title: Corticosteroids stimulate hepatitis B virus DNA, mRNA and protein production in a stable expression system.
abstract: The effect of corticosteroids (Dexamethasone) on hepatitis B virus was investigated in human hepatoblastoma cells stable transfected with recombinant HBV DNA. Dexamethasone was found to cause elevation of HBsAg, HBeAg and viral DNA production. HBV poly(A)+ RNA was significantly increased in cells treated with Dexamethasone. Furthermore, pulse labelled nuclear HBV RNA was also stimulated by Dexamethasone. These findings, suggest that corticosteroids enhance expression of viral gene products by stimulating HBV transcription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tur-Kaspa
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laub
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone