51
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Qu B, Brown RJP. Strategies to Inhibit Hepatitis B Virus at the Transcript Level. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071327. [PMID: 34372533 PMCID: PMC8310268 DOI: 10.3390/v13071327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), despite four decades of effective HBV vaccination. During chronic infection, HBV forms two distinct templates responsible for viral transcription: (1) episomal covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA and (2) host genome-integrated viral templates. Multiple ubiquitous and liver-specific transcription factors are recruited onto these templates and modulate viral gene transcription. This review details the latest developments in antivirals that inhibit HBV gene transcription or destabilize viral transcripts. Notably, nuclear receptor agonists exhibit potent inhibition of viral gene transcription from cccDNA. Small molecule inhibitors repress HBV X protein-mediated transcription from cccDNA, while small interfering RNAs and single-stranded oligonucleotides result in transcript degradation from both cccDNA and integrated templates. These antivirals mediate their effects by reducing viral transcripts abundance, some leading to a loss of surface antigen expression, and they can potentially be added to the arsenal of drugs with demonstrable anti-HBV activity. Thus, these candidates deserve special attention for future repurposing or further development as anti-HBV therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqian Qu
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul Ehrlich Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.Q.); (R.J.P.B.)
| | - Richard J. P. Brown
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul Ehrlich Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.