fig1

Figure 1. Sorafenib suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression. (a) Structure of the × 1.3 HBV-luc plasmid; (b-d) the effects of sorafenib on HBV promoter activity. HepG2 or Chang cells were transfected with ×1.3 HBV-luc, pGL4-X or pGL4-preS1 constructs for 24 h and treated with sorafenib. The cell lysates were analyzed for luciferase activity. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with the indicated cells; (e) cell viability assay; (f and g) the effect of sorafenib on HBV RNA or protein levels. HepG2 cells were transfected with 1.2 mer HBV construct for 24 h and treated with sorafenib. The indicated mRNA levels were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Total proteins were prepared from the cells, and then HBx protein levels were detected by Western blotting