应用微环DNA技术体外诱导和制备重组的乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA

乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)共价闭合环状DNA(covalently closed circular DNA,cccDNA)是病毒慢性感染的分子基础。本课题组前期研究通过Cre/loxP介导的位点特异性DNA重组策略,在细胞核内由前体质粒诱导重组cccDNA(rcccDNA^loxP)产生,首次建立了HBV cccDNA的体外培养细胞和小鼠实验模型。本研究基于大肠埃希菌ZYCY10P3S2T PhiC31重组酶诱导表达系统,建立了一种体外诱导HBV rcccDNA(rcccDNA^attR)微环产生和纯化的策略。纯化的rcccDNA^attR微环具有超螺旋结构,细胞培养实验证实其能支持功能性的HBV复制和抗原表达。与普通的线性HBV复制子编码质粒相比,rcccDNA^attR尾静脉高压注射小鼠模型能诱导显著延长的病毒抗原血症。因此,本研究在原核表达系统和实验小鼠水平提供了一种更为简化的HBV cccDNA实验模型系统,并再次显示rcccDNA具有显著的稳定性,能作为一种基本策略在小鼠模型中诱导病毒持续感染。     

乙肝病毒X 蛋白通过CREB 上调HBx结合蛋白促进肝癌细胞迁移

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白（hepatitis B virus X protein,HBx）对肝癌的发生发展具有十分重要的作用. HBx 具有促进肝癌迁移的作用,但其作用的分子机制不清. 本研究对 HBx 促进肝癌细胞迁移的分子机制进行了探讨. 伤口愈合和 Boyden’s chamber结果表明,HBx 可明显促进肝癌 HepG2 细胞迁移. 在稳定转染 HBx 的 HepG2（HepG2-X）细胞中转染 HBx 结合蛋白（hepatitis B X-interacting protein,HBXIP）的 RNA 干扰片段,可明显抑制 HBx 的促迁移作用. 免疫组化和实时定量 PCR 结果表明,HBXIP 在肝癌组织中显著高表达,并且与 HBx 表达成正相关. 荧光素酶报告基因和免疫印迹结果表明,HBx 显著增强 HBXIP 的启动子活性和蛋白质表达水平. 应用 HBx 的 RNA 干扰处理 HepG2-X 细胞,HBXIP 的启动子活性和蛋白质表达水平明显下降.将 HBXIP 启动子区的cAMP效应元件结合因子（CREB）结合位点突变后,HBx 上调 HBXIP 的作用消失. 应用 CREB 的 RNA 干扰处理肝癌细胞,在启动子水平和蛋白质水平上, HBx 对 HBXIP 的上调作用被显著抑制. 染色质免疫共沉淀结果表明,HBx 能够通过 CREB 结合到 HBXIP 的启动子上,进而发挥激活 HBXIP 的功能. 本研究结果表明,HBx 促进肝癌细胞迁移的作用是通过 CREB 上调 HBXIP 实现的. 这一发现对进一步揭示 HBx 促进肝癌细胞迁移的分子机制具有重要意义.     

上调基因4与癌症

上调基因4（up-regulated gene-4,URG4）是受乙肝病毒X蛋白（hepatitis B virus X protein,HBx）激活的下游基因之一,最初在转染HBx的HepG2细胞中被克隆,因其上调细胞增殖效应而得名。与未转染的细胞相比,URG4在HBx转染后的HepG2细胞中表达明显增加,证实了URG4与乙肝病毒相关的肝细胞癌发生相关。近年来,人们发现URG4不仅在肝癌细胞中高表达,还与胃癌、骨肉瘤、非小细胞肺癌、神经母细胞瘤等多种癌症相关。本文结合近年来对URG4的研究成果,包括URG4基因及其蛋白质的结构与功能,URG4在癌症发生发展中的作用,以及在癌症早期诊断和预后中的意义进行综述,可望为后续深入地开展URG4与癌症的研究提供参考。     

