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Updated: May 31, 2026

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
Published on: December 15, 2023
The molecular and pathophysiological implications of hepatitis B X antigen in chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Samuel Martin-Vilchez1, Enrique Lara-Pezzi, Maria Trapero-Marugán
1CIBERehd, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain; Servicio Digestivo, Hospital Universitario "La Princesa" and Instituto de Investigación Biomédica "La Princesa", Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Hepatitis B virus is considered one of the most significant environmental carcinogens in humans. Because the mechanisms of HBV replication and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are partially known, HBV-associated pathogenesis remains a challenge to increase its understanding. Evidence suggests that the regulatory protein hepatitis B virus X (HBx) mediates the establishment and maintenance of the chronic carrier state. HBx is a multifunctional and potentially oncogenic protein that is conserved among mammalian hepadnaviruses; it is produced very early after infection and throughout the chronic phase. HBx exerts its effects by interacting with cellular proteins and activating various signaling pathways. HBx stimulates the transcription of genes that regulate cell growth, apoptosis, and DNA repair. It also interacts with proteasome subunits and affects mitochondrial stability. Moreover, HBx participates in processes that are associated with the progression of chronic liver disease, including angiogenesis and fibrosis. This review discusses the function of HBx in the life cycle of HBV and its contribution to the pathogenesis of HCC.
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