title: Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by small interference RNA induces expression of MICA in HepG2.2.15 cells.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates in most tumor tissues of patients with HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we have shown that the expression of HBV in the HCC cell lines, HepG2 and Huh7, down-regulated the expression of MHC class I-related molecule A (MICA), a ligand of the NKG2D receptor. Inhibition of HBV expression by small interference RNAs (siRNAs) in HepG2.2.15, a cell line that constitutively expresses HBV, induced up-regulation of MICA. The up-regulation of MICA increased the lysis of HepG2.2.15 cells by NK cells. Our results suggest that HBV compromises the innate immune system in HCC patients and that inhibition of HBV replication by siRNAs may enhance the antitumor immune response.
authors.affiliation: Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China. tangkaifu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kai-Fu
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Guan-Bin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yi-Song
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhe-Chuan
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinle
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000821:virology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering