Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Identifying Inhibitors of the HBx-DDB1 Interaction Using a Split Luciferase Assay System
Published on: December 21, 2019
Possible mechanism for hepatitis B virus X gene to induce apoptosis of hepatocytes
Sheng-Jun Zhang1, Hong-Ying Chen, Zhi-Xin Chen
1Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China.
Aim:
To investigate the possible mechanism for HBV X gene to induce apoptosis of hepatocyte HL-7702 cells.
Methods:
HBV X gene eukaryon expression vector pcDNA3-X was established and transfected into HL-7702 cells by lipid-mediated transfection, including transient and stable transfection. Positive clones were screened by incubating in the selective medium with 600 microg/mL G418 and named HL-7702/HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) cells. The expressions of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-2, and c-myc mRNA were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in HL-7702/HBx and control group, respectively.
Results:
RT-PCR analysis confirmed that HBV X gene was transfected into HL-7702 cells successfully. By semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis, Bax and c-myc mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of transient transfection were significantly higher than those in control, FasL and c-myc mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of stable transfection were significantly higher than those in control, whereas the Bcl-2 mRNA levels in HL-7702/HBx cells of transient and stable transfection were significantly lower than those in control.
Conclusion:
HBV X gene may promote the apoptosis of hepatocytes by regulating the expressions of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-2, and c-myc gene in a dose-dependent manner.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hepatitis
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction
Apoptosis
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

