ABSTRACT
AIM:To study the effect of proprotein convertases (PCs) on the transforming growth factor (TGF) ?1-induced inhibition of HBV replication.METHODS:HepG2.2.15 cells cultured regularly were exposed to recombinant TGF?1 at concentration of 2 ?g/L or 5 ?g/L and/or PC inhibitor at concentration of 20 ?mol/L for 18 h.The total RNA and HBV core particle DNA were extracted from these cells,and PC mRNA and core-associated HBV DNA were detected by real-time PCR technique.RESULTS:The mRNA expression levels of 7 PCs in HepG2.2.15 cells were observed with various degrees.Recombinant TGF?1 significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of all PCs except for the down-regulation of PC5 /6,though PC1 /3 and PC2 were up-regulated most obviously.Furin and PACE4 were the predominant PCs before and after TGF?1 exposure when the basic mRNA expression was taken into account.Further study showed that TGF?1-induced the inhibition of HBV replication was abrogated by PC inhibitor in HepG2.2.15 cells.CONCLUSION:TGF?1-induced the inhibition of HBV replication is mediated by the up-regulation of PCs,which might be of many implications in efficient interferences of TGF?1 on HBV replication.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To study the influences of P1 promoter activity of furin gene on the functions of hepatocytes in patients with liver cirrhosis.METHODS: The patients with liver cirrhosis of 180 cases were recruited.The single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP-229 C/T) in P1 promoter of furin gene was genotyped using competitively differentiated polymerase chain reaction.The relationships between the promoter activity based on genotyping and the serum levels of liver enzymes,total bilirubin,albumin and prothrombin were observed.RESULTS: The distribution frequencies of allele C and T were 75.3%(271/360) and 24.7%(89/360).Those of genotypes CC,CT and TT were 62.2%(112/180),26.1%(47/180) and 11.7%(21/180),respectively.The distribution frequencies of the genotypes were not related to the serum levels of major liver enzymes,albumin,total bilirubin and prothrombin,except for alkaline phosphatase and ?-glutamyl transferase.CONCLUSION: The activity of furin promoter exerts no effects on the main functions of hepatocytes,suggesting that furin may be a new therapeutic target for HBV infection.