title: Hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus upregulate angiopoietin-2 expression through mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the molecular mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) upregulate angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis were used to measure the Ang-2 transcription and expression level. Reporter gene assays were used to determine the cis-element of the Ang-2 promoter. The specific inhibitors assay, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis were conducted to verify the signal pathway involved in the upregulation of Ang-2 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of transcription and expression of Ang-2 increased in the HepG2.2.15 and Con-1 cells. Reporter gene assays in HepG2.2.15 and Con-1 cells revealed that HBV/HCV could enhance Ang-2 promoter expression by activating AP-1 and Ets1. Analysis with specific inhibitors indicated that HBV/HCV upregulated the expression of Ang-2 through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study illustrates a distinct mechanism by which a tumor virus modulates vasculature to promote tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jizheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chunchen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Linding
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mengji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xinwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen