title: Rapamycin enhances HBV production by inducing cellular autophagy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some reports revealed that rapamycin could reactivate HBV infection. However, the mechanism has not been clearly explained.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this report, we studied the mechanism by which rapamycin enhances HBV replication and expression by inducing cellular autophagy.
  
  
  METHODS
  HepG2.2.15 cells were treated with rapamycin to induce autophagy. Autophagosomes were observed by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Autophagy marker protein LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰwas detected by Western blotting. HBV DNA and mRNA were determined by real time PCR and Southern blotting. HBsAg was evaluated by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In HepG2.2.15 cells, HBV DNA and HBsAg increased when host cells were treated with rapamycin and the effect was reversed by autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated a potential explanation for reactivation of HBV infection when patients with hepatitis receive rapamycin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated to the Second Hospital Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Youyang People's Hospital, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Fengrong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Affiliated to the Second Hospital Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated to the Second Hospital Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated to the Second Hospital Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Sufei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated to the Second Hospital Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated to the Second Hospital Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Weixian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Autophagy; HBV; Rapamycin