Objective      Detect the malignant transformation of hepatic oval cells induced by hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein.       Methods      Hepatic oval cells

WB-F344 cells

transfected with lentivirus expressing HBx and puromycin (PM)-resistant gene were defined as an experimental group (WB-F344-HBx). The WB-F344 cells transfected with lentivirus o

nly expressing PM-resistant gene were defined as a negative control group (WB-F344-PM). The WB-F344 cells without lentivirus transfection were defined as a blank control group (WB-F344-Mock). The expressions of HBx in the 3 groups were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting. The cell cycle

proliferation

ability of metastasis and tumorigenicity were detected with flow cytometry

MTT assay

metastasis experiment and nude mouse transplantation tumor experiment

respectively.       Results      Highly stably HBx protein expression was observed in the experimental group but not in the negative control and blank control groups. Compared with the negative control group

the experimental group showed decreased G

0

/G

1

cell percentage [(55.98±0.39)% vs （61.65±1.37）%

P

0.01)

increased G

2

/M cell percentage [(15.05±1.67)% vs （7.83±0.46）%

P

0.01

]

significantly accelerated process of G

1

/S cell cycle

promoted cell proliferation (

P

0.01)

and increased ability of metastasis and tumorigenicity. There was no significant difference in cell cycle

cell proliferation

ability of metastasis and tumorigenicity between the negative control group and the blank control group.       Conclusion      Hepatitis B virus X protein can induce malignant transformation of hepatic oval cells.