Effect of DHX15 on the replication of HBV and its mechanism

Abstract:

Objective：To screen DDX family for genes that affect the transcription activity of HBV core promoter，and to research the relationship between DHX15 and HBV replication in vitro. Methods：The DDX family genes were cloned into the expression plasmid PCH9 respectively. The HBV core promoter was cloned into a luciferase reporter vector to generate pcore-Rluc. HepG2 cells were tran－siently co-transfected with each of the DEx D/H-box expressing plasmids and pCH9-pcore-Rluc. The luciferase activity was measured with luciferase assay system. HepG2 cells were transiently co-transfected with DHX15 and HBV1.3 cells were lysed and subjected to Western blot analysis. The effects of DHX15 overexpression on the HBV DNA replication and the HBV RNA transcription were tested by using Southern blot and Northern blot respectively. HBV core promoter truncated mutants were constructed to dissect the sequence might interacting with DHX15. Results：Thirty DEx D/h-box family genes were successfully cloned. DHX15 significantly influenced the activity of HBV core promoter（P=0.042）. Compared with the control，overexpression of DHX15 promoted the replica－tion of HBV DNA and increased the transcription level of HBV RNA in HepG2 cells. Both of the 2 HBV enhancers seem to be partially responsible for the upregulation effect of DHX15 on the activity of HBV core promoter（t=8.292，P=0.001；t=5.215，P=0.006）. Conclusion：Overexpression of DHX15 promotes HBV replication in HepG2 cells by affecting the activity of HBV enhancer.（qRT-PCR） and Western blot. Cell counting Kit-8（CCK-8） assays were used to evaluate the sensibility to gefitinib of different group cells. The invasion ability and migration ability of different groups were detected by Transwell assay. Results：Nicotine in－duced epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT） of PC-9 cells in a time and concentration dependent manner. Down-regulation of E-cadherin and up-regulation of Vimentin were most significant with a treatment of 10 μmol/L nicotine for 10 h，so further experi－ments were completed under this condition. CCK-8 displayed reduction of gefitinib sensitivity of PC-9 cells in the NIC group com－pared with the control group，especially with a gefitinib concentration of 0.05 μmol/L（F=82.005，P=0.000，P=0.000）. In invasion as－says，more penetrating cells were observed in the NIC group than in the control group[（15.70±1.53） vs. （32.70±2.08），F=75.406，P=0.000，P=0.000]. Migration assays presented similar results [（102.70±7.02） vs. （18.70±2.08），F=204.038，P=0.000，P=0.000]. E-cadherin mRNA expression decreased[（0.932±0.100） vs. （0.459±0.024），F=25.924，P=0.000，P=0.000] and Vimentin mRNA expression increased[（1.200±0.200） vs. （1.973±0.129），F=20.998，P=0.000，P=0.000] in the NIC group compared with the control group，and Western blot showed the same results. Cells in the MET+NIC group displayed higher sensitivity to gifitinib，which is statis－tically significant with a gifitinib concentration of 0.05，0.10，0.50，1.00 and 5.00 μmol/L. Fewer cells penetrated the Matrigel in the NIC+MET group[（17.00±2.00） vs. （32.70±2.08），F=75.406，P=0.000，P=0.000] and migration assays presented similar results [（51.70±5.03） vs. （102.70±7.02），F=204.038，P=0.000，P=0.000]. E-cadherin mRNA expression was upregulated[（0.459±0.024） vs. （0.838±0.058），F=25.924，P=0.000，P=0.000]，and Vimentin mRNA expression was downregulated [（1.973±0.129） vs. （1.467±0.115），F=20.998，P=0.000，P=0.003] in the NIC+MET group compared with the NIC group. Western blot showed the same results. Conclusion：Nicotine induced EGFR-TKI resistance in PC-9 cells by EMT in non-small cell lung cancer，which could be reversed by metformin.