Interferon-alpha restrains growth and invasive potential of hepatocellular carcinoma induced by hepatitis B virus X protein.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) to restrain the growth and invasive potential of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein.


METHODS
The pcDNA3.1-HBx plasmid was transfected into Chang cells by Lipofectamine in vitro, and Chang/HBx was co-cultured with IFN-alpha. Cell survival growth curve and clonogenicity assay were used to test the growth potential of Chang/pcDNA3.1, Chang/HBx and IFN-alpha-Chang/HBx in vitro. Growth assay in nude mice was used to detect the growth potential of Chang/pcDNA3.1, Chang/HBx and IFN-alpha-Chang/HBx in vivo. Wound healing and transwell migration assays were used to detect the invasive ability of Chang/pcDNA3.1, Chang/HBx and IFN-alpha-Chang/HBx.


RESULTS
Compared with CCL13 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1, CCL13 with stable expression of hepatitis B virus X protein showed the characteristics of malignant cells with high capability of growth and invasion by detecting their growth curves, colony forming efficiency, wound healing , transwell migration assays and growth assays in nude mice. Its capability of growth and invasion could be controlled by IFN-alpha.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN-alpha can restrain the growth and invasive potential of HCC cells induced by HBx protein, which has provided an experimental basis for IFN-alpha therapy of HCC.
Yang
Jian-Qing
JQ
Department of Surgery, The People's Hospital of Liuzhou City, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. hawk1218@sina.com
Pan
Guang-Dong
GD
Chu
Guang-Ping
GP
Liu
Zhen
Z
Liu
Qiang
Q
Xiao
Yi
Y
Yuan
Lin
L
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein