Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effects of the hepatitis B virus x protein (HBx protein) on tumor in vivo.
Methods: H22 cells were infected with Ad-eGFP to detect infection efficiency of adenovirus. The BALB/c mouse model of malignant ascites was established by implanting H22 cell intraperitoneally into the animal, Ad-HBx, Ad-null or NS were administered intraperitoneally in BALB/c mice separately to detect HBx expression in H22 cells and effects of HBx on inhibition on proliferation of H22 cells.
Results: High efficiency of Ad in infecting H22 cells in vitro was observed. HBx protein was expressed in H22 cells after intraperitoneal injection of Ad-HBx. The effect of Ad-HBx on inhibition of the peritoneal capillary permeability and the ascites accumulation (P<0.05); on reduction of the number of red cells and tumor cells counted in malignant ascites (P<0.05), and on inhibition of tumor cell life cycle (the G2/M arrest) in malignant ascites were identified by flow cytometric analysis.
Conclusion: HBx protein can be expressed in tumour cells and can inhibit the proliferation of tumour cells in vivo, and this might be a new potential treatment for malignant ascites.