Role of the PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway in hepatitis B virus infection and replication

  • Authors:
    • Kunlun Xiang
    • Bin Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 8, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8395
  • Pages: 4713-4719
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Abstract

The replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be modulated by a variety of cell signaling pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase (PI3K)‑RAC‑α serine/threonine‑protein kinase (AKT)‑serine/threonine‑protein kinase mTOR (mTOR) pathway. The aim of the present study was to determine the regulatory effects of this pathway on the infection and replication of HBV. The results indicated that the HBV entry process may activate the AKT pathway, as demonstrated by AKT phosphorylation in HBV natural infection. However, inhibition of AKT phosphorylation by short‑term treatment with AKT inhibitors was unable to block HBV entry, which suggested that AKT activation induced by HBV infection is not essential for viral entry process. Prolonged treatment with PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway inhibitors markedly promoted HBV replication in HBV replicating and natural infection models. The PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway was therefore identified to be a negative regulator of HBV replication. These inhibitors enhanced the replication and transcription of HBV in an HBx‑dependent way. The results additionally indicated that a PI3K inhibitor, Ly294002, inhibited the secretion of the small surface antigen of HBV in a PI3K‑AKT‑independent manner. The inhibitor Ly294002 may be used as a tool for the drug development of surface antigen secretion inhibitors.
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March-2018
Volume 17 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Xiang K and Wang B: Role of the PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway in hepatitis B virus infection and replication. Mol Med Rep 17: 4713-4719, 2018.
APA
Xiang, K., & Wang, B. (2018). Role of the PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway in hepatitis B virus infection and replication. Molecular Medicine Reports, 17, 4713-4719. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8395
MLA
Xiang, K., Wang, B."Role of the PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway in hepatitis B virus infection and replication". Molecular Medicine Reports 17.3 (2018): 4713-4719.
Chicago
Xiang, K., Wang, B."Role of the PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway in hepatitis B virus infection and replication". Molecular Medicine Reports 17, no. 3 (2018): 4713-4719. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8395