Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2005. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2005; 11(28): 4351-4356
Published online Jul 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i28.4351
Possible mechanism for hepatitis B virus X gene to induce apoptosis of hepatocytes
Sheng-Jun Zhang, Hong-Ying Chen, Zhi-Xin Chen, Xiao-Zhong Wang
Sheng-Jun Zhang, Hong-Ying Chen, Zhi-Xin Chen, Xiao-Zhong Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Science and Technology Fund of Fujian Province, No. 99-Z-162
Correspondence to: Xiao-Zhong Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China. drwangxz@pub6.fz.fj.cn
Telephone: +86-591-83357896-8482
Received: November 23, 2004
Revised: November 24, 2004
Accepted: November 26, 2004
Published online: July 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the possible mechanism for HBV X gene to induce apoptosis of hepatocyte HL-7702 cells.

METHODS: HBV X gene eukaryon expression vector pcDNA3-X was established and transfected into HL-7702 cells by lipid-mediated transfection, including transient and stable transfection. Positive clones were screened by incubating in the selective medium with 600 mg/mL G418 and named HL-7702/HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) cells. The expressions of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-2, and c-myc mRNA were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in HL-7702/HBx and control group, respectively.

RESULTS: RT-PCR analysis confirmed that HBV X gene was transfected into HL-7702 cells successfully. By semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis, Bax and c-myc mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of transient transfection were significantly higher than those in control, FasL and c-myc mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of stable transfection were significantly higher than those in control, whereas the Bcl-2 mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of transient and stable transfection were significantly lower than those in control.

CONCLUSION: HBV X gene may promote the apoptosis of hepatocytes by regulating the expressions of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-2, and c-myc gene in a dose-dependent manner.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; X gene; Apoptosis; Gene expression