Metabolic changes of host cells in response to HBV replication

Abstract

As a multifunctional regulator, HBx has long been suspected as the primary factor for inducing HCC. However, as a DNA virus, HBV exhibits relatively high mutation rate, thus studying the pathology of different genotypes of HBx mutants seems to be significant. GC/MS is utilized to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse the metabolites change of host cell in response to the introduction of HBx gene. Four kinds of metabolites are finally picked out: butanedioic acid, glutamine, lactic acid and D-glucose. The first two molecules are significantly down-regulated while the other two seem to be up-regulated, suggesting that glycolysis of the infected cells is enhanced, while TCAC activity is inhibited.