Hepatocellular carcinoma cells containing hepatitis B virus X protein have enhanced invasive potential conditionally

Aims. To establish a sustaining hepatitis B virus X protein expressed Chang liver cell line and to explore their biological behaviours of invasive potential induced by hepatitis B virus X protein. Methods. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the HBx gene front the whole hepatitis B virus genome. The gene was then subcloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 to construct the pcDNA3.1-HBx plasmid. Gene transfection mediated by Lipofectamine was used to introduce the plasmid into the human liver cell line Chang, and stable expression of the HBx gene was detected. Results. HBx gene was cloned from the transfected Chang liver cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and confirmed by electrophoresis. The stably transfected Chang cells expressing HBx with malignant characteristics were verified and compared with control cells in terms of their growth curves, clonogenicity, wound healing abilities, migration and metastasis. Conclusion. The stabilising human liver cell lines Chang liver containing HBx gene expression have been established successfully. The invasive potential of Chang cells was conditionally enhanced by HBx transfection. (c) 2006 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.