乙肝病毒X蛋白突变体(HBxΔ127)通过ERK上调钙蛋白酶小亚基1促进肝癌细胞迁移

乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus, HBV) X蛋白(HBx)对肝癌的发生发展具有十分重要的作用.我们前期研究发现,HBx 突变体(HBxΔ127)与肝癌的增殖和迁移有密切的关系. 钙蛋白酶小亚基1（calpain small subunit 1,Capn4）具有促进细胞迁移、增殖和分化的作用.本研究对HBx 突变体(HBxΔ127) 促进肝癌细胞迁移的分子机制进行了研究. 实验结果显示, HBxΔ127可明显激活Capn4的启动子活性和上调Capn4蛋白表达.应用ERK抑制剂PD98059作用肝癌细胞后,可明显抑制HBxΔ127对Capn4的上调作用,提示HBxΔ127可通过磷酸化ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2)上调Capn4应用伤口愈合实验进一步证实,HBxΔ127促进肝癌细胞迁移的作用与Capn4 和p-ERK1/2有关.本研究结果表明, HBxΔ127促进肝癌细胞迁移的作用是通过p-ERK1/2上调Capn4实现的. 这一发现对进一步揭示HBx 突变体HBxΔ127促进肝癌细胞转移的分子机制具有重要意义.     

NIRF在体内外可明显抑制乙型肝炎病毒抗原的表达

随着对NIRF（Np95/ICBP-90 like RING finger protein）研究的深入,其功能已涉及细胞癌变进程以及表观遗传学等领域. 近期研究显示,NIRF能与HBc (hepatitis B virus core protein )相互结合,但其对乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)抗原表达的影响尚不明确. 本文通过转染pAAV-HBV1.3质粒和高压水动力法尾静脉注射BALB/C小鼠,建立乙型肝炎病毒的细胞和动物模型,研究NIRF对乙型肝炎病毒抗原表达的影响. ELISA检测细胞上清和小鼠血清中HBsAg、HBeAg的分泌和表达情况,Western 印迹或免疫组化染色技术检测HBcAg. 结果显示,乙型肝炎病毒抗原分泌的细胞以及小动物模型建立成功,并且无论在体内外,NIRF都能对它们的表达起抑制作用,期待能为后续的HBV致病机理以及治疗药物的研究提供支持与帮助.     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白上调环加氧酶2表达促进肝癌细胞增殖的实验研究

乙肝病毒X蛋白（Hepatitis B virus X protein,HBx）高表达与乙肝相关肝癌的发病密切相关,但HBx发挥促癌作用的机制并不清楚。环加氧酶2（Cyclooxygenase,COX2）具有促进肝癌细胞增殖的功能,乙肝相关肝癌中COX2的表达增加且与HBx呈正相关,提示上调COX2可能是HBx促进肝癌细胞增殖的分子机制。为了阐明HBx是否通过上调COX2促进肝癌细胞增殖,本实验培养了肝癌HepG2细胞并分为对照组、转染pcDNA3.1-HBx质粒的HBx组、转染NC siRNA的si-NC组、转染NC siRNA及pcDNA3.1-HBx质粒的si-NC+HBx组、转染COX2 siRNA及pcDNA3.1-HBx质粒的si-COX2+HBx组。检测细胞增殖活力OD_490nm的水平,COX2、B淋巴细胞瘤2基因（BCL2）、生存素（Survivin）的表达量,前列腺素E2（英文名,PGE2）的含量。实验结果显示,HBx组的OD_490nm水平,细胞中COX2、BCL2、Survivin的表达量,培养基中PGE2的含量均高于对照...     

HBx与肝细胞脂肪变性关系及可能机制的细胞学研究

从细胞水平探讨乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(hepatitis B virus X protein,HBx)与肝细胞脂肪变性的关系,并探讨其可能分子机制。油红O染色及细胞内甘油三酯含量测定鉴定HepG2.2.15细胞和HepG2细胞的脂变程度;Western blotting检测HBx,肝X受体(liver X receptor alpha,LXRα)及脂肪酸合成酶(fatty acid synthase,FAS)蛋白的表达。结果显示,C2.2.15组细胞脂变程度较CG2组细胞重。O2.2.15组细胞在24,48及72h的脂变程度及TG含量均较同一时间段的OG2组增加;Western blotting结果显示,HepG2.2.15细胞内有HBx蛋白表达,而HepG2细胞则无此蛋白表达;C2.2.15组细胞LXRα及FAS蛋白表达强度较CG2组细胞高。HBx蛋白与肝细胞脂肪变性存在密切的关系,其机制可能与HBx/LXRα/FAS信号通路有关。     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白与端粒酶的关系

