Hepatitis B virus P22e protein inhibits human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell apoptosis in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) P22e protein on the apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HepG2 cells were transfected with recombinant plasmid pEGFP-HBVP22e and exposed to Act-D and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) treatment to induce cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the proportion of cells containing sub-G1 DNA to represent the number of apoptotic cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to observe the nuclear alterations in the apoptotic cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HepG2EGFP-C2HBVP22e cell strain showed a much delayed apoptosis as well as obviously lowered apoptotic rate in comparison with the HepG2 strain (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The introduction and expression of extraneous gene HBVP22e significantly inhibits the apoptosis of HepG2 cells.</p>