Abstract: Objective To establish the cell model of HCV NS3 expression and to observe the proliferation and telomerase activity of stable LO2 cell line transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)/HCV NS3 plasmids. Methods The plasmid of pcDNA3.1(+)/HCV NS3 was constructed by molecular cloning technique, which were transfected into human liver cell lines L02 to get the stable cell line. Stable cell line was verified by Western Blotting. The cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. The expression of hTERT mRNA was analyzed using TAGGG Telomerase PCR ELISA kit. Results The recombinational plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)/HCV NS3 was constructed successfully. HCV NS3 proteins were observed in pcDNA3.1(+)/HCV NS3 transfected stable cell line by Western blotting assay. The proliferation of L02 cells were promoted by HCV NS3 protein compared with blank L02 cells and pcDNA3.1(+) transfected cells. The increased expression of hTERT mRNA was detected on pcDNA3.1(+)/HCV NS3 transfected stable cell line. Conclusion HCV NS3 protein can accelerate proliferation of human normal liver cells, enhance the gene expression of hTERT mRNA and induce the activity of telomerase.

Key words: Hepatitis C virus, HCV, HCV NS3 protein, Hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC, Telomerase