Effects of Hepatitis B Surface and Hepatitis B Core Antigens from Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes B C on In Vitro Apoptosis

Background and Aims: To initially explore the underlying pathogenesis of the relationship between genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its clinical manifestations. Methods: The Sand C genes of HBV from 60 serum samples, infected by HBV of genotypes B or Cwere amplified by PCR. The products were recombined with vector pEGFP-C1, which is an internal reference for transfection, to construct the eukaryotic expression recombinant plasmids, followed by cloning and subcloning. Then they were transfected into hepatocarcinoma cell HepG2. The increment rates and apoptosls rates of these transfected cells were determinated by MTT and flow cytometer, respectively. Results: The 120 eukaryotic expression recombinant plasmids were all constructed successfully. As an internal reference for transfection, EGFPconfirmed that large S protein and C protein of HBV had been expressed in all HepG2 cells. It was found by flow cytometer that the apoptosls rates of HepG2 cells transfected by pEGFP-C1/HBs or pEGFPC1/ HBc from HBV-genotype C samples were all significantly higher than that from HBV-genotype B samples (P=0.009 P=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: HBV of genotype Ccan induce more serious cell apoptosis than HBV of genotype B. Difference in apoptosis may be an important reason that HBV of genotype C can induce more severe liver injury than HBV of genotype B.