title: Hepatitis B virus X induces cell proliferation in the hepatocarcinogenesis via up-regulation of cytoplasmic p21 expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) has been shown to induce hepatocarcinogenesis by disrupting the functions of intracellular molecules. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (Cip1/WAF1), known as a tumour-suppressor gene, has been reported to have paradoxical function, that is, acting as an oncogene, particularly when expressed in the cytoplasm. The effects of HBx on the expression and function of p21 also remain controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to investigate the role of HBx in the hepatocarcinogenic process, focusing on the association with this paradoxical function of p21. The results obtained were further verified with experiments using the antihepatocarcinogenic action of interferon (IFN)-β.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBx transgenic mice (Xg) and HBx-transfected hepatoma cell lines were used. Intracellular localization of p21 was determined by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Xg and HBx-transfected cells exhibited increased expression of p21. Up-regulation of p21 was positively correlated with the expression of cyclin D1 and inactive phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb). These HBx-induced cell proliferative responses were cancelled by knockdown of p21, which resulted in growth reduction in HBx-expressing cells, suggesting the oncogenic properties of HBx-induced p21. HBx induced accumulation of p21 in the cytoplasm, and activation of PKCα was involved. Finally, IFN-β-treated Xg liver, as well as hepatoma cells, showed a shift of cytoplasmic p21 to the nucleus, accompanied by the abrogation of HBx-induced oncogenic modulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that HBx induces hepatocarcinogenesis via PKCα-mediated overexpression of cytoplasmic p21 and IFN-β suppressed these molecular events by shifting p21 to the nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohkoshi
authors.forename: Yo-hei
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Sou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamagiwa
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanpei
authors.forename: Shun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujimaki
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakai
authors.forename: Shin-ei
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Yasunobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
chemical_list: C530104:CCND1 protein, human; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; C530105:Ccnd1 protein, mouse; C493957:Cdkn1a protein, mouse; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein; D019938:Cyclin D1; D016899:Interferon-beta; C496628:PRKCA protein, human; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha
keywords: HBV X protein; IFN-β; PKCα; hepatocarcinogenesis; p21 (Cip1/WAF1)