Induction of Apoptosis in A Hepatitis B Virus Stablely Infected Cell Line by TRAIL

Objective To examine the induction of apoptosis of a HBV stably infected cell line HepG2.2.15 by TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL).Methods MTT was used to determine the cytotoxic effect of TRAIL on the HepG2.2.15 cells.DNA electrophoresis,spectrophotometry and flow cytometry were used to characterize the apoptotic process of HepG2.2.15 cells treated with TRAIL.Results The inhibition rate of TRAIL(0.1 μg/mL) on HepG2.2.15 at 12,24 and 36 hours was 17.91%,41.26%,and 59.85%,respectively.The percentage of PI stained sub-G1 cells(at 12 hours) in the TRAIL-treated and control cell was 21.8% and 8.7%,respectively.Typical DNA ladder was observed in cells at 24 hours after TRIAL treatment.After 6 hours of the treatment,the activity of Caspase-3 was about 4.76 times higher than the untreated control cells.Conclusion TRAIL was found to induce apoptosis in the HepG2.2.15 cells.