Effect of transforming growth factor-β1 on HBV replication and antigen synthesis in HepG2.2.15 cells with steatosis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on HBV replication and protein expression in HepG2.2.15 cells with steatosis, as well as the association of TGF-β1 with suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) mRNA and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) mRNA during the steatosis of HepG2.2.15 cells. Methods: The cells were divided into HepG2/HepG2.2.15 cell control groups (C1/C2 groups) and HepG2/HepG2.2.15 cell steatosis groups (F1/F2 groups). 5 ng/ml TGF-β1 was added to the two cell systems for intervention to establish TGF-β1 intervention groups (T1/T2 groups) and steatosis+TGF-β1 intervention groups (TF1/TF2 groups). A time-resolved fluorescence analyzer was used to measure HBsAg and HBeAg, and quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure HBV DNA, SOCS-3 mRNA, and SREBP-1 mRNA. A one-way analysis of variance and a factorial analysis were used for the statistical analysis of data. Results: TGF-β1 significantly reduced the level of HBeAg in C2 group (P = 0.034) and the levels of HBsAg (P < 0.001) and HBeAg (P = 0.004) in F2 group. There was an interaction between steatosis and TGF-β1 in inhibiting HBsAg. In addition, TGF-β1 significantly reduced the mRNA expression of SOCS-3 in C1, F1, C2, and F2 groups (P < 0.05) and significantly increased the mRNA expression of SREBP-1c in C1, F1, C2, and F2 groups (P < 0.05), suggesting that there was an interaction between steatosis and TGF-β1 in downregulating the mRNA expression of SOCS-3 and upregulating the mRNA expression of SREBP-1c. Conclusion: TGF-β1 does not affect HBV duplication in HepG2.2.15 cells and can inhibit the expression of HBsAg and HBeAg. TGF-β1 can downregulate the mRNA expression of SOCS-3 and upregulate the mRNA expression of SREBP-1c.