Open AccessInfection with Hepatitis B Virus May Increase the Serum Concentrations of Osteopontin
Author(s) -
Liu Hua-Bing,
Chen Qin-Yan,
Wang Xue-Yan,
Zhang Lu-Juan,
Hu Li-Ping,
Harrison Tim J.,
Wang Chao,
Fang Zhong-Liao
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
intervirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.641
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1423-0100
pISSN - 0300-5526
DOI - 10.1159/000513687
Subject(s) - research article
Background: Serum osteopontin (OPN) concentrations were found to be significantly increased in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association among HCC, OPN, and HBV. Methods: Two hundred and forty-one subjects were recruited and divided into 6 groups: healthy controls, asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, HBsAg (−) patients with other tumors, HBsAg (+) chronic liver disease patients, HBsAg (+) patients with HCC, and HBsAg (−) patients with HCC or liver cirrhosis (LC). Serum concentrations of OPN and HBsAg were measured and analyzed. Results: OPN concentrations in the HBsAg (+) HCC group were significantly higher than the healthy control group and the HBsAg (−) patients with other cancers (both p = 0.0001). The OPN concentrations of the HBsAg (−) patients with HCC or LC also did not differ significantly from those of the healthy control group ( p = 0.075). There is a correlation between the titer of HBsAg and concentrations of OPN in all 3 HBsAg (+) groups (all p values <0.05). Conclusions: Infection with HBV may increase the serum concentrations of OPN. The association of OPN and HCC may be not attributable to tumor development per se but, rather, to HBV infection.