Effect Of HBV X Gene Transfection On Expressions Of Apoptosis-associated Genes In HL-7702

AIM To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus X gene on expressionsof apoptosis-associated genes in normal hepatocyte line HL-7702.METHODS HBV X gene eukaryon expression vector pcDNA3-X was establishedand transfected into HL-7702 cells by lipid-mediated transfection.Positive clones were screened by G418, and analyzed by RT-PCR to confirmthe expression of X gene in HL-7702 cells. HL-7702 cells transfected withPcDNA3 (HL-7702/pcDNA3) and nontransfected HL-7702 cells were used ascontrol. The expressions of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-2 and c-myc mRNA weremeasured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in HL-7702/HBx and control group,respectively.RESULTS RT-PCR analysis confirmed that HBV X gene was transfected intoHL-7702 cells successfully. By semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis, Bax andc-myc mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of transient transfection weresignificantly higher than those in control (P<0.01), FasL and c-myc mRNAlevels in HL-7702/HBx cells of stable transfection were significantlyhigher than those in control (P<0.01), whereas the Bcl-2 mRNA levels inHL-7702/HBx cells of transient and stable transfection were significantlylower than those in control (P <0.01).CONCLUSIONS HBV X gene may promote the apoptosis of hepatocytes byregulating the expressions of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-2 and c-myc gene.Different dose of HBV X gene expression may have different regulatingeffects.