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World J Hepatol. Feb 27, 2025; 17(2): 99292
Published online Feb 27, 2025. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i2.99292
Published online Feb 27, 2025. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i2.99292
Hepatitis B virus confers innate immunity evasion through hepatitis B virus-miR-3 down-regulation of cGAS-Sting-IFN signaling
Zhen-Yu Xu, Jia-Shi Gao, Ying He, Xin-Qiang Xiao, Guo-Zhong Gong, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
Min Zhang, Institute of Hepatology and Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Guo-Zhong Gong and Min Zhang.
Author contributions: Gong GZ and Zhang M contribute equally to this study as co-corresponding authors; Xu ZY and Gao JS collected data and drafted the manuscript; He Y and Xiao XQ contributed to the interpretation of the data, and the critical revision of the manuscript; Zhang M, Gong GZ supervised the study; Gong GZ designed the study and revised the manuscript; all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key Project, No. 82430071; The Scientific Research Program of FuRong Laboratory, No. 2023SK2108; Clinical Medical Research Center for Viral Hepatitis of Hunan Province, No. 2023SK4009; Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation, No. 2023JJ60440; and Hunan Provincial Health Commission Research Program, No. C202303088786.
Institutional review board statement: This study did not involve human subjects.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Data sharing statement: Data supporting the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.
Corresponding author: Guo-Zhong Gong, MD, Doctor, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Middle Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China. gongguozhong@csu.edu.cn
Received: July 19, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024
Accepted: January 18, 2025
Published online: February 27, 2025
Processing time: 216 Days and 7.3 Hours
Revised: December 5, 2024
Accepted: January 18, 2025
Published online: February 27, 2025
Processing time: 216 Days and 7.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study uncovers a novel mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunity evasion through HBV-miR-3, a recently identified HBV-encoded microRNA. HBV-miR-3 down-regulates the cGAS-STING-IFN pathway by inhibiting cGAS 3’ untranslated region activity, leading to decreased cGAS protein expression, STING phosphorylation, and interferon production. The findings highlight the crucial role of HBV-miR-3 in modulating host immune responses, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets for HBV infection.