Functional characterization of hepatitis B virus X protein based on the inhibition of tumorigenesis in nude mice injected with CCL13-HBx cells.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the effects of HBx on the inhibition of tumorigenesis in nude mice injected with CCL13-HBx cells. Therefore, the characteristics of the induced tumors and the phenomenon of apoptosis were assessed.


METHODS
The induced tumors were identified using the specific marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), anti-alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and their characteristics were pathologically examined. Apoptosis was detected by DNA fragmentation, and the expression of the proapoptotic proteins p53, Bax, Bad, caspase-3, and caspase-8 and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was detected by Western blotting. To identify possible molecules involved in the inhibition of tumorigenesis, extracts of the induced tumors were separated by 2D-PAGE, and the proteins were identified by MS.


RESULTS
The tumors of the nude mice injected with CCL13 and CCL13-HBx cells were identified as HCCs. Moreover, HBx was found to suppress tumor growth via apoptosis in the nude mice injected with CCL13-HBx cells. The MS findings revealed that phosphorylated myosin light chain was a candidate molecule involved in the inhibition of tumorigenesis.


CONCLUSIONS
HBx suppressed tumorigenesis in the nude mice injected with CCL13-HBx cells, which proved to be a good animal model for the in vivo study of the effects of HBx on tumorigenesis.
Kuo
Chan-Yen
CY
Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Wang
Jing-Chyi
JC
Hsu
Shih-Lan
SL
Hwang
Guang-Yuh
GY
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018994:Myosin Light Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology*; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins; D018994:Myosin Light Chains; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein