%0 Journal Article
%T Over-expression of uPA increases risk of liver injury in pAAV-HBV transfected mice
%A Xiao-Jun Zhou
%A Shi-Hui Sun
%A Peng Wang
%A Hong Yu
%J World Journal of Gastroenterology
%D 2012
%I Baishideng Publishing Group Co. Limited
%R 10.3748/wjg.v18.i16.1892
%X AIM: To investigate the relationship between over-expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) related liver diseases in a transgenic mouse model. METHODS: Albumin-tetracycline reverse transcriptional activator and tetO-uPA transgenic mice were generated respectively through pronuclear injection and crossed to produce the double transgenic in-alb-uPA mice, for which doxycycline (Dox)-inducible and liver-specific over-expression of uPA can be achieved. Hydrodynamic transfection of plasmid adeno-associated virus (AAV)-1.3HBV was performed through the tail veins of the Dox-induced in-alb-uPA mice. Expression of uPA and HBV antigens were analyzed through double-staining immunohistochemical assay. Cytokine production was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and ¦Á-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA level was evaluated through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Plasmid AAV-1.3HBV hydrodynamic transfection in Dox-induced transgenic mice not only resulted in severe liver injury with hepatocarcinoma-like histological changes and hepatic AFP production, but also showed an increased serum level of HBV antigens and cytokines like interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-¦Á, compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Over-expression of uPA plays a synergistic role in the development of liver injury, inflammation and regeneration during acute HBV infection.
%K Tet-on system
%K Albumin promoter
%K Urokinase-type plasminogen activator
%K Hydrodynamic transfection
%K Liver injury
%U http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v18/i16/1892.htm