Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
07:25
Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice
Published on: September 25, 2019
Circulating hepatitis B surface antigen particles carry hepatocellular microRNAs
Luisa Novellino1, Riccardo L Rossi, Ferruccio Bonino
1Hepatology Unit and Liver Physiopathology Laboratory, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Plos One
|April 4, 2012
Summary
Hepatitis B surface antigen particles carry specific liver and immune-regulating microRNAs. This discovery offers a new non-invasive method to study liver epigenetics and host-pathogen interactions in Hepatitis B virus infection.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) produces abundant subviral surface antigen particles (HBsAg) in the blood.
- These HBsAg particles can encapsulate other molecules, as seen with Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) components.
- Cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) are released into circulation within extracellular vesicles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether HBsAg particles can carry cellular miRNAs.
- To identify specific miRNAs associated with circulating HBsAg.
- To explore the potential of HBsAg-associated miRNAs as biomarkers for liver epigenetics.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of circulating HBsAg particles from HBV carriers' sera using immunoprecipitation.
- Extraction of total RNA from isolated HBsAg particles.
- Screening of human miRNAs using TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR Arrays and statistical analysis.
- Detection of Ago2 protein within HBsAg particles.
Main Results:
- Thirty-nine human miRNAs were significantly associated with immunoprecipitated HBsAg particles.
- HBsAg-associated miRNAs included liver-specific (e.g., miR-122) and immune-regulatory (e.g., miR-223) types.
- Ago2 protein was detected within HBsAg particles, suggesting a potential role in miRNA packaging.
Conclusions:
- HBsAg particles selectively package hepatocellular miRNAs.
- This finding provides a novel non-invasive tool for studying liver epigenetics in HBV infection.
- Understanding HBsAg-miRNA interactions can elucidate host-pathogen dynamics in HBV.
More Related Videos
11:34A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target
Published on: May 10, 2022
10:25"Liver-on-a-Chip" Cultures of Primary Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Published on: February 19, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:25Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
01:28Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction
Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
01:26Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:29Subviral Agents
Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...