乙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白在HepG2．2．15细胞中的亚细胞定位及转移

Subcellular distribution and translocation of hepatitis B virus core protein in HepG2.2,15 ceils

目的观察HepG2．2．15细胞内HBV核心蛋白的亚细胞定位及转移，了解核心蛋白的入核机制。方法2％二甲亚砜或（和）1μmol／LBay414109处理HepG2．2．15细胞4d；荧光共聚焦显微镜观察HBsAg和HBcAg在细胞内的定位；Westernblot检测胞质和胞核中的HBcAg水平；选择性PCR检测胞核内HBV共价闭合环状DNA（cccDNA）水平。结果二甲亚砜处理提高了胞质和胞核内的HBcAg表达及核内的cccDNA水平；Bay414109处理后胞质中HBcAg水平下降但胞核中HBcAg水平上升，cccDNA水平下降；联合应用二甲亚砜和Bay41—4109处理后HBsAg在胞质内呈条索状分布，胞质中HBcAg水平下降，但胞核内HBcAg明显上升，cccDNA水平下降。结论HepG2．2．15细胞中存在HBV核心颗粒入核障碍，游离核心蛋白易于通过核孔，二甲亚砜可促进核心蛋白进入细胞核，并有助于cccDNA的形成。

Objective The hepatitis B virus core protein has been found in nuclei, cytoplasm, or both of hepatocytes transfected with HBV DNA. It is still unclear whether intact core particles could pass through nuclear pores and what could be the mechanism regulating the subcellular localization of the core protein. This study on the distribution of core protein in hepatocytes and its translocation has a potential advantage to learn more about the HBV life cycle. Methods Dimethyl sulphoxide （DMSO, 2%）, which effects hepatic differentiation, and/or 1 μmol/L heteroaryldihydropyrimidine Bay41-4109, which interferes with the assem- bly of core particles, were added into HepG2.2.15 cell culture system for 4 days. The hepatitis B virus core antigen （HBcAg） and hepatitis B virus surface antigen （HBsAg） were stained with fluorescent immunocytochemistry and then observed under a confocal microscope. HBcAg in cytoplasm and nuclei were respectively extracted and analyzed using Western blot. HBV covalently closed circular DNA （cccDNA） was detected by using selective PCR method. Results The HBcAg was mostly expressed in the cytoplasm and weak signals of cccDNA were detected in the control HepG2.2.15 cells. After DMSO treatment, the expression of HBcAg in cytoplasm was increased about 2.5-fold; the expression of HBcAg and cccDNA in nuclei also increased. With the use of Bay41-4109, the signal of HBcAg in cytoplasm decreased 2/3, but it increased in the nuclei, and cccDNA decreased in the nuclei. When the HepG2.2.15 cells were treated both with DMSO and Bay41-4 109, cord-liked distribution of HBsAg was observed in the cytoplasm. HBcAg in cytoplasm was decreased 1/2 but the HBcAg in the nuclei increased about 5-fold, whereas the cccDNA was almost negative. Conclusion In HepG2.2.15 cells, the core protein is mainly assembled as a formation of core particles in the cytoplasm and they are blocked by the nuclear membrane. Bay41-4109 interferes with the assembly of core particles and the dissociated core proteins are able to enter the nuclei. DMSO promotes the nuclear entry of core protein/core particles and facilitates the formation of cccDNA.