Von Willebrand Factor C And EGF Domains Protein (vWCE)

URG11 expression is upregulated at the RNA and protein levels in the liver of HBV-infected individuals, but not in hepatocellular carcinomas from the same patients, or in uninfected individuals. In HepG2 cells, expression of HBxAg stimulated expression of URG11 by transcriptional transactivation, consistent with the hypothesis that URG11 is an effector of HBxAg. When expressed in HepG2 cells, both HBxAg and URG11 stimulated cell growth due to an increase in cell cycle progression and a decrease in cell death, in comparison to control cells. HBxAg and URG11 stimulated anchorage-independent growth in soft agar by 5- and 3-fold above background, respectively, and accelerated onset of tumor formation and size of tumors in Scid mice injected with HepG2 cells.