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. 1987 Mar;84(5):1187–1191. doi: 10.1073/pnas.84.5.1187

Hepatitis B surface antigen gene expression is regulated by sex steroids and glucocorticoids in transgenic mice.

H Farza, A M Salmon, M Hadchouel, J L Moreau, C Babinet, P Tiollais, C Pourcel
PMCID: PMC304391  PMID: 3469661

Abstract

We have investigated the basis for liver-specific and sex-linked expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) gene in transgenic mice by monitoring the level of liver HBsAg mRNA and serum HBsAg at different stages of development and in response to sex-hormone regulation. Transcription of the HBsAg gene starts at day 15 of development, together with that of the albumin gene, and reaches a comparable level at birth. HBsAg mRNA level and HBsAg production are parallel in males and females during prenatal development and until the first month of life, but HBsAg gene expression increases 5-10 times in males at puberty. After castration, the level of expression decreases dramatically in both males and females and is subsequently increased by injection of testosterone or estradiol. Glucocorticoids also regulated positively expression of the HBsAg gene. Our results suggest that sex hormones play a role in hepatitis B virus gene expression during natural infection and could explain the difference in incidence of chronic carriers between men and women.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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