Effects of HCV NS4B on p53 gene expression and apoptosis in hepatic cells

[Objective] To investigate the effect of hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 4B(HCV NS4B)on wild-type p53 gene expression and apoptosis in hepatic cells.[Methods] The empty vector PCXN2,HCV NS4B,recombinant plasmid PCXN2-NS4B and wild-type p53 expression plasmid were transfected or co-transfected into Chang liver cells.Screening was performed with G418.Plasmid transfected into hepatic cells successfully was detected by reverse transcription PCR.The expressions of p53 gene in PCXN2 group,NS4B group,p53 group,NS4B-p53 group were detected by using in-situ hybridization.TUNEL(flow cytometry) was used for assessing the apoptosis rates.[Results] Compared with the PCXN2 group,p53 mRNA expression was not promoted or inhibited in NS4B group(P0.05);Compared with p53 group,p53 mRNA expression in normal liver cells of NS4B-p53 group was degraded(P0.01);The cell apoptosis rates in PCXN2 group,NS4B group,p53 group,NS4B-p53 group were respectively(17.02±1.24)%,(11.94±2.24)%,(25.84±3.49)%,(18.34±1.55)%.[Conclusion] HCV NS4B may inhibit p53 gene expression and liver cells apoptosis.HCV NS4B may inhibit cell apoptosis by inhibiting p53 expression.