端粒（telomere）是真核细胞染色体末端的重复序列,对维持染色体的稳定性具有重要作用 .端粒酶（telomerase）是维持端粒长度必需的一种逆转录酶,在细胞增殖、衰老、永生化 和癌变等方面具有重要的作用.在肿瘤细胞中端粒酶发生明显变化,有较高水平的表达和很 强的活性,成为肿瘤细胞的重要特征之一.乙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis B virus）X蛋白（HBx ）与肝癌的发生密切相关,HBx可以通过多种途径发挥致癌作用,其中一个重要的分子机制 ,即激活人端粒酶反转录酶hTERT（为端粒酶的催化亚单位）使细胞发生永生化而癌变.因此 ,详细阐明HBx与hTERT的关系对于揭示乙肝病毒致癌机制具有重要的意义.本文对HBV的分子 结构和HBx的分子生物学特性进行了详细的阐述,对HBx与hTERT及其调控因子的关系进行了 归纳和总结,有助于进一步阐明HBx的致癌机制.     

COX-2在乙肝病毒X蛋白（HBx）促进肝癌细胞和肝细胞增殖中的作用

乙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis B virus, HBV）X蛋白（HBx）对肝癌的发生发展具有十分重要的作用．大量研究结果表明,与花生四烯酸代谢相关的磷脂酶COX-2与肿瘤细胞的增殖密切相关．为了阐明COX-2在HBx促进肝细胞增殖中的作用,在前期应用基因芯片方法检测发现稳定转染HBx 基因的肝癌细胞H7402-X中COX-2基因表达明显上调的基础上,本研究应用免疫印迹技术在蛋白表达水平上获得了相同的结果．进而,应用COX-2的特异性抑制剂Indo分别作用H7402-X细胞和L-O2-X细胞（稳定转染HBx 基因的人永生化L-O2肝细胞）,观察HBx蛋白是否通过COX-2促进肝癌细胞或肝细胞增殖．BrdU掺入实验和流式细胞仪检测结果显示,50 μmol/L的Indo可明显抑制H7402-X细胞和L-O2-X细胞的增殖．本研究结果提示,HBx可通过COX-2所介导的花生四烯酸代谢促进肝癌细胞和肝细胞增殖．     

NIRF可抑制乙型肝炎病毒在水动力法转染HBV小鼠模型中的复制及表达

目前对NIRF(Np95/ICBP-90 like RING finger protein)的研究正朝着细胞癌变进程以及表观遗传学的方向发展,但在体内NIRF对乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)的复制及表达的影响,目前尚不明确.通过高压水动力法转染HBV小鼠模型,不同时间点收集血液和肝组织标本,荧光定量PCR检测血清及肝组织中病毒载量,WesternBlot检测肝组织HBc(hepatitis B virus core protein)表达,ELISA检测血清HBeAg表达,并通过免疫组化染色检测HBsAg、HBcAg在肝组织中的定位及表达.小鼠转染pAAV-HBV1.3和NIRF以后,血清及肝组织病毒载量降低(n=3,P<0.05),HBc蛋白及HBV相关抗原的表达受到抑制,说明在水动力法转染HBV小鼠模型中NIRF对HBV的复制及表达起到抑制作用,期待能为后续的HBV致病机理及治疗药物的研究与开发提供支持与帮助.     

