ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the signal pathway mediating the regulatory effect of Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBX) on c-met gene promoter in HepG2 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of c-met in HBX-transfected HepG2 cells treated with different signal pathway inhibitors was detected by western blot, the invasion capability of cells was determined by Matrigel invasion assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ERK inhibitor U0126 inhibited the expression of the c-Met in HBx-transfected HepG2 cells. However, both p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and PI-3K inhibitor wortmanin had no effect on expression of the c-Met in HBx-transfected HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the ERK inhibitor U0126 also inhibited the invasiveness of HBX-transfected HepG2 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBx induces invasion of HCC via activation of ERK pathway.</p>