Objective: To study the influence of host cellular HLA-I molecules expression by HBV precore region mutants.
Methods: The plasmids of the wild type of HBV precore region and the mutants of A83 and A83/A86 were constructed, and then transected into HepG2 cells. The biological activity of HBV precore gene in the host cells was identified. The expression of HLA-I molecules was detected by flow cytometric analysis.
Results: DNA segments similar with HBV precore gene size and HBeAg were detected by PCR and ELISA, respectively. The fluorescence intensity of HLA-I on host cells was different: wild type being 1.3; A83, 17.6; and A83/A86, 7.3.
Conclusions: HBV precore gene hot-spot mutants in vitro can increase the expression of HLA-I molecules on host cells.