Figure 2.

TRIM37 Promotes HBV-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis

(A and B) LX-2 cells were transfected with HBV replicon or control vector, and (A) the concentrations of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in cell culture supernatant were assessed by ELISA, and (B) the HBV DNA copy number was determined using qPCR. (C) LX-2 cells were transfected with shTRIM37 (−1, −2, and −3), and mRNA and protein levels of TRIM37 were measured. (D–H) LX-2 cells were transfected with control vector or HBV along with control shRNA or shTRIM37 (shTRIM37-2 and shTRIM37-3), and the effect on (D) cell viability was measured by a CCK-8 kit, (E) LX-2 morphology was observed, (F) Hyp secretion was measured by an A030 Hyp assay kit, (G) collagen I/III in cell culture supernatant was measured by ELISA, and (H) protein levels of TRIM37, α-SMA, and MMP-2 were assessed by western blot. Scale bar, 50 μm. ∗∗∗p < 0.01 compared with control or shNC; ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 compared with HBV + shNC.