The X gene of hepatitis B virus induced growth stimulation and tumorigenic transformation of mouse NIH3T3 cells.
To examine the transforming potential of the X gene product of hepatitis B virus (HBV), the X-gene-containing region (referred to as the HBx region) was introduced into mouse NIH3T3 cells. Each transformed cell line expressed X-coding mRNA at a different level. A positive correlation was found between the level of X-coding mRNA and the saturation density of the cells. The HBx-transformed cell lines exhibited X protein production and tumor formation in nude mice. The function of HBV in oncogenesis may involve the continuous expression of the X-gene-coded product in the HBV DNA-integrated cells.
Shirakata
Y
Y
Department of Gene Research, Cancer Institute, Tokyo.
Kawada
M
M
Fujiki
Y
Y
Sano
H
H
Oda
M
M
Yaginuma
K
K
Kobayashi
M
M
Koike
K
K
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000382:microbiology*; D010957:Plasmids; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D015678:Viral Structural Proteins