ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore whether hepatitis C virus core protein (HCV C) regulates the expression of NFAT1 to participate in the progression and malignant biological behavior of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N(3)-HCV C and the empty vector pEGFP-N(3) were cotransfected with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) into RBE cells using liposome. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to examine the expression of NFAT1 mRNA and protein in the transfected RBE cells. MTT assay was used to evaluate the changes in the cell proliferation, and the cell cycle changes were analyzed by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HCV C transfection significantly enhanced the expressions of NFAT1 mRNA and protein in RBE cells (P<0.05) and promoted the progression of cell cycle into G(2)/M phase to accelerate the cell proliferation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transfection with HCV C gene up-regulates NFAT1 expression and promotes the cell cycle progression and proliferation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells, suggesting the involvement of HCV C in the progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.</p>