Hepatitis C Virus F Protein Up -Regulates Bcl-2 And Bax In Human Hepatoma Hepg(2) Cells

Objective It has been recognized that HCV(Hepatitis C virus) core protein plays an important role in liver cancer genesis, and F protein is a newly identified protein encoded by a +1 ribosomal frameshift. We investigate the regulatory effect of Hepatitis C Virus F protein on Bcl-2 and Bax. Methods Full length F gene of HCV was amplified by PCR, using the plasmid containing HCV 1b full length open reading frame as template. HCV F gene containing, plasmid pEGFP-C3-F and HCV core gene-containing pEGFP-C3-C were constructed and transiently transfected into HepG(2) cells. 48h posttransfection, Western blotting was used to determine the changes at translation levels of Bcl-2 and Bax genes. Results the levels of Bcl-2 expression were a little higher in pEGFP-C3-F transfected HepG(2) cells than that of non-transfected cells, but significantly higher levels of Bax expression. Conclusion F protein is of regulatory properties in cellular oncogen Bcl-2 and anti-oncogen Bax, which may be implicated in the formation of hepatocelluar carcinoma.