Objective To investigate the differences of kinesin family member 4 (KIF4A) expression between hepatic carcinoma and adjacent tissue in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection,and to understand the effect of HBV on the expression of KIF4A.Methods Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure the expression of KIF4A in hepatic carcinoma and adjacent tissues. HepG2 cells were co-transfected with KIF4A promoter containing the luciferase gene and HBV infectious clone pHBV1.3,and luciferase activity was measured.Expression of KIF4A in HepG2 cells was measured after tranfected with different doses of pHBV1.3.The student's t-test was used for statistic analysis.Results Expression of KIF4A was much higher in hepatic carcinoma than that in adjacent tissues.HBV enhanced KIF4 A gene promoter activity and the luciferase activities were increased as the concentration of pHBV1.3 increased ( 0,0.2,0.4,0.6 and0.8 μg/mL),which were (126.8± 13.4),(219.8±16.7),(387.6±21.5),(586.5 ± 228.9 ) and (657.6 ± 35.5 ) RUL/μg protein,respectively,while the luciferase activities were (123.6± 13.8),(131.8± 14.6),(129.7-13.5),(135.3± 13.4) and (127.1± 12.7) RUL/μg protein,respectively with different doses of control plasmids transfected,and statistical analysis showed significant difference between them (t=4.875,P=0.006).And HBV upregulated KIF4A mRNA and protein expressions in HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner.Conclusion Expression of KIF4A is enhanced in hepatic carcinoma and HBV can upregulate KIF4A expression.