Effect Of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein On The Apoptosis And Autophagy Of Human Hepatocytes

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of hepatitis C virus(HCV) core protein on the apoptosis andautophagy of human hepatocytes QSG7701in vitro.The purpose of the study explores themechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C in patient with HCV.MethodsThe eukaryotic expressing vector for HCV core protein Was constructed, and transfectedwith QSG7701cells．QSG7701cells were cultured in vitro and devided into QSG7701group,QSG7701/core group（QSG7701cells transfected with pIRES/core plasmid）andQSG7701/pcDNA3.1group(QSG7701cells transfected with pcDNA plasmid);Morphologicalchanges of apoptotic nucleus were detected by light and fluorescence microscopes;Theapoptosis rate of QSG7701cells was measured by flow cytometry；The expression of coreprotein and NF-κB was detected using Western-blot;The expression of NF-κB was inhibitedby siRNA method,The apoptosis rate of each group was measured by flow cytometry.Theexpression of LC3and Beclin-1was detected using Western-blotting.ResultsMorphological changes of apoptotic nucleus were detected by light and fluorescencemicroscopes,such as pyknosis,karyorrhexis and apoptotic bodies.The apoptosis rate ofQSG7701cells was measured by flow cytometry,the apoptosis of QSG7701/core was 1.34%±0.07%，lower than those of QSG7701and QSG7701/pcDNA3.1(2.35%±0.11%and2.58%±0.13%respectively,p<0.05).The transcription factor NF-κB was activated.Theexpression of NF-κB was inhibited by siRNA method,The apoptosis rate of each group wasmeasured by flow cytometry.The apoptosis of siRNA group was2.38%±0.17%，higher thanthose of normal group and negative group(1.20%±0.11%and1.29%±0.09%,respectively,p<0.05).The expression of LC3and Beclin-1was activated.ConclusionHCV core protein suppresses apoptosis of QSG7701by activating the transcriptionfactor NF-κB and promotes autophagy of QSG7701by activating Beclin-1in vitro.