Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been believed as a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for a long time, however, the evidences of which are mostly from clinical and epidemiological investigations while there is no evidence from animal experiments. Tree shrew (Tupaia) is a small animal closely related to primates evolutionarily, with about 8 years of lifespan. Our previous study proved that tree shrews can be chronically HBV-infected after being inoculated neonatally with HBV. The present study reports the further results from the longer-term observation of these animals.
Methods: Neonatal tree shrews were inoculated with sera from HBV-infected patient or tree shrew. Their serum samples and liver biopsies were collected periodically for detection of HBV markers as well as for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Group A consisted of six tree shrews with chronic HBV-infection, and group B consisted of nine tree shrews without chronic HBV infection.
Results: Periodical examinations on serum and liver biopsies of the animals in group A showed the progress of HBV infection, and two cases of HCC occurred at their late stage of life. The courses of HBV infection and the hepatic histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in the tree shrews were similar to those in humans. In contrast, neither HCC nor obvious hepatitis histopathological change was found among the tree shrews in group B.
Conclusions: The course of HBV infection and the features of HCC discovered in tree shrews are similar to those of chronically HBV-infected humans. The tree shrew model might be used to investigate the underlying mechanisms favoring susceptibility for chronic HBV infection and disease progression.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369070 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12985-015-0256-x | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Prevalence of Multiple RNA Virus Infections in Nine Types of Commonly Used Laboratory Animals in China.
Zoonoses Public Health
January 2025
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Introduction: Laboratory animals are widely used in biomedical research. Surveillance of naturally occurring virus in laboratory animals is important to fully understand the results of animal experiment, control laboratory-acquired infections among research personnel and manage viral transmission within laboratory animal populations. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of multiple RNA viruses in laboratory animals commonly used in China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTree shrew as a new animal model for musculoskeletal disorders and aging.
Bone Res
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), osteoarthritis (OA), and osteoporosis (OP) are common musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) with similar age-related risk factors, representing the leading causes of disability. However, successful therapeutic development and translation have been hampered by the lack of clinically-relevant animal models. In this study, we investigated the potential suitability of the tree shrew, a small mammal with a close genetic relationship to primates, as a new animal model for MSDs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethamphetamine and HIV-1 Tat Protein Synergistically Induce Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress to Promote TRIM13-Mediated Neuronal Autophagy.
Mol Neurobiol
December 2024
NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, 1168 West Chunrong Road, Yuhua Avenue Chenggong District, Kunming, 650500, China.
Co-exposure to methamphetamine (METH) abuse and HIV infection exacerbates central nervous system damage. However, the underlying mechanisms of this process remain poorly understood. This study aims to explore the roles of neuronal autophagy in the synergistic damage to the central nervous system caused by METH and HIV proteins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman adenovirus species B knob proteins as immunogens for inducing cross-neutralizing antibody responses.
mSphere
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
The re-emerging human adenovirus (HAdV) types 3, 7, 14, and 55 of species B have caused severe or even fatal acute respiratory disease. Therefore, the development of multivalent vaccines against HAdV types 3, 7, 14, and 55 remains an important goal. In our previous study, we identified a cross-neutralizing epitope that induced broadly reactive monoclonal neutralizing antibodies against the knob proteins of HAdV types 7, 11, 14, and 55.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhole-genome DNA methylomes of tree shrew brains reveal conserved and divergent roles of DNA methylation on sex chromosome regulation.
BMC Biol
November 2024
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA.
Article Synopsis
- The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) is being studied for its similarities to primates, particularly to understand DNA methylation and X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in their brains, using novel genome-wide methylation and transcriptomic data from their prefrontal cortex.
- The study found that female tree shrews exhibit global hypomethylation of the X chromosome compared to males, but this hypomethylation does not directly cause X chromosome gene silencing or sex-specific gene expression, although it affects the Xist gene's regulation.
- Overall, the research provides new insights into DNA methylation patterns in tree shrews and suggests that genomic CpG content may influence sex-differential
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!