Figure 2

HBx downregulates caveolin-1 expression in SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells. (A) HBx expression was examined by western blot (48 hours post-infection). SMMC-7721 cells do not express endogenous HBx, while HBx was effectively produced after HBx transfection. (B, C) Caveolin-1 mRNA expression in mock- and HBx-transfected cells was examined by real-time PCR. The grey value of the images was measured with Quantity One 4.5. Caveolin-1 in HBx cells was significantly less than that in mock cells (P = 0.022) (examined at 48 hours post-infection). (D) Caveolin-1 protein expression in HBx cells, examined by western blotting, was significantly less than that in mock cells.