Hepatitis B core antigen modulates exosomal miR-135a to target vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 promoting chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 7 Hepatitis B core antigen mediated resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to Doxorubicin hydrochloride via miR-135a-5p/vesicle-associated membrane protein 2. A: HepG2 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) plasmids, flow cytometry was used to determine the rate of Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox)-induced apoptosis; B and C: Cell apoptosis rate was measured in HepG2 cells treated with Dox by flow cytometry after transfection with the indicated plasmid; D: Cell counting assay was performed to determine the proliferation of HepG2 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-HBc plasmids after treatment with Dox; E: Cell proliferation in HepG2 cells co-transfected with pcDNA3.1-HBc plasmids and miR-135a-5p inhibitors assessed by the cell counting kit 8 assay; F: Cell counting assay used to determine the proliferation of HepG2 cells co-transfected with pcDNA3.1-HBc and pcDNA3.1-vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 plasmids after treatment with Dox. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01; ^cP < 0.001. HBc: Hepatitis B core antigen; VAMP2: Vesicle-associated membrane protein 2; Dox: Doxorubicin hydrochloride.