[Hepatitis B x protein activated vascular endothelial growth factor expression through hypoxia inducible factor-1 pathway].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether hepatitis B x protein (HBx) stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) through hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1 alpha) pathway.


METHODS
Two plasmids including pIRES-EGFP-HBx and pTK-Hyg were co-transfected to a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721. With fluorescence-positive and fluorescence-negative hygromycin-resistant colonies selected, expressions of VEGF and HIF-1 alpha in protein or/and mRNA level were detected.


RESULTS
Fluorescence-positive cells were stably integrated with HBx, in which expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF were upregulated. Fluorescence-negative cells did not express HBx, VEGF or HIF-1 alpha.


CONCLUSIONS
HBx can activate VEGF through HIF-1 alpha pathway.
Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Hai-ping
HP
Wang
Xiao-ping
XP
Chen
Lei
L
Ding
Song-qing
SQ
He
Muthanna
M
Ali
Dong-hua
DH
Li
Wan-guang
WG
Zhang
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein