HCV NS3 N端多肽诱导人肝细胞系转化及成瘤实验

目的 研究丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)非结构区3N端多肽(HCV NS3-5′)对人肝细胞株QSG7701的转化作用及致癌性。方法 通过脂质体介导将含有HCV NS3 N端cDNA的真核表达质粒(pRcHCNS3-5′)导入人源性肝细胞株QSG7701,G418筛选目的基因表达的细胞;聚合酶链反应(PCR)及免疫组织化学SP法检测细胞中HCV NS3基因及蛋白的表达;细胞计数,锚着非依赖性生长实验,成瘤性检测等鉴定其生物学行为变化,免疫组织化学S-P法检测所致肿瘤中HCV NS3及c-myc蛋白表达。结果 HCV NS3-5′转染的QSG7701细胞中NS3蛋白过度表达于胞质,质粒pRcHCNS3-5′转染细胞的倍增时间较pRcCMV转染细胞和未转染QSG7701细胞明显缩短(分别为12h,26h,28h)。pRcHCNS3-5′和pRcCMV转染细胞及未转染QSG7701在软琼脂中的克隆形成率分别为33.0％、1.5％、1.1％。pRcHCNS3-5′转染细胞的克隆率高于其他两种转染细胞(P<0.01)。三种细胞接种探鼠后,pRcHCNS3-5′转染细胞注射组出现肿瘤,为肝细胞癌,肿瘤组织有HCV NS3蛋白和c-myc蛋白的表达。阳性对照组亦出现肿瘤,而pRcCMV转染细胞及未转染QSG7701细胞注射组在注射40d后仍未见肿瘤发生。结论 HCV NS3 N端蛋白具有转化细胞和促进肿瘤发生的作用。

Hepatocyte transformation and tumor development induced by hepatitis C virus NS3 N-terminal protein

Objective To study the effect of hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3 N-terminal protein ( HCV NS3-5') on hepatocyte transformation and tumor development. Methods QSG7701 cells were transfected with plasmid pRcHCNS3-5' (expressing HCV NS3 N-terminal protein) by lipofectamine and selected in G418. The expression of HCV NS3 gene and protein was determined by PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. Biological effect of transfected cells was observed through cell proliferation assay, anchor independent growth, and tumor development in nude mice. The expression of HCV NS3 and c-myc protein in the induced tumor was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results HCV NS3 was strongly expressed in QSG7701 cells transfected with plasmid pRcHCNS3-5' and the positive signal was located in cytoplasm. The HCV NS3 expression and c-myc protein in the induced cytoplasm. Cell proliferation assay showed that the population doubling time in the pRcHCNS3-5' transfected cells was much shorter than that in the pRcCMV and non-transfected cells (24 h, 26 h, 28 h respectively). The cloning efficiencies of transfected cells with pRcHCNS3-5', pRcCMV and non-transfected cells were 33.0%, 1.5% , 1. 1% respectively ( P < 0. 01 ) . Tumor developed in nude mice inoculated with pRcHCNS3-5' transfected cells 15 days after the inoculation. HE staining showed hepatocarcinoma character and immunohistochemistry confirmed HCV NS3 and c-myc expression in the tumor tissue. The positive control group also showed tumor development, while no tumor mass obtained in the nude mice inoculated with pRcCMV and non-transfected cells even 40 days after the injection. Conclusion HCV NS3 N-terminal protein showed cell transformation and tumorigenic features.