Hepatitis C virus NS5A protein upregulates survivin gene expression / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) encoded by the human hepatitis C virus RNA genome could affect the expression of the survivin gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HCV NS5A expression plasmid (pCNS5A) was transfected into HepG2 cells using a lipofectin reagent and the HCV NS5A protein was detected using immuno-histochemistry staining. Survivin mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the expression of survivin protein was detected using Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HCV NS5A protein was detected in the cytoplasm of the HepG2 cells transfected with pCNS5A, and the expressions of survivin mRNA and survivin protein were both up-regulated in the presence of the HCV NS5A protein.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HCV NS5A protein can stimulate survivin protein expression, and this might be the result of the strengthening of the survivin gene transcription.</p>