title: Hepatitis C virus E2 protein promotes human hepatoma cell proliferation through the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway via cellular receptors.
abstract: Dysregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways by various viruses has been shown to be responsible for viral pathogenicity. The molecular mechanism by which hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection caused human liver diseases has been investigated on the basis of abnormal intracellular signal events. Current data are very limited involved in transmembrane signal transduction triggered by HCV E2 protein. Here we explored regulation of the MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway by E2 expressed in Chinese hamster oval cells. In human hepatoma Huh-7 cells, E2 specifically activated the MAPK/ERK pathway including downstream transcription factor ATF-2 and greatly promoted cell proliferation. CD81 and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) on the cell surface mediated binding of E2 to Huh-7 cells. The MAPK/ERK activation and cell proliferation driven by E2 were suppressed by blockage of CD81 as well as LDLR. Furthermore, pretreatment with an upstream kinase MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 also impaired the MAPK/ERK activation and cell proliferation induced by E2. Our results suggest that the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway triggered by HCV E2 via its receptors maintains survival and growth of target cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiang-Yin Road, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Lan-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-Shan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Zhong-Tian
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases