title: Hepatitis B virus induces expression of cholesterol metabolism-related genes via TLR2 in HepG2 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) exacerbates hepatic cholesterol accumulation, and explore the underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  HepG2 cells were infected with adenovirus (Ad) containing 1.3-fold overlength HBV genome. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to measure mRNA and protein expression of target genes. Cholesterol accumulation was measured by fluorescence microscopy. Cell toxicity due to Ad-HBV treatment was determined by the mitochondrial tetrazolium assay. The protein levels of toll-like receptors (TLRs) were determined by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ad-HBV increased hepatic cholesterol accumulation and enhanced the mRNA and protein levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutharyl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCoAr) mRNA and protein expression in HepG2 cells. In addition, these inductive effects were partly offset by suppressing TLR2 expression levels by small interfering RNA in HepG2 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ad-HBV increases LDLR and HMGCoAr expression, resulting in exacerbated cholesterol accumulation in HepG2 cells, which was mediated via the TLR2 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wei-Guo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C573412:LDLR protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011973:Receptors, LDL; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D002784:Cholesterol; C553220:HMGCR protein, human; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases
keywords: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutharyl-coenzyme A reductase; Hepatitis B virus; Low-density lipoprotein receptor; Toll-like receptors