['To investigate the effect of HBV X protein (HBX) on TNF-alpha-related apoptosis-induced ligand (TRAIL) expression in HepG2 cells, and observe death of primary hepatocytes induced by HBX-transfected HepG2 cells.', 'Western blot was used to detect the TRAIL expression in HepG2 cells transfected with mammalian expression plasmid pSG5UTPL-HBX. The reverse transcription-PCR was used to observe TRAIL mRNA transcription stimulated by HBX protein, and chromium release assay was used to detect death of primary hepatocyte induced by HBX-transfected HepG2 cells.', 'HBX could increase TRAIL expression and mRNA transcription in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The C-terminal truncated version of HBX (HBXD1) is responsible for inducing TRAIL expression in HepG2 cells. Chromium release assay results showed that HBX-transfected HepG2 cells kill primary human hepatocytes by a TRAIL-mediated mechanism. Neutralizing anti-TRAIL inhibits the HepG2 killing.'] Do hepatocytes treated with HBV X protein as cytotoxic effectors kill primary hepatocytes by TNF-alpha-related apoptosis-induced ligand-mediated mechanism?