State of hepatitis C viral replication enhances activation of NF-kB- and AP-1-signaling induced by hepatitis B virus X

Received 17 February 2005; received in revised form 18 March 2005; accepted 20 March 2005.

Abstract

We examined the effect of hepatitis B virus X (HBx) on NF-kB- and AP-1- mediated transcription in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, Huh-7 with or without subgenomic hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. Expression of HBx in Huh-7 cells with HCV resulted in 4.9 times increased NF-kB-activation and 3.8 times AP-1-activation whereas that without HCV resulted in 2.4 times increased NF-kB-activation and 2.3 times AP-1-activation. Interestingly, the expression of the matured form of HCV core protein, Core173, did not activate NF-kB- or AP-1-transcription in either Huh7 with or without HCV replicon. HBx protein might play an important role in HCV-related hepatocarcinogenesis.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Replicon, NF-kB, Hepatitis B virus X

a Safety and Health Organization, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoicho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan

b Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan

Corresponding author. Tel.: +81 43 226 2086; fax: +81 43 226 2088.

PII: S0304-3835(05)00282-X

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2005.03.030

4 of 19