Trans-activation of epidermal growth factor receptor gene by the hepatitis B virus X-gene product

Virology. 1993 Oct;196(2):878-82. doi: 10.1006/viro.1993.1550.

Abstract

The expression of the cellular gene coding for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGF-R) was assayed in the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression under different experimental conditions in human hepatoma-derived cells. First, transfection experiments of the well-differentiated HepG2 human hepatoma cell line using different expression vectors of the HBV X-region demonstrated that the X-gene product is capable of inducing EGF-R gene overexpression; in addition, by using a stable in vitro expression system for HBV, it was shown that EGF-R gene expression in these cells is greater than in the uninfected parent cells, and that this results in a three-fold increase in 125I-EGF binding. Finally, a CAT-expression assay was performed, indicating that regulatory regions of the EGF-R-gene are target sequences for X-protein trans-activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / biosynthesis
  • Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / genetics
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
  • ErbB Receptors / biosynthesis
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Transcriptional Activation*
  • Transfection / genetics
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • hepatitis B virus X protein
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase
  • ErbB Receptors