RESUMO
Objective To study the function of core protein (CORE) of genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV) of different strains (T: derived from tumor tissues; NT: derived from non-tumor tissues; C191: HCV-J6) and different domains (1-172, 1-126, 1-58, 59-126, 127-172 AA) of T CORE in the pathogenesis of HCV infection and to find the therapy target. Methods Different truncated genotype 1b HCV CORE eukaryotic expression plasmids (T, NT, C191) and different domains of T CORE were constructed and transfected to HepG2 cells. Cell apoptosis and necrosis were quantified by flow cytometry. Cell growth curves were observed with real time cell growth instrument. Results COREs from different strains of genotype 1b and different domains of CORE induced cell apoptosis and necrosis, and inhibited HepG2 cell growth at different levels. CORE derived from T induced apoptosis and necrosis and inhibited cell growth higher than that derived NT and C191. N terminal 1-58 AA of CORE derived from T induced cell apoptosis and necrosis and inhibited cell growth higher than any other domains. Conclusion COREs from different strains of genotype 1b HCV and different domains of CORE from the same HCV strain play different roles in their molecular pathogenesis of HCV. Among different domains of CORE, N terminal 1-58 AA might play an important role in its pathogenesis and be one target of gene therapy.