title: Enchanced levels of apolipoprotein M during HBV infection feedback suppresses HBV replication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic liver diseases can interfere with hepatic metabolism of lipoproteins, apolipoproteins. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major etiological agent causing acute and chronic liver diseases. Apolipoprotein M (ApoM) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) apolipoprotein and exclusively expressed in the liver parenchyma cells and in the tubular cells of the kidney. This study was to determine the correlation between HBV infection and ApoM expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum ApoM levels in patients with HBV infection and in healthy individuals were measured by ELISA, ApoM mRNA expression were determined by RT-PCR, and the expression of S and E proteins of HBV, as well as the synthesis of viral DNA were measured by ELISA and real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of serum ApoM was significantly elevated in patients as compared to healthy individuals (P < 0.001), ApoM promoter activity, mRNA and protein expression were all stimulated in cells transfected with infectious HBV clone. In addition, ApoM decreases the expression of S and E proteins of HBV and the synthesis of viral DNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Raised ApoM levels in HBV infection may in turn suppress HBV replication, one of the protective mechanisms of nature.
authors.affiliation: Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, PR China.
authors.forename: Jin-Gang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Cheng-liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Duo-zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000075243:Apolipoproteins M; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D049410:Luciferases, Renilla / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: C400523:APOM protein, human; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D000075243:Apolipoproteins M; D054834:Lipocalins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D049410:Luciferases, Renilla