[Cyclosporine A improves the nuclear entry of hepatitis B virus core protein in HepG2.2.15 cells].
OBJECTIVE
The present aimed to observe the effect of phosphatase inhibitor cyclosporine A on the subcellular location and on expression of HBcAg in HepG2.2.15 cells.


METHODS
Thirty micrograms/ml of cyclosporine A (CSA) was added into HepG2.2.15 cell culture system and on days 2 and 4 HBcAg and HBsAg were respectively stained with fluorescent immunocytochemistry and observed under confocal microscope. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling method.


RESULTS
HBcAg was mostly expressed in cytoplasm in the control HepG2.2.15 cells. After 2 days CSA administration of the expression of HBcAg and HBsAg in cytoplasm significantly decreased and the signals of HBcAg in nucleus increased , whereas the HBcAg was still mainly expressed in nucleus in about 1/4 of the cells. Cell apoptosis was observed in about 30% of the cells.


CONCLUSIONS
CSA improves the nuclear entry of core protein. The increase of HBcAg in nucleus was likely to be related with it's phosphorylation and cell aging or apoptosis.
Pan
Xiao-ben
XB
Peking University People's Hospital; Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing 100044, China.
Han
Jin-chao
JC
Gao
Yan
Y
Wei
Lai
L
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D010766:Phosphorylation
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016572:Cyclosporine