Figure 3.

Knockdown of 14‐3‐3ζ inhibits HBx expression in vitro and in vivo and induces its ubiquitin‐mediated degradation. Cells were infected with lentiviral particles containing 14‐3‐3ζ shRNA or NC shRNA. The expression levels of 14‐3‐3ζ and HBx in Hep 3B (A and B) and CSQT‐2 cells (D and E) were determined with Western blotting analysis with β‐actin as an endogenous reference (n = 3). IP with anti‐HBx antibody and Western blotting assay with anti‐Ubiquitin antibody were performed in Hep 3B (C) and CSQT‐2 cells (F). (G) Xenograft tumors generated by CSQT‐2 cells expressing NC shRNA or 14‐3‐3ζ shRNA were photographed, and (H) their volumes were calculated every 3 days since day 10 after cell injection (n = 6). (I) 14‐3‐3ζ and HBx protein expression levels were analyzed in xenograft tumors via IHC staining (bars = 50 μm; right) and Western blotting analysis (left).