Study of hepatitis B virus X protein inducing cell apoptosis

Objective To investigate the role of hepatitis B virus X(HBX) protein in cell apoptosis.Methods Eukaryotic expression vector of HBX gene was constructed.Recombination vector mentioned above was transfected by Lipofectamine to Hela cell,Hepatocarcinoma cell(SMMC-7721) and normal mouse fetal liver cell(FL).X protein(pX) expressed in these three cell type was detected by immunohistochemical method.The apoptosis in Hela-X cells was analyzed by flow cytometry and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate fluorescence nick end labeling(TUNEL) method.Results In three cell type,pX expressed.A stable pX-expression cell line was selected by G418.HBX protein could express in Hela cells in 20 passages.Conclusion HBX protein could induce apoptosis in vitro.