Figure 2. miR146a level correlated with HBV infection both in vitro and in vivo.

(a) The primary transcript (left) and precursor (right) of miR146a in HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells were assessed by qRT-PCR. (b) HBV genome-transfected HepG2 cells were established by transfecting HepG2 cells with the LMP-HBV1.2 plasmid, followed by puromycin selection. RNA from these transfected and control cells was isolated, and miR146a expression levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR. miR146a levels in HBV⁺ cells were expressed as the fold of the level in control cells. GAPDH was used as the internal control. (c) HBV-carrying BALB/c mice were established by hydrodynamic injection of pAAV/HBV1.2 at a dose of 6 μg per mouse. After 2 weeks, serum samples were harvested, and HBsAg levels were measured by ELISA. Simultaneously, miR146a levels in primary hepatocytes isolated by collagenase perfusion were measured as above. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD from at least 3 independent experiments. *p < 0.05: versus HepG2-vector cells.