Correlation Between HBX Site Mutations And Serum VEGF-C,VEGF-D Expression In Patients With Hepatitis B-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective:To explore the relationship between Hepatitis B virus X gene(HBX)mutation and the serum expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C)and vascular endothelial growth factor-D(VEGF-D)in the patients with chronic hepatits B virus(HBV)infection.Methods:The serum samples of patients with HBV infection were collected in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from April 2018 to October 2018,including 55 chronic hepatitis B patients,50 cirrhosis patients,and 50 HCC patients.The HBX gene sequences were amplificated from the serum samples by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).The amplified products were subsequently sequenced,and compared with those reported in GenBank to find the variable sites.The level of VEGF-C and VEGF-D from serum samples were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:The level of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were significantly higher in primary liver cancer group than other groups.The common HBX gene mutation sites include:G1613A,A1652 G,C1653T,T1753 G,A1762T/G1764 A,C1673T and G1676 A.The mutation rate of C1653 T,A1762T/G1764 A,T1753G were significantly higher in primary liver cancer group than other two groups.Furthermore,the three mutations are associated with higher level of VEGF-C in HCC patients by rank sum test.Conclusion : The C1653 T,A1762T/G1764 A and T1753 G site mutations in HBX are more frequent in HCC patients and associated with the expression of VEGF-C,implying that these mutations may be involved in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.