Gender-Specific Alteration of Steroid Metabolism and Its Impact on Viral Replication in a Mouse Model of Hepatitis B Virus Infection

This study explores how hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects steroid metabolism differently in male and female mice, revealing that HBV causes significant alterations in steroid hormones only in males. Notably, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels increased, and androgen levels decreased in HBV-infected male mice. The study found that reduced dihydrotestosterone levels in males inhibit viral replication by suppressing HBV promoter activity, indicating a viral strategy to counteract the antiviral effects of steroid hormones. These findings highlight the sex-specific impact of HBV on steroid metabolism and its implications for viral replication.