HCV core protein interferes with Smad1 and Smad3 dependent TGF-β signaling in HCC cells

TGF-β plays a pivotal role in cell signaling in liver. In healthy tissue and early stages of liver diesease, TGF-β signaling controls apoptosis, cell proliferation and differentiation, thereby acting as a tumor suppressor. In HCV-infected patients, TGF-β levels are upregulated. We investigated TGF-β signaling in Huh–7 cells stably overexpressing HCV core protein, or carrying the empty vector as a control. Transcriptional activity of members of the Smad signaling pathway was measured. In addition, we analyzed cell death dependent LDH release and cell proliferation by MTT assay. Expression of pro-apoptotic protein…