Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of HCV nonstructural protein 4B (NS4B) on NF2 in HEPG2 cells and the role of NF2 in NS4B regulation of cell cycle. Methods Cells were divided into several groups, one group with nothing treated and pCDNA3.1 plasmid, NS4B plasmid, NF2 plasmid, si-NF2 silencing gene and Si-control gene were transfected into other groups by cell transfection separately. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the transcription and expression of the corresponding genes. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle. Results The expression of NF2 was decreased by NS4B. The high expression of NS4B and the low expression of NF2 could both promote to S phase change in cell cycle, while high expression of NF2 arresting cell cycle in G0/G1. Conclusion NS4B can regulate NF2 and NF2 might be involved in the mechanism of regulating cell cycle by NS4B.

Key words: HCV, NS4B, NF2, cell cycle