Epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by hepatitis C virus core protein in cholangiocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We investigated the effect of hepatitis C virus core protein (HCVc) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CC and tried to identify its target trigger.


METHODS
First, we examined expression of HCVc and epithelial and mesenchymal markers in CC tissues. Then we transient-transfected HCVc gene into a CC cell line and examined expression of lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) and epithelial and mesenchymal markers by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting. Finally, LOXL2 gene silencing was shown in QBC939/HCVc cells by RNA interference (RNAi), and we further examined expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting.


RESULTS
Through immunohistochemical staining, the present study showed that HCVc is significantly associated with CC invasion and metastasis. In vitro study showed that HCVc expression induces EMT in CC cell line QBC939, and a mechanism through LOXL2 pathway is suggested. Expression of HCVc was significantly correlated with greater migratory and invasive potential of CC cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations indicate that HCVc plays a critical role in promoting invasion and metastasis of CC cells.
Li
Tianyu
T
Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, ChongQing, China.
Li
Dajiang
D
Cheng
Long
L
Wu
Hongye
H
Gao
Zhanfeng
Z
Liu
Zipei
Z
Jiang
Weiwei
W
Gao
Ying Hong
YH
Tian
Feng
F
Zhao
Lijin
L
Wang
Shuguang
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; C119091:LOXL2 protein, human