Signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis in a double hit mouse model of cholangiopathy and hepatitis B virus

Background and aim: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is one of the most famous liver cholestatic diseases, which leads to liver cirrhosis and liver failure. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) also leads to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Abcb4 knock out (Abcb4-/-) mice are known to develop cholangiopathy represented by portal tract inflammation and a severe ductal proliferation and developed nodules and HCC. Also, HBV transgenic mice (HBV+/-), which show liver specific expression of the large envelope polypeptide of human HBV, lead to liver damage and HCC. We already reported that these mice lead to…