Objective: To investigate the role of autophagy in the injury of HepG-2 cells induced by hepatitis B virus x protein (HBx).
Methods: After HBx transfection, the cells were used to detect the formation of autophagosomes and observed by transmission electron microscopy, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining autophagic vacuole (AV), immunofluorescent ce staining microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 ( MAP1-LC3 ) protein, and Western blotting examining the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I (gray level: 0.760 ± 0.078 vs 0.520 ± 0.086, P < 0.05), beclin 1 (gray level: 0.875 ± 0.093 vs 0.220 ± 0.087, P < 0.05)and lysosome associated membrane protein 2a ( lamp2a ) protein (gray level: 0.320 ± 0.061 vs 0.120 ± 0.064, P < 0.05) levels.
Results: (1) HBx transfected upregulated the expression of LC3-II, LC3-I, beclin 1 and lamp2a protein. (2) HBx transfected brought about an increase in the formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes.
Conclusion: HBx activates the autophagic lysosome pathway in HepG-2 cells through the LC3/beclin1 pathway.