title: Effects of hepatitis B virus X gene on apoptosis and expression of immune molecules of human proximal tubular epithelial cells.
abstract: The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is the most important determinant in viral pathogenesis. HBx regulates HBV replication, cellular transcription, signal transduction, proteasome activity and cell cycle progression. In this study, HK-2 cells were transiently transfected with the HBx gene using a eukaryotic vector, pcDNA3.1/myc-HBx. Transfection with the HBx gene increased the number of apoptotic cells. In addition, cultured HK-2 cells became irregular in shape. The expression of α-SMA and E-cadherin, TLR4, MHC-II and CD40 was increased. The transfection resulted in increased IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels in the supernatant and decreased IL-4 in the supernatant. In conclusion, overexpression of the HBx gene in renal tubular epithelial cells induces apoptosis of HK-2 cells and promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation. HBx transfection upregulates the expression of immune molecules in renal tubular epithelial cells and induces an imbalance in cytokine levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Shanghai First People's Hospital, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wei-jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000166:cytology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein