n=10) and HBV non-infected patients (group 3, n=8). The expression level of 8-oxoG and OGG1 in non-neoplastic tissue was higher in group 1/2 than in group 3; however, there was no significant difference between group 1 and 2. There was no significant difference in 8-oxoG/OGG1 expressions between HCC and non-neoplastic tissues.

The present study did not support a pathophysiologic role for HBV pre-S mutation, related to ER stress and oxidative DNA damage, in hepatocarcinogenesis.