Lu HZ, Zhou JH. Hepatitis B virus X protein up-regulates tumor necrosis factor-α expression in cultured mesangial cells via ERKs and NF-κB pathways.
Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2013;
3:217-22. [PMID:
23620841 PMCID:
PMC3631753 DOI:
10.1016/s2221-1691(13)60053-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) and the underlying intracellular signal pathways.
METHODS
The plasmid pCI-neo-X that carries the X gene of hepatitis B virus was transfected into cultured GMCs. HBx expression in the transfected GMCs was assessed by Western-blot. TNF-α protein and mRNA were assessed by ELISA and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Three kinase inhibitors-U0126, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs); lactacystin, an inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB); and SB203580, a selective inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase (p38 MAPK) were used to determine which intracellular signal pathways may underlie the action of HBx on TNF-α expression in transfected GMCs.
RESULTS
A significant increase in HBx expression in pCI-neo-X transfected GMCs was detected at 36 h and 48 h, which was not affected by any of those kinase inhibitors mentioned above. A similar increase in the expression of both TNF-α protein and mRNA was also observed at 36 h and 48 h, which was significantly decreased in the presence of U0126 or lactacytin, but not SB203580.
CONCLUSIONS
HBx upregulates TNF-α expression in cultured GMCs, possibly through ERKs and NF-κB pathway, but not p38 MAPK pathway.
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