Mechanism of intrauterine infection of hepatitis B virus

AIM:To explore the possible mechanism of intrauterine infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV).METHODS: HBV DNA was detected in vaginal secretion and amniotic fluid from 59 HBsAg-positive mothers and in venous blood of their newborns by PCR. HBsAg and HBcAg in placenta were determined by ABC immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:The rate of HBV intrauterine infection was 40.1% (24/59). HBV DNA was detected in 47.5% of amniotic fluid samples and 52.5% of vaginal secretion samples respectively.HBsAg and HBcAg were detected in placentas from HBsAg-positive mothers. The concentration of the two antigens decreased from the mother's side to the fetus's side, in the following order:maternal decidual cells>trophoblastic cells> villous mesenchymal cells>villous capillary endothelial cells. However, in 4 placentas the distribution was in the reverse order. HBsAg and HBcAg were detected in amniotic epithelial cells from 32 mothers.CONCLUSION:The main route of HBV transmission from mother to fetus is transplacental, from the mother side of placenta to the fetus side. However, HBV intrauterine infection may take place through other routes.

ROS-related Enzyme Expressions in Endothelial Cells Regulated by Tea Polyphenols

Objective Elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially the level of superoxide is a key event in many forms of cardiovascular diseases. To study the mechanism of tea polyphenols against cardiovascular diseases, we observed the expressions of ROS-related enzymes in endothelial cells. Methods Tea polyphenols were co-incubated with bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (BCAECs) in vitro and intracellular NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and p67phox, SOD-1, and catalase protein were detected using Western blot method. Results Tea polyphenols of 0.4 ug/mL and 4.0 ug/mL (from either green tea or black tea) down-regulated NADPH oxidase p22phox and p67phox expressions in a dose-negative manner (P<0.05), and up-regulated the expressions of catalase (P<0.05). Conclusions Tea polyphenols regulate the enzymes involved in ROS production and elimination in endothelial cells, and may be beneficial to the prevention of endothelial cell dysfunction and the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Transactivating effect of hepatitis C virus core protein: A suppression subtractive hybridization study

AIM: To investigate the transactivating effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein and to screen genes transactivated by HCV core protein. METHODS: pcDNA3.1(-)-core containing full-length HCV core gene was constructed by insertion of HCV core gene into EcoRI/BarnHI site. HepG2 cells were cotransfected with pcDNA3.1(-)-core and pSV-lacZ. After 48 h, cells were collected and detected for the expression of β-gal by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. HepG2 cell swere transiently transfected with pcDNA3.1(-)-core using Upofectamine reagent. Cells were collected and total mRNA was isolated. A subtracted cDNA library was generated and constructed into a pGEM-Teasy vector. The library was amplified with E. coil strain JM109. The cDNAs were sequenced and analyzed in GenBank with BLAST search after polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The core mRNA and protein could be detected in HepG2 cell lysate which was transfected by the pcDNA3.1(-)-core. The activity of β-galactosidase in HepG2 cells transfected by the pcDNA3.1(-)-core was 5.4 times higher than that of HepG2 cells transfected by control plasmid. The subtractive library of genes transactivated by HCV core protein was constructed successfully. The amplified library contained 233 positive clones. Colony PCR showed that 213 clones contained 100-1 000 bp inserts. Sequence analysis was performed in 63 clones. Six of the sequences were unknown genes. The full length sequences were obtained with bioinformatics method, accepted by Genl3ank. It was suggested that six novel cDNA sequences might be target genes transactivated by HCV core protein. CONCLUSION: The core protein of HCV has transactivating effects on SV40 early promoter/enhancer. A total of 63 clones from cDNA library were randomly chosen and sequenced. Using the BLAST program at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, six of the sequences were unknown genes. The other 57 sequences were highly similar to known genes.

Molecular epidemiological study on pre-X region of hepatitis B virus and identification of hepatocyte proteins interacting with whole-X protein by yeast two-hybrid

AIM: To identify the pre-X region in hepatitis B virus (HBV)genome and to study the relationship between the genotype and the pre-X region. To investigate the biological function of whole-X (pre-X plus X) protein, we performed yeast two-hybrid to screen proteins in liver interacting with whole-X protein.METHODS: The pre-X region of HBV was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, and was cloned to pGEM Teasy vector. After the target region was sequenced, Vector 8.0 software was used to analyze the sequences. The whole-X bait plasmid was constructed by using yeast two-hybrid system 3. Yeast strain AH109 was transformed. After expression of the whole-X protein in AH109 yeast strains was proved, yeast two-hybrid screening was performed by mating AH109 with Y187 containing liver cDNA library plasmid. The mated yeast was plated on quadruple dropout medium and assayed for α-gal activity. The interaction between whole-X protein and the protein obtained from positive colonies was further confirmed by repeating yeast two-hybrid. After extracting and sequencing of plasmid from blue colonies, we carried out analysis by bioinformatics. RESULTS: After sequencing, 27 of 45 clones (60%) were found encoding the pre-X peptide. Eighteen of twenty-seven clones (66.7%) of pre-X coding sequences were found from genotype C. Five positive colonies that interacted with whole-X protein were obtained and sequenced; namely, fetuin B, UDP glycosyltransferase 1 family-polypeptide A9, mannose-P-dolichol utilization defect 1, fibrinogen-B beta polypeptide, transmembrane 4 superfamily member 4CD81 (TM4SF4).CONCLUSION: The pre-X gene exists in HBV genome.Genes of proteins interacting with whole-X protein in hepatocytes were successfully cloned. These results brought some new clues for studying the biological functions of whole-X protein.

Transactivating effect of complete S protein of hepatitis B virus and cloning of genes transactivated by complete S protein using suppression subtractive hybridization technique

AIM: To investigate the transactivating effect of complete S protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and to construct a subtractive cDNA library of genes transactivated by complete S protein of HBV by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique and to clone genes associated with its transactivation activity, and to pave the way for elucidating the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus infection. METHODS: pcDNA3.1(-)-complete S containing full-length HBV S gene was constructed by insertion of HBV complete S gene into BamH I/Kpn I sites. HepG2 cells were cotransfected with pcDNA3.1(-)-complete S and pSV-lacZ. After 48 h, cells were collected and detected for the expression of β-galactosidase (β-gal). Suppression subtractive hybridization and bioinformatics techniques were used. The mRNA of HepG2 cells transfected with pcDNA3.Incomplete S and pcDNA3.1(-) empty vector was isolated, and detected for the expression of complete S protein by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, and cDNA was synthesized. After digestion with restriction enzyme RsaI, cDNA fragments were obtained. Tester cDNA was then divided into two groups and ligated to the specific adaptors 1 and 2, respectively. After tester cDNA had been hybridized with driver cDNA twice and underwent nested PCR twice, amplified cDNA fragments were subcloned into pGEM-Teasy vectors to set up the subtractive library. Amplification of the library was carried out within E. coli strain DH5α. The cDNA was sequenced and analyzed in GenBank with BLAST search after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. RESULTS: The complete S mRNA could be detected by RT-PCR in HepG2 cells transfected with the pcDNA3.1(-)-complete S. The activity of β-gal in HepG2 cells transfected with the pcDNA3.1(-)-complete s was 6.9 times higher than that of control plasmid. The subtractive library of genes transactivated by HBV complete S protein was constructed successfully. The amplified library contains 86 positive clones. Colony PCR showed that 86 clones contained DNA inserts of 200-1 000 bp, respectively. Sequence analysis was performed in 35 clones randomly, and the full length sequences were obtained with bioinformatics method and searched for homologous DNA sequence from GenBank, altogether 33 coding sequences were obtained. These cDNA sequences might be target genes transactivated by complete S protein of HBV. Moreover, two unknown genes were discovered, full length coding sequences were obtained by bioinformatics techniques, one of them was named complete S transactivated protein 1 (CSTP1) and registered in GenBank (AY553877). CONCLUSION: The complete S gene of HBV has a transactivating effect on SV40 early promoter. A subtractive cDNA library of genes transactivated by HBV complete S protein using SSH technique has been constructed successfully. The obtained sequences may be target genes transactivated by HBV complete S protein among which some genes coding proteins are involved in cell cycle regulation, metabolism, immunity, signal transduction, cell apoptosis and formation mechanism of hepatic carcinoma.

Genes transactivated by hepatitis C virus core protein, a microarray assay

AIM: To explore the new target genes transactivated by hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein and to elucidate the pathogenesis of HCV infection. METHODS: Reverse transcribed cDNA was subjected to microarray assay. The coding gene transactivated by HCV core protein was cloned and analyzed with bioinformatics methods. RESULTS: The expressive vector of pcDNA3.1(-)-core was constructed and confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing and approved correct. mRNA was purified from HepGZ and HepG2 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1(-)-core, respectively. The cDNA derived was subjected to microarray assay. A new gene named HCTP4 was cloned with molecular biological method in combination with bioinformatics method. CONCLUSION: HCV core is a potential transactivator. Microarray is an efficient and convenient method for analysis of differentially expressed genes.

Cloning and identification of NS5A TP2gene and its spliced variant transactivated by hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 5A

AIM: To clone, identify and study new NSSATP2 gene and its spliced variant transactivated by hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 5A. METHODS: On the basis of subtractive cDNA library of genes transactivated by NS5A protein of hepatitis C virus, the coding sequence of new gene and its spliced variant were obtained by bioinformatics method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted to amplify/VSSATP2 gene. RESULTS: The coding sequence of a new gene and its spliced variant were cloned and identified successfully. CONCLUSION: A new gene has been recognized as the new target transactivated by HCV NS5A protein. These results brought some new clues for studying the biological functions of new genes and pathogenesis of the viral proteins.

Screening of hepatocyte proteins binding to complete S protein of hepatitis B virus by yeast-two hybrid system

AIM: To investigate the biological function of complete S protein and to look for proteins interacting with complete S protein in hepatocytes. METHODS: We constructed bait plasmid expressing complete S protein of HBV by cloning the gene of complete S protein into pGBKT7, then the recombinant plasmid DNA was transformed into yeast AH109 (a type). The transformed yeast AH109 was mated with yeast Y187 (α type) containing liver cDNA library plasmid in 2×YPDA medium. Diploid yeast was plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing X-α-gal for selection and screening. After extracting and sequencing of plasmids from positive (blue) colonies, we underwent sequence analysis by bioinformatics. RESULTS: Nineteen colonies were selected and sequenced. Among them, five colonies were Homo sapiens solute carrier family 25, member 23 (SLC25A23), one was Homo sapiens calrer.iculin, one was human serum albumin (ALB) gene, one was Homo sapiens metallothionein 2A, two were Homo sapiens betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase, three were Homo sapiens Na+ and H+coupled amino acid transport system N, one was Homo sapiens CD81 antigen (target of anti-proliferative antibody 1) (CD81), three were Homo sapiens diazepam binding inhibitor, two colonies were new genes with unknown function. CONCLUSION: The yeast-two hybrid system is an effective method for identifying hepatocyte proteins interacting with complete S protein of HBV. The complete S protein may bind to different proteins i.e., its multiple functions in vivo.