Figure 3

HBx decreases the expression of the anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 protein upon oxidative stress stimulation. (A) Cells were exposed to the indicated amount of H₂O₂ for 15 hr and expression of Mcl-1, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2 and GAPDH was analyzed by Western blot assay. (B) HepG2 or Huh-7 cells were infected with Ad-HBx-myc or Ad-blank at the indicated MOI for 36 hr followed by treated with H₂O₂ (400 μM) for additional 15 hr. Expression of Mcl-1, Bcl-xL, Myc-tag and GAPDH was analyzed by Western blot assay. (C) Cells were treated with or without H₂O₂ (400 μM) for 15 hr and indicated proteins were determined by Western blot assay. (D) SMMC-7721 cells were treated as in Fig. 2E and indicated proteins were determined by Western blot assay. (E) Livers from mice treated as in Fig. 1D were homogenized and protein levels of Mcl-1, Bcl-xL and GAPDH were determined by Western blot assay.