Hepatitis C virus core proteins derived from different quasispecies of genotype 1b inhibit the growth of Chang liver cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of different quasispecies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b core protein on growth of Chang liver cells.


METHODS
Three eukaryotic expression plasmids (pEGFP-N1/core) that contained different quasispecies truncated core proteins of HCV genotype 1b were constructed. These were derived from tumor (T) and non-tumor (NT) tissues of a patient infected with HCV and C191 (HCV-J6). The core protein expression plasmids were transiently transfected into Chang liver cells. At different times, the cell cycle and apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry, and cell proliferation was assayed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.


RESULTS
The proportion of S-phase Chang liver cells transfected with pEGFP-N1/core was significantly lower than that of cells transfected with blank plasmid at three different times after transfection (all P < 0.05). The proliferation ratio of cells transfected with pEGFP-N1/core was significantly lower than that of cells transfected with blank plasmid. Among three different quasispecies, T, NT and C191 core expression cells, there was no significant difference in the proportion of S- and G0/G1-phase cells. The percentage of apoptotic cells was highest for T (T > NT > C191), and apoptosis was increased in cells transfected with pEGFP-N1/core as the transfection time increased (72 h > 48 h > 24 h).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that HCV genotype 1b core protein induces apoptosis, and inhibits cell-cycle progression and proliferation of Chang liver cells. Different quasispecies core proteins of HCV genotype 1b might have some differences in the pathogenesis of HCV persistent infection and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Yan
Xue-Bing
XB
Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China. yxbxuzhou@126.com
Mei
Lei
L
Feng
Xia
X
Wan
Mei-Rong
MR
Chen
Zhi
Z
Pavio
Nicole
N
Brechot
Christian
C
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010957:Plasmids; D014162:Transfection; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014758:Viral Core Proteins