Chou CK, Wang LH, Lin HM, Chi CW. Glucocorticoid stimulates hepatitis B viral gene expression in cultured human hepatoma cells.
Hepatology 1992;
16:13-8. [PMID:
1319949 DOI:
10.1002/hep.1840160104]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids have been shown to influence the severity of hepatitis B virus-related chronic hepatitis in human. However, very little is known about the effects of glucocorticoids on hepatitis B virus replication in vitro. In this report, we used a well-differentiated human hepatoma cell line, Hep3B, transfected with hepatitis B virus complementary DNA as a model to show that a glucocorticoid analog, dexamethasone, can directly stimulate the production of HBsAg and HBeAg. Elevation of 3.5-kb pregenomic RNA and all other viral RNAs in the transfected Hep3B cells after dexamethasone treatment supports the hypothesis that glucocorticoids directly stimulate hepatitis B virus gene expression in vitro. The concentration of dexamethasone for its half-maximal stimulatory activity toward HBsAg, HBeAg and all viral transcripts was approximately 10(-8) mol/L, close to the affinity of glucocorticoid receptors to [3H]-triamcinolone acetonide in Hep3B cells (approximately 10(-8) mol/L). Specific glucocorticoid antagonist RU38486 completely blocked dexamethasone-induced HBV gene expression, suggesting that the stimulatory effect of dexamethasone was mediated through specific glucocorticoid receptors.
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