Hepatitis B surface antigen induces ER stress

Introduction: With 350 million chronic infected human beings hepatitis B is the most frequent viral infection of the liver worldwide. Chronic HBV infection induces liver cirrhosis and liver cancer (HCC). The pathologic phenotype might be influenced by the accumulation of the large hepatocellular surface protein of the hepatitis B virus (HBV-LHB) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hepatocytes.[1] So-called ER stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) are the consequences. If the cells cannot normalize the state by activating protecting mechanisms the cells finally undergo apoptosis. Method and Results: The hep…