The hepatitis B viral X protein activates NF-κB signaling pathway through the up-regulation of TBK1

Abstract 

The hepatitis B viral X protein (HBx) is a multifunctional protein that plays a role in the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrate that HBx up-regulates expression of TANK-binding kinase-1 (TBK1) at the transcriptional level. Increased levels of TBK1 protein then induce the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 at serine 536. Because TBK1 is up-regulated by HBx as part of its promotion of NF-κB activation, it is possible that increased TBK1 levels play a role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). From these data, we suggest that TBK1 may play a role in the HBx-mediated activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the development of HCCs.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis B viral X protein, TANK-binding kinase-1, Nuclear factor-kappa B, Hepatocellular carcinoma

Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus, HBx, hepatitis B viral X protein, NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B, TBK1, TANK-binding kinase-1, HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma