title: Possible mechanism for hepatitis B virus X gene to induce apoptosis of hepatocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible mechanism for HBV X gene to induce apoptosis of hepatocyte HL-7702 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV X gene eukaryon expression vector pcDNA3-X was established and transfected into HL-7702 cells by lipid-mediated transfection, including transient and stable transfection. Positive clones were screened by incubating in the selective medium with 600 microg/mL G418 and named HL-7702/HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) cells. The expressions of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-2, and c-myc mRNA were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in HL-7702/HBx and control group, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT-PCR analysis confirmed that HBV X gene was transfected into HL-7702 cells successfully. By semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis, Bax and c-myc mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of transient transfection were significantly higher than those in control, FasL and c-myc mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of stable transfection were significantly higher than those in control, whereas the Bcl-2 mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of transient and stable transfection were significantly lower than those in control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV X gene may promote the apoptosis of hepatocytes by regulating the expressions of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-2, and c-myc gene in a dose-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Zhong
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
chemical_list: D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein