Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encoded x antigen (HBxAg) is a /raws-activating protein that contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by the up- or down-regulated expression of selected hepatocellular genes. To identify some of these genes, HBxAg or vector were introduced into the human hepatoblastoma cell line, HepG2. Differentially expressed genes were identified by microarray analysis and by PowerBlot (SDS/PAGE followed by western blotting). Both assays showed decreased E-cadherin and increased expression of p-catenin and several p-catenin target genes in HBxAg [+] compared to [-] cells. In the livers of HBV carriers, there was an inverse relationship between HBxAg staining and E-cadherin and co- staining between HBxAg and p-catenin, suggesting that HBxAg contributes to hepatocellular transformation by altering the P-catenin signaling pathway. Hence, the objective of this work is to elucidate the mechanisms whereby HBxAg stabilizes p-catenin and thereby stimulates signaling, and to determine the contribution of these mechanisms to HBxAg mediated transformation. Accordingly, experiments will test the hypothesis that the accumulation/activation of p-catenin in HBxAg positive cells results from HBxAg /r
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