HBsAg mutations correlated with HCC in vivo affect HBsAg release and favor cell proliferation in vitro

R. Salpini1, M. Surdo1, N. Warner2, M.F. Cortese1, C. Mirabelli 1,3, D. Colledge2, S. Soppe2, P. Saccomandi1, M. Pollicita1, R. Longo4, S. Romano4, G. Cappiello4, A. Spano4, P. Trimoulet5, H. Fleury5, J. Vecchiet6, N. Iapadre7, A. Barlattani8, A. Bertoli 1, T. Mari9, C. Pasquazzi10, G. Missale11, C. Sarrecchia12, E. Orecchini13, A. Michienzi13, M. Andreoni12, S. Francioso14, M. Angelico14, F. Ceccherini-Silberstein1, S. Locarnini2, C.F. Perno1, V. Svicher1 1 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome, Italy 2 Research and Molecular Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3 Institut Pasteur, Unite de Biologie des virus enteriques, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France 4 S. Pertini Hospital”, Rome, Italy 5 Hopital Pellegrin Tripode, Bordeaux, France 6 SS Annunziata” Hospital, Chieti, Italy 7 S Salvatore” Hospital, L’Aquila, Italy 8 “S Giacomo” Hospital, Rome, Italy 9 “Regina Margherita” Hospital, Rome, Italy 10 “S Andrea” Hospital, Rome, Italy 11 Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy 12 Tor Vergata University Hospital, Infectious Diseases Unit, Rome, Italy 13 Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome, Italy 14 Tor Vergata University Hospital, Hepatology Unit, Rome, Italy