[Human normal biliary epithelial cells transformation and tumor development induced by hepatitis C virus core protein].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of hepatitis C virus core protein (HCV-C) on human normal biliary epithelial cells (BEC) transformation and tumor development.


METHODS
BEC cells were transfected with plasmid pcDNA HCV-C (expressing HCV-C) by lipofectamine and selected in G418. The expression of HCV-C gene and protein was determined by PCR and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. Biological effect of transfected cells was observed through cell proliferation assay, anchor independent growth, and tumor development in nude mice. The expression of HCV-C protein in the induced tumor was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
HCV-C was strongly expressed in BEC cells transfected with plasmid pcDNA HCV-C and the positive signal was located in cytoplasm. The HCV-C expression protein in the induced cytoplasm. Cell proliferation assay showed that the population doubling time in the pcDNA HCV-C transfected cells was much shorter than that in the pcDNA3 and non-transfected cells (14 h, 28 h, 30 h respectively). The cloning efficiencies of transfected cells with pcDNA HCV-C, pcDNA3 and non-transfected cells were 36%, 2.5% and 1.5%, respectively (P < 0.01). Tumor developed in nude mice inoculated with pcDNA HCV-C transfected cells after the inoculation. HE staining showed bile duct carcinoma character and immunohistochemistry confirmed HCV-C expression in the tumor tissue. The positive control group also showed tumor development, while no tumor mass obtained in the nude mice inoculated with pcDNA3 and non-transfected cells even 36 days after the injection.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV-C protein showed human normal biliary epithelial cells transformation and tumorigenic features.
Chen
Ru-Fu
RF
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Second Hospital of Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510120, China. chenrf63@163.com
Li
Zhi-Hua
ZH
Chen
Ji-Sheng
JS
Kong
Xian-He
XH
Zou
Sheng-Quan
SQ
D000818:Animals; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000166:cytology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010957:Plasmids; D014162:Transfection; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
D014758:Viral Core Proteins