MicroRNA-501 promotes HBV replication by targeting HBXIP

► miRNA array analysis showed the HBV replication-related miRNAs. ► miR-501 was up-regulated in HCC cells and tissues with highly HBV replication. ► Repressing miR-501 inhibits HBV replication through inhibiting HBXIP. ► Inhibiting HBXIP rescues the inhibition of HBV inducing by loss of miR-501.