Hepatitis C virus core protein activating stat3 pathway and promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular cells

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-0793.2015.06.005

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the role of hepatitis C virus core protein (HCVc) on the activation of stat3 pathway and regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular cells, which might be involved in tumor metastasis of liver cancer.

Methods

Recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N3-HCVc containing HCVc gene was transfected to over-expressed HCVc in HepG2 cells. Real-Time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of HCVc, stat3, phosphorylated stat3 (p-stat3), E-cadherin, Vimentin and Snail. Wound healing test and Transwell assay was employed to detect cell migration and invasiveness.

Results

Wound healing test and Transwell assay showed that over-expression of HCVc in HepG2 cells promoted the cell migration and invasiveness. Meanwhile, AG490 treatment inhibited cell migration and invasiveness of HCVc over-expressing cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that expression of HCVc, p-stat3, Vimentin and Snail were increased and E-cadherin was decreased in HCVc over-expressing HepG2 cells. Treatment of AG490 on HCVc over-expressing cells could attenuate HCVc-induced up-regulation of p-stat3, Vimentin and Snail expression and down-regulation of E-cadherin.

Conclusion

HCVc activates stat3 pathway and promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HepG2 cells, which may be associated with enhanced cell migration and invasion in liver cancer.

Key words: Viral core proteins, Liver neoplasms, Hepatitis C, stat3, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Jiajia Zhou, Rufu Chen, Xiaogeng Deng, Wenchao Gao, Shangyou Zheng, Di Cheng, Quanbo Zhou, Jie Zhang. Hepatitis C virus core protein activating stat3 pathway and promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular cells[J]. Chinese Archives of General Surgery(Electronic Edition), 2015, 09(06): 431-436.

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URL: https://zhptwkxwx.cma-cmc.com.cn/EN/10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-0793.2015.06.005

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References 17

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