fig2

Figure 2. Sorafenib suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression through inhibition of the JNK pathway. (a) The effect of sorafenib on JNK phosphorylation and HBV protein levels. Chang cells were transfected with 1.2 mer HBV construct and treated with sorafenib. The indicated protein levels were detected by Western blotting; (b) the effect of JNK inhibitor on HBV core promoter activity. Chang cells were transfected with ×1.3 HBV-luc construct and then maintained either control conditions or in the presence of SP600125. The cell lysates were analyzed for luciferase activity. *P < 0.05 compared with the indicated cells; (c) the effect of JNK inhibitor on HBV gene expression. Chang cells were transfected with 1.2 mer HBV construct and treated with SP600125. The cells were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting; (d) the effect of JNK on HBV gene expression. Chang cells were cotransfected with the indicated constructs. The indicated protein levels were detected by Western blotting; (e) the effect of sorafenib on JNK-induced HBV core promoter activity. Chang cells were cotransfected with the indicated constructs, and the cells were treated with sorafenib. The cell lysates were analyzed for luciferase activity. **P < 0.01 compared with the indicated cells; (f) the effect of sorafenib on JNK-induced HBV protein expression. Chang cells were cotransfected with the indicated constructs, and the cells were treated with sorafenib. The indicated protein levels were detected by Western blotting