| First Author | Reifenberg K | Year | 1997 |
| Journal | J Hepatol | Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 119-30 |
| PubMed ID | 9148002 | Mgi Jnum | J:101516 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3604188 | Doi | 10.1016/s0168-8278(97)80018-9 |
| Citation | Reifenberg K, et al. (1997) Long-term expression of the hepatitis B virus core-e- and X-proteins does not cause pathologic changes in transgenic mice. J Hepatol 26(1):119-30 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic infections with the human hepatitis B virus can result in liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. The reasons for these long-term effects are unclear. The aim of this study was to generate transgenic mice expressing the HBV X- and c/e-gene under authentic and foreign promoter control and to test whether the respective gene products can cause pathologic effects during the lifespan of a mouse. Moreover, the temporal and the tissue-specific regulation of the crucial HBV c/e-gene promoter was analyzed. METHODS: Eight transgenic mouse lines were generated. Four contained the c/e- and X-gene and two contained only the X-gene under authentic promoter control. Two lines expressed only the X-gene under control of the rat insulin promoter/enhancer. Gene expression was tested by protein and mRNA analyses. During an observation period of 2 years, mice were sacrificed and organs subjected to histologic examination. Mice expressing the X-gene in pancreatic beta cells were tested for the development of diabetes. RESULTS: In the liver, slight histopathologic alterations but no neoplastic changes could be observed in mice expressing the X-gene. Activity of the c/e-gene promoter/enhancer was age dependent and was not restricted to hepatocytes. CONCLUSION: No evidence was obtained that long-term expression of the HBV c/e- and X-gene products can cause neoplasia during the lifespan of a mouse. |
