The interaction of hepatitis B virus X protein and protein phosphatase type 2 Calpha and its effect on IL-6

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Dec 8;351(1):253-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.10.028. Epub 2006 Oct 20.

Abstract

HBx has been suggested as an important determinant mediating the pathological effects of HBV via interacting with various cellular proteins. To identify new HBx-interacting proteins and elucidate a possible mechanism associated with HBx and HBx-interacting proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma, yeast two-hybrid screening was performed. We identified a novel HBx-interacting protein, serine/threonine protein phosphatase PP2Calpha, and investigated the effects of PP2Calpha on HBx-mediated IL-6 regulation. The interaction between endogenous PP2Calpha, and HBx was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. Recombinant HBx dose-dependently reduced enzyme activity of recombinant PP2Calphain vitro. While ectopically expressed PP2Calpha in Cos-7 and Huh-7 cells reduced the expression of IL-6, overexpressed HBx with recombinant HBx-expressing adenovirus overcame PP2Calpha-mediated IL-6 downregulation. In the response of IL-6, HBx phosphorylated STAT3 and recovered PP2Calpha-mediated dephosphorylation of STAT3. These results supported that HBx might play a crucial role in HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis even in cases where cells express a negative regulator, PP2Calpha.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Hepatocytes / cytology*
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Trans-Activators
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Trans-Activators
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • hepatitis B virus X protein
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C