Hepatitis B virus X protein stimulates viral genome replication via a DDB1-dependent pathway distinct from that leading to cell death

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is essential for virus infection and has been implicated in the development of liver cancer associated with chronic infection. HBx can interact with a number of cellular proteins, and in cell culture, it exhibits pleiotropic activities, among which is its ability to interfere with cell viability and stimulate HBV replication. Previous work has demonstrated that HBx affects cell viability by a mechanism that requires its binding to DDB1, a highly conserved protein implicated in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation. We now show that an interaction with DDB1 is also needed for HBx to stimulate HBV genome replication. Thus, HBx point mutants defective for DDB1 binding fail to complement the low level of replication of an HBx-deficient HBV genome when provided in trans, and one such mutant regains activity when directly fused to DDB1. Furthermore, DDB1 depletion by RNA interference specifically compromises replication of wild-type HBV, indicating that HBx produced from the viral genome also functions in a DDB1-dependent fashion. We also show that HBx in association with DDB1 acts in the nucleus and stimulates HBV replication mainly by enhancing viral mRNA levels, regardless of whether the protein is expressed from the HBV genome itself or supplied in trans. Interestingly, whereas HBx induces cell death in both HepG2 and Huh-7 hepatoma cell lines, it enhances HBV replication only in HepG2 cells, suggesting that the two activities involve distinct DDB1-dependent pathways.     

Putative tumor suppressor YueF affects the functions of hepatitis B virus X protein in hepatoma cell apoptosis and p53 expression

Previously, we identified YueF as a novel Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx)-interacting protein. Herein, we studied the functions of YueF and HBx in hepatocarcinogenesis. YueF was expressed at high levels in normal human hepatic cells and tissues, but scarcely found in hepatoma cells or other tumor tissues. Over-expression of YueF, or YueF and HBx could induce cell apoptosis and enhance p53 expression in hepatoma cells, whereas over-expression of HBx alone behaved contrarily. These results indicate that YueF has tumor suppressor activity and affects the functions of HBx in cell apoptosis and p53 expression in hepatoma cells.     

HBV DNA can bind to P53 protein and influence p53 transactivation in hepatoma cells

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis by blocking p53 function. A p53 response element-like binding sequences, TGCCT?TGCCT, was found in HBV genome. To clarify whether HBV DNA can, like some other DNA viruses, bind to P53 protein and form a DNA-protein complex, we used a series of plasmids encoding full-length or mutant HBV or p53 fragments to determine the binding ability of HBV DNA after cotransfected into cells by electrophoretic mobility shift (and supershift) assay. We found that HBV DNA could bind to P53 protein and form DNA-protein complexes in human hepatoma cell lines. Cotransfection with p53 and HBV DNA increased the replication of HBV, CAT activity, tumor cell apoptosis, and cytoplasmic P53 accumulation in the hepatoma cells. In conclusions, our observations suggest that the interaction of HBV and p53 at the levels of protein-protein and DNA-protein, which resulted in inactivation of p53 transactivation.     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白对细胞凋亡的影响存在剂量依赖性

乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)X蛋白(HBx)与HBV相关肝细胞肝癌(HCC)的发生和发展密切相关.深入研究HBx在HCC形成中的作用将为探索HBV致癌机制提供重要依据.HBx是多功能蛋白,其对细胞凋亡的影响至今仍存在分歧.许多研究表明,HBx既有促进细胞凋亡又有抑制细胞凋亡的功能,但原因不清楚.本研究中,将表达HBx的质粒短...     

The hepatitis B virus protein MHBs(t) sensitizes hepatoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through ERK2

The TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has recently been implicated in the death of hepatocytes under infectious but not normal conditions. Infectious agents, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), may play important roles in regulating the sensitivity of hepatocytes to TRAIL. Our previous studies showed that HBx, a protein encoded by the HBV genome, enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis through upregulating Bax. We report here that another HBV protein called MHBs(t) (C-terminally truncated middle hepatitis B surface protein) is also a potent regulator of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Overexpressing MHBs(t) in hepatoma cells enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Mechanistic studies reveal that MHBs(t) had no effect on Bax or TRAIL receptor expression or procaspase-8 activation, but selectively enhanced the activation of ERK2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2) and the degradation of procaspases-3 and 9. ERK2 activation is required for the MHBs(t) effect because ERK2 inhibition by its inhibitor PD98059 significantly reversed TRAIL-induced apoptosis of MHBs(t)-transfected cells. These results establish that unlike HBx, MHBs(t) enhances TRAIL-induced hepatocyte apoptosis through a novel mechanism that involves ERK2. Therefore, manipulating the ERK2 signaling pathway may provide new therapeutic opportunities to contain hepatic cell death during HBV infection. Xiaohong Liang and Juan Du contributed equally to this work.