Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40536505›Full record

ArticleHepatology communications2025

HBV promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HCC and liver fibrosis through JNK-mediated autophagy.

Dong Chen, Jian Hong, Wenting Li, Qiuju Sheng, Olivia Mezzetti, Min Xu, Shadi Salloum, Raymond T Chung, Wenyu Lin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Hepatology communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. The metastasis landscape ofFrontiers in immunology · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Dong ChenCenter of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.ORCID 0009-0006-8377-5160
Jian HongDepartment of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Wenting LiLiver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Qiuju ShengLiver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Olivia MezzettiLiver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Min XuLiver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Shadi SalloumLiver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Raymond T ChungLiver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Wenyu LinLiver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID 0000-0004-0386-9924

Funding

Virology CoreU19AI082630 · NIAID · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI GEORG Michael LAUER · 2009 to 2026
$48.1M
Cooperative mechanisms of HIV-enhanced liver fibrogenesis in HBV CoinfectionR01AI155140 · NIAID · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI CHUNG, RAYMOND T, LIN, WENYU · 2020 to 2025
$3.5M
HIV, HCV, Hippo, and Liver Disease ProgressionR01AI136715 · NIAID · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI CHUNG, RAYMOND T · 2018 to 2022
$3.4M
HIV-Associated Macrophage Alterations and Progressive Liver DiseaseR01DK108370 · NIDDK · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI CHUNG, RAYMOND T · 2015 to 2019
$1.6M
NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI136715NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI155140NIAID NIH HHS U19 AI082630NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK108370
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHBV, which contributes to liver fibrosis and HCC, is associated with autophagy and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the relationship between HBV infection, autophagy, and EMT remains unknown.

methodsIn this study, we used HBV cell lines (HepAD38, Huh7.5.1-NTCP) to evaluate this relationship.

resultsHBV replication or infection promoted autophagy, EMT, and liver fibrogenesis. HBV-induced EMT/fibrogenesis was dependent on autophagy. HBV X and HBV core (C) were each involved during this process. TGF-β1 partially participated in HBV-induced autophagy/EMT/fibrosis. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) expression was increased in HepAD38 cells, HBV-X (HBV-C)-transfected Huh7.5.1 cells, and HBV-infected Huh7.5.1-NTCP cells. JNK silencing attenuated HBV-induced autophagy and EMT/fibrosis signaling as well. Moreover, overexpression of HBV-X(C) and augmentation of autophagy were shown to promote pJNK expression. Finally, we confirmed an HBV-JNK-autophagy-EMT/fibrosis signaling pathway in a primary human hepatocyte model.

conclusionsIn conclusion, HBV induces autophagy through JNK, thus triggering downstream EMT and fibrogenesis signaling pathways. These findings suggest that JNKs could be potential targets for the treatment of HBV-related liver diseases.

Indexed as

AutophagyCarcinoma, HepatocellularEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionHepatitis BHepatitis B virusJNK Mitogen-Activated Protein KinasesLiver CirrhosisLiver NeoplasmsCell Line, TumorHepatocytesHumansJNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinasesautophagyepithelial-mesenchymal transitionHCChepatitis Bliver fibrosis

Identifiers

PMID40536505
PMCPMC12180830

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.