title: Hepatitis C virus core protein induces hypoxia-inducible factor 1α-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor expression in Huh7.5.1 cells.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been demonstrated that the overexpression of angiogenic factors are associated with the maintenance of liver neoplasia. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are important regulators of angiogenesis and are important in wound healing, the regeneration of new vessels and reproductive functions. The present study investigated the role of the HCV core protein in the induction of HIF-1α and VEGF expression. The HCV core gene and HIF-1α siRNA were transfected into Huh7.5.1 cells. The results demonstrated that the induction of HCV core gene expression in Huh7.5.1 cells leads to the overexpression and stabilization of HIF-1α, and the activation of HIF-1α leads, in turn, to the stimulation of VEGF, which is one of the most important angiogenic factors. These results provide new information to facilitate the understanding of HCC oncogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chengliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gongli Hospital, Second Military Medicine University, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xinghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shiqun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhaoming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Kailang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus