Effect of HCV Core protein on expression of α-SMA in human stellate cell, LX-2 cell line

Hepatitis C virus is considered as a health problem all around the world. In most cases, HCV infection becomes chronic and may proceeds to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Many pathological effects in cells may occur by viral proteins. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of hepatitis C Virus Core protein on the cells to induction of fibrogenesis process.
In this study, the LX-2 cell line originated from hepatic stellate cells was used. Plasmid which expressed HCV core protein was transfected to the cells. After 72 hours, RNA was extracted and was treated with DNase, and afterward cDNA was synthesized. Positive control cells were treated with the leptin fibrotic hormone. Finally, by using Real-Time PCR technique, the α-SMA gene expression were measured and statistically analyzed.
Our findings demonstrated that the core protein of hepatitis C virus would increases the expression of α-SMA gene expression significantly (p According to our findings, HCV infection is impressive factor in the development of chronic hepatitis to hepatic fibrogenesis. It was concluded the core protein of HCV could induce fibrogenesis process in viral hepatitis c infection.