乙肝病毒X蛋白通过骨桥蛋白OPN促进肝癌细胞迁移

乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染与肝细胞癌(HCC)的发生具有十分密切的关系,乙肝病毒X蛋白(HBx)对HCC的发生和转移具有重要的作用.研究发现,骨桥蛋白(OPN)在许多肿瘤及其转移组织中高表达,与肿瘤转移密切相关.为了进一步阐明HBx在肝癌细胞迁移中的作用及其分子机制,以稳定表达HBx的肝癌细胞H7402-X为模型探讨了HBx与OPN的关系.结果发现,HBx可激活OPN启动子转录活性和上调OPN的mRNA表达."体外划痕"实验结果显示,HBx与肝癌细胞的迁移能力呈正相关.通过RNA干扰下调OPN的表达可抑制H7402-X细胞的迁移能力.本研究发现,HBx通过上调OPN的表达促进肝癌细胞迁移,对揭示肝癌转移的分子机制具有重要意义.     

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...     

花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢氧化失活PTEN促进结直肠癌生长

摘要 目的：本研究旨在阐明过表达COX-2的结直肠癌中花生四烯酸代谢与PTEN及其下游通路的相互关系。方法：利用过表达COX-2结直肠癌细胞系CT26和Apc ^Min/+小鼠腺瘤模型,联合花生四烯酸、COX-2抑制剂NS-398和COX-2基因敲除的干预,采用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡、细胞周期及活性氧的产生;Transwell和克隆形成试验观察细胞的迁移和增殖能力;Western blot和免疫组化检测PTEN及其下游相关蛋白的表达。结果：花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢产生活性氧并失活PTEN抑癌基因表达,从而激活PI3K-AKT蛋白促进CT26结直肠癌细胞迁移和增殖,抑制细胞凋亡;而COX-2抑制剂NS-398阻止了花生四烯酸在CT26结直肠癌细胞中的恶性生物学行为。同时,在COX-2基因敲除Apc ^Min/+小鼠腺瘤组织中,减弱了氧化应激水平,增加了PTEN表达,抑制了PI3K-AKT磷酸化,进一步抑制腺瘤生长,提高小鼠生存率。结论：花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢产生活性氧下调PTEN活性,并激活PI3K-AKT促进结直肠癌生长;COX-2抑制剂可间接促进PTEN表达,抑制结直肠癌生长,能够作为CRC的潜在治疗靶点。     

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.     

转人肝刺激物质基因的肝癌细胞增殖状态研究

本文通过研究转染人肝刺激物质（hepatic stimulator substance,HSS）的肝癌细胞增殖状态,进一步探讨了该基因的生物功能。将人HSS基因导入BEL－7402肝癌细胞,用Northern和Southern杂交法证实该基因在靶细胞中有稳定表达。并通过测定细胞生长曲线、细胞S期比例和细胞MAPK活性,观察到转HSS基因BEL－7402细胞增殖发生了改变。实验结果提示,HSS表达的肝癌细胞DNA合成增加、增殖速度加快,可能与MAPK激活有关,HSS基因表达可促进细胞增殖。     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白调节TRAIL诱导的肝细胞凋亡

观察乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HBx)对肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, TRAIL)诱导肝细胞凋亡的影响并初步探讨其分子机制. 构建包含HBx基因的真核表达载体pcDNA-HBx, 转染BEL7402肝癌细胞, 建立可稳定表达HBx的肝癌细胞系BEL7402-HBx, 同时设立空载体pcDNA3转染对照组细胞BEL7402-cDNA3. 台盼蓝染色计数, Caspase3活性检测和TUNEL法检测TRAIL诱导BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx细胞凋亡的情况, 并通过流式细胞术分析3组细胞表面TRAIL受体的表达水平. 此外, 利用硫代反义寡核苷酸封闭HBV全基因转染肝癌细胞系HepG2.2.15中HBx蛋白的表达, 观察阻断前后对TRAIL诱导凋亡敏感性的改变, 进一步反向验证HBx对TRAIL诱导凋亡的调节作用. 台盼蓝染色计数提示TRAIL 对BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx均有剂量依赖性的细胞毒作用, 但在相同浓度TRAIL作用下, BEL7402-HBx细胞较BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3细胞有更高的敏感性. Caspase3活性检测结果分析发现, TRAIL作用后BEL7402-HBx细胞在较短时间内有更高的Caspase3活化水平. TUNEL结果显示, 10 mg/LTRAIL作用下, BEL7402-HBx细胞凋亡率可达(41.4±7.2)%, 显著高于对照组细胞. 反义封闭HepG2.2.15细胞中HBx基因的表达可部分阻断TRAIL诱导的凋亡. 两组实验结果均显示HBx的表达变化并不影响细胞表面TRAIL受体的表达模式. HBx蛋白参与调节TRAIL诱导的细胞凋亡, 可能在HBV相关疾病的发生中起一定作用, 这一作用与TRAIL受体表达水平无关. 从两个不同的侧面证实了HBx对TRAIL诱导细胞凋亡的调节作用, 为进一步论证凋亡失衡在HBV感染相关肝炎及肝癌发生中的作用提供了新的论据.     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白结合蛋白（HBXIP）对细胞周期的影响

与乙肝病毒X蛋白（HBX）的C端结合,它具有抑制HBX活性的作用. 为进一步阐明HBXIP对细胞增殖的作用及其分子机制,构建了HBXIP的真核表达载体,并将其稳定转染至正常人肝细胞系L-O2细胞中,建立了稳定表达HBXIP蛋白的肝细胞系,命名为L-O2-hbxip. 然后,应用MTT、BrdU标记实验和流式细胞术等方法,发现HBXIP过表达后,L-O2细胞的生长速度明显加快,可促进细胞由G₁期进入到S期,表明HBXIP具有促进L-O2-hbxip细胞增殖的作用.应用免疫印迹对有关细胞周期相关蛋白进行了检测. 结果显示,HBXIP过表达时可上调细胞周期蛋白D₁、细胞周期蛋白E的表达,并下调p21和p27的表达,从而调节细胞周期,产生对细胞增殖的影响.     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白通过miR-122调节肝癌细胞增殖及细胞周期的研究

乙型肝炎病毒中的功能蛋白乙肝病毒X蛋白(Hepatitis B virus X protein,HBx)在促进肝细胞恶性改变中起到重要作用,但目前HBx调控肝癌细胞生长的具体机制仍未完全阐明。miR-122是具有抑癌特性的一类miR,在乙肝相关肝癌中表达减少。为了研究HBx通过微小RNA(microRNA,miR)-122调节肝癌细胞增殖及细胞周期的作用,本研究培养肝癌HepG2细胞株并进行分组,NC组转染NC慢病毒载体、HBx组转染HBx慢病毒载体、HBx+NC模拟物组转染HBx慢病毒载体及NC模拟物、HBx+miR-122模拟物组转染HBx慢病毒载体及miR-122模拟物、NC模拟物组转染NC模拟物、miR-122模拟物组:转染miR-122模拟物。通过MTS法检测细胞增殖活力,流式细胞术检测细胞周期,PCR检测miR-122表达量,western blot检测细胞周期蛋白G1(CyclinG1)、X连锁凋亡抑制蛋白(XIAP)、β-连环蛋白(β-catenin)的表达量。结果显示HBx组细胞的OD值、细胞周期G2/M期比例及细胞中CyclinG1、XIAP、β-catenin的表达量均明显高于NC组(P0.05),细胞周期G0/G1期、S期比例及细胞中miR-122表达量均明显低于NC组(P0.05);HBx+miR-122模拟物组细胞的OD值、细胞周期G2/M期比例及细胞中CyclinG1、XIAP、β-catenin的表达量均明显低于HBx+NC模拟物组(P0.05),细胞周期G0/G1期、S期比例及细胞中miR-122表达量均明显高于HBx+NC模拟物组(P0.05);miR-122模拟物组CyclinG1、XIAP、β-catenin荧光素酶报告基因的荧光活性明显低于NC模拟物组(P0.05)。本研究结果充分说明HBx能够增强肝癌细胞的增殖活力及明显加速细胞周期,且该作用部分由miR-122的下调所介导。本研究首次阐明了HBx调节肝癌细胞生长的分子机制,也初步探明了具有抑癌活性的miR-122在肝癌细胞中可能靶向CyclinG1、XIAP、β-catenin等基因。     

乙肝病毒X蛋白诱导肝癌细胞凋亡的信号转导途径

乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitisBvirus,HBV)X蛋白(HBX)与肝癌(hepatocellularcarcinoma,HCC)的发生具有密切的关系.HBX不但具有拮抗细胞凋亡的作用,还具有促进细胞凋亡的作用.为了进一步探讨HBX促细胞凋亡作用的分子机制,通过脂质体转染的方法将携带X基因的真核表达载体pCMVX导入H7402肝癌细胞,使乙肝病毒x基因(HBx)瞬时过量表达.流式细胞仪检测结果显示,在瞬时转染3μgpCMVX质粒后,肝癌细胞发生凋亡.为阐明HBX诱导细胞凋亡的信号转导途径,对HBX与线粒体释放细胞色素c的关系做了初步探讨.通过罗丹明123染色,经流式细胞仪分析,显示在转染HBx基因后细胞线粒体膜电位明显下降,表明HBX可促进细胞色素c从线粒体释放增加.Western印迹检测结果显示,肝癌细胞在导入HBx基因后,细胞凋亡线粒体转导途径中细胞色素c、Apaf1、procaspase3和procaspase9等的表达水平均上调.研究结果说明,HBX可通过影响线粒体凋亡途径促进肝癌细胞凋亡.     

乙型肝炎病毒驱动甲胎蛋白表达诱导肝细胞恶性转化的分子机制

肝癌细胞的恶性转化与感染乙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis B virus, HBV）和丙型肝炎病毒密切相关．但是HBV没有直接诱导肝癌发生的生物学功能,HBV可通过其x蛋白（HBx）激活生长信号,促进癌基因的表达从而诱导肝细胞恶性转化．在肝细胞恶性转化过程的早期,甲胎蛋白（alpha fetoprotein, AFP）基因被激活,而AFP能激发PI3K/AKT信号传递,由于PI3K/AKT信号途径具有促进细胞恶性转化的作用,所以AFP的表达在HBV诱导肝细胞恶性转化过程发挥关键性作用．本文就HBV通过优先驱动AFP表达促进肝癌细胞增殖和自然重编程从而诱发肝癌的分子机制进行阐述,对认识AFP在HBV相关性肝癌发生过程中的作用以及预警肝癌发生有重要的科学意义．     

Hepatitis B virus X protein mutant HBxΔ127 promotes proliferation of hepatoma cells through up-regulating miR-215 targeting PTPRT

The mutant of virus is a frequent event. Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays a vital role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, the identification of potent mutant of HBx in hepatocarcinogenesis is significant. Previously, we identified a natural mutant of the HBx gene (termed HBxΔ127). Relative to wild type HBx, HBxΔ127 strongly enhanced cell proliferation and migration in HCC. In this study, we aim to explore the mechanism of HBxΔ127 in promotion of proliferation of hepatoma cells. Our data showed that both wild type HBx and HBxΔ127 could increase the expression of miR-215 in hepatoma HepG2 and H7402 cells. However, HBxΔ127 was able to significantly increase miR-215 expression relative to wild type HBx in the cells. We identified that protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type T (PTPRT) was one of the target genes of miR-215 through targeting 3′UTR of PTPRT mRNA. In function, miR-215 was able to promote the proliferation of hepatoma cells. Meanwhile anti-miR-215 could partially abolish the enhancement of cell proliferation mediated by HBxΔ127 in vitro. Knockdown of PTPRT by siRNA could distinctly suppress the decrease of cell proliferation mediated by anti-miR-215 in HepG2-XΔ127/H7402-XΔ127 cells. Moreover, we found that anti-miR-215 remarkably inhibited the tumor growth of hepatoma cells in nude mice. Collectively, relative to wild type HBx, HBxΔ127 strongly enhances proliferation of hepatoma cells through up-regulating miR-215 targeting PTPRT. Our finding provides new insights into the mechanism of HBx mutant HBxΔ127 in promotion of proliferation of hepatoma cells.     

Hepatitis B virus X protein modulates the apoptosis of hepatoma cell line induced by TRAIL

TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) is one member of TNF superfamily[1]. It is unique, for it could specifically induce the apoptosis of tumor cells or virus-infected cells but have no cytotoxic effects onnormal cells[1,2]. Owing to this characteristic, it has become a promising candidate molecule for biological therapy for tumor. Many factors could affect the sensitivity towardsTRAIL-induced apoptosis, including cytokines, virus infection, drugs, radials, etc. Studies show tha…     

Hepatitis B virus X protein modulates the apoptosis of hepatoma cell line induced by TRAIL

The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of HBx on the apoptosis of hepatoma cells induced by TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and to study preliminary molecular mechanisms for its effects. In order to set up a modelin vitro, BEL7402-HBx cell line, stably expressing HBx mRNA, was established by stable transfection of pcDNA-HBx, which contains HBx gene, into hepatoma cell line BEL7402. Control cell line BEL7402-cDNA3, stably transfected with pcDNA3, was set up simultaneously as a control. Trypan blue exclusion test, caspase 3 activity detection and TUNEL assay were performed to detect the apoptosis of BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx induced by TRAIL. The expression of TRAIL receptors in three groups was analyzed by Flow cytometry. In addition, phosphorothioated antisense oligonucleotide against the translation initial region of HBx gene (PS-asODNs/HBx) was used to block the expression of HBx in HepG2.2.15 cells and to further confirm the effects of HBx on TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Trypan blue exclusion test indicated that TRAIL had a dose-dependent cytotoxicity on BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3 and BEL7402-HBx cells. Under treatment of the same concentration of TRAIL, BEL7402-HBx had a higher apoptosis rate and a higher level of Caspase 3 activation than BEL7402 and BEL7402-cDNA3. TUENL assay showed that the apoptosis rate of BEL7402-HBx induced by 10 μg/L TRAIL was 41.4%±7.2%, significantly higher than that of BEL7402 and BEL7402-cDNA3 cells. Blockade of HBx expression in Hep G2.2.15 cells partly inhibited the apoptosis induced by TRAIL. The introduction or blockade of HBx did not change the expression pattern of TRAIL receptors. The present study firstly confirms the effects of HBx on TRAIL-induced apoptosis from two different points and it is not related with the expression level of TRAIL receptors. This would be useful to further clarify the roles of imbalanced apoptosis in pathogenesis of Hepatitis B and related hepatocellular carcinoma.     

HBXIP基因对乙肝病毒X蛋白诱导细胞凋亡的影响

探讨乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白结合蛋白(hepatitisBXinteractingprotein ,HBXIP)基因在乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HBX)诱导肝癌细胞凋亡时对细胞周期的影响.构建HBXIP基因真核表达载体pcDNA3 hbxip ,进行瞬时基因转染,将克隆有HBx基因的pCMV X (分别为1μg、2 μg和3μg)和pcDNA3 hbxip质粒分别和共转染至人H74 0 2肝癌细胞中(总体积分别为5 0 μl) .发现瞬时转染3μgpCMV X质粒后,肝癌细胞凋亡发生率为34 4 % ,肝癌细胞的细胞周期相关蛋白p2 7表达水平发生明显上调;与对照组相比,瞬时转染1μg、2 μg和3μg时,细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平均发生明显上调,但随着HBX水平的增加细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平发生明显下降;在稳定转染pCMV X质粒的H74 0 2 X肝癌细胞中无明显的细胞凋亡发生,研究发现p2 7的表达水平发生了明显下调,而细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平发生了明显上调;当pcDNA3 hbxip质粒与pCMV X质粒进行共瞬时转染时,细胞凋亡发生率由pcDNA3质粒与pCMV X质粒共转染时的2 9 2 %下降为13 3% ,p2 7的表达水平发生了下调,但细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平无明显变化.研究结果表明,瞬时转染一定剂量的x基因可导致肝癌细胞发生凋亡,细胞周期相关蛋白p2 7、细胞周期蛋白D和     

Elevation of highly up-regulated in liver cancer (HULC) by hepatitis B virus X protein promotes hepatoma cell proliferation via down-regulating p18

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in human cancers. It has been reported that lncRNA highly up-regulated in liver cancer (HULC) is dramatically up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) contributes importantly to the development of HCC. However, the function of HULC in HCC mediated by HBx remains unclear. Here, we report that HULC is involved in HBx-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis. We found that the expression levels of HULC were positively correlated with those of HBx in clinical HCC tissues. Moreover, we revealed that HBx up-regulated HULC in human immortalized normal liver L-O2 cells and hepatoma HepG2 cells. Luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that HBx activated the HULC promoter via cAMP-responsive element-binding protein. We further demonstrated that HULC promoted cell proliferation by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, colony formation assay, and tumorigenicity assay. Next, we hypothesized that HULC might function through regulating a tumor suppressor gene p18 located near HULC in the same chromosome. We found that the mRNA levels of p18 were inversely correlated with those of HULC in the above clinical HCC specimens. Then, we validated that HULC down-regulated p18, which was involved in the HULC-enhanced cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we observed that knockdown of HULC could abolish the HBx-enhanced cell proliferation through up-regulating p18. Thus, we conclude that the up-regulated HULC by HBx promotes proliferation of hepatoma cells through suppressing p18. This finding provides new insight into the roles of lncRNAs in HBx-related hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Upregulated microRNA-29a by hepatitis B virus X protein enhances hepatoma cell migration by targeting PTEN in cell culture model

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays important roles in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to cancer development by acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Previously, we reported that HBx was able to promote the migration of hepatoma HepG2 cells. However, the regulation of miRNAs in the development of HBV-related HCC is poorly understood. In the present study, we reported that miR-29a was a novel regulator of migration of hepatoma cells mediated by HBx. Our data showed that the expression of miR-29a was dramatically increased in p21-HBx transgenic mice, HBx-transfected hepatoma HepG2-X (or H7402-X) cells and HepG2.2.15 cells that constitutively replicate HBV. However, our data showed that miR-29a was upregulated in 4 of the 11 clinical HCC samples. We found that the overexpression of miR-29a promoted the migration of HepG2 cells, while a specific miR-29a inhibitor could partially abolish the enhanced migration of HepG2-X cells. Moreover, we identified PTEN was one of the target genes of miR-29a in HepG2 cells. The deletion of the miR-29a-binding site was able to abolish the role of miR-29a in suppression of luciferase activity of the PTEN 3'UTR reporter. Meanwhile, the overexpression of PTEN was able to reverse the promoted migration of HepG2 cells mediated by miR-29a. Moreover, our data showed that the modulation of Akt phosphorylation, a downstream factor of PTEN, was involved in the cell migration enhanced by miR-29a, suggesting that miR-29a is responsible for the cell migration through its target gene PTEN. Thus, we conclude that miR-29a is involved in the regulation of migration of hepatoma cells mediated by HBx through PTEN in cell culture model.     

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.     

Hepatitis B virus X protein drives multiple cross-talk cascade loops involving NF-κB, 5-LOX, OPN and Capn4 to promote cell migration

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism remains unclear. Recently, we have reported that HBx promotes hepatoma cell migration through the upregulation of calpain small subunit 1 (Capn4). In addition, several reports have revealed that osteopontin (OPN) plays important roles in tumor cell migration. In this study, we investigated the signaling pathways involving the promotion of cell migration mediated by HBx. We report that HBx stimulates several factors in a network manner to promote hepatoma cell migration. We showed that HBx was able to upregulate the expression of osteopontin (OPN) through 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in HepG2-X/H7402-X (stable HBx-transfected cells) cells. Furthermore, we identified that HBx could increase the expression of 5-LOX through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). We also found that OPN could upregulate Capn4 through NF-κB. Interestingly, we showed that Capn4 was able to upregulate OPN through NF-κB in a positive feedback manner, suggesting that the OPN and Capn4 proteins involving cell migration affect each other in a network through NF-κB. Importantly, NF-κB plays a crucial role in the regulation of 5-LOX, OPN and Capn4. Thus, we conclude that HBx drives multiple cross-talk cascade loops involving NF-κB, 5-LOX, OPN and Capn4 to promote cell migration. This finding provides new insight into the mechanism involving the promotion of cell migration by HBx.