[Influence of F protein of hepatitis C virus subtype 1b inhibits on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell apoptosis].

Objective: To investigate the effects of F protein of hepatitis C virus subtype 1b on the apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.
Methods: HepG2 cells were transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.0-F-EGFP and pcDNA3.0-F-EGFP-HepG2 strain was exposed to Act-D and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) treatment in order to induce cell apoptosis with positive control pcDNA3.0-C-EGFP-HepG2, negative control pcDNA3.0-C-EGFP-HepG2 and blank control HepG2. Annexin V-FITC/PI of flow cytometry was performed to determine the number of apoptotic cells. DNA Ladder was used to observe the isolation of apoptotic DNA fragments in the apoptotic cells.
Results: pcDNA3.0-F-EGFP- HepG2 cell strain showed a much delayed apoptosis as well as obviously lowering the apoptotic rate when compared with the pcDNA3.0-HepG2 strain and HepG2 strain (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The introduction and expression of extraneous gene (the F gene of hepatitis C virus subtype 1b) could significantly inhibit the apoptosis of HepG2 cells.