EGF and HGF levels are increased during active HBV infection and enhance survival signaling through extracellular matrix interactions in primary human hepatocytes

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major causative agent of chronic liver disease and subsequent liver cirrhosis worldwide. The reduced sensitivity of virus-infected liver cells to apoptosis may play a role in the failure to remove virus-infected cells and eventually promote viral chronicity. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether survival factors induced during compensatory liver regeneration may protect hepatocytes against apoptosis. We evaluated the serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in HBV-infected patients and found significant increases in HGF and EGF in patients with active virus infection. In primary human hepatocytes we show …