[The influence of HBV/P22 protein on the apoptosis of HepG2 cells: an experimental study].
OBJECTIVE
To study the influence of HBV/P22 protein on the induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells.


METHODS
In vitro, two HepG2 strains were transfected with pcDNA3.1+ and pcDNA3.1+HBV/P22 respectively and the cells were exposed to Act D and TNF alpha for 6h and then the induced apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and TUNEL technique. Supernatant HBeAg was detected by Abbott reagent. The intracellular expression of HBV/P22 protein was measured by Western blot and immunochemistry. In vivo, three cell groups were inoculated into nude mice by subcutaneous injections. After two weeks, Act D and TNF alpha were injected into the tumors and then the induced apoptosis in the tissues was detected by TUNEL technique. The expression of HBV/P22 protein in the tumor tissues was detected by immunochemistry.


RESULTS
In vitro, in HepG2- pcDNA3.1+HBV/P22 cells, supernatant HBeAg was positive and intracellular HBV/P22 protein was positively expressed. The apoptosis proportion of HepG2-pCDNA3.1+HBV/P22 cells was markedly lower than HepG2 and HepG2-pcDNA3.1+ cells (P < 0.05). In vivo, HBV/P22 protein was expressed in the tumor tissues, and the apoptosis proportion in the group injected with HepG2-pcDNA3.1+HBV/P22 cells was markedly lower than those injected with HepG2 and HepG2-pcDNA3.1+cells (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
HBV/P22 protein could inhibit the induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells both in vitro and in vivo.
Zhang
Fan
F
Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Diao
Zhi-hong
ZH
Yu
Zhi-jian
ZJ
Zhang
Ming-xia
MX
Zhu
You-fu
YF
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D014162:Transfection; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C534392:p22 core protein, hepatitis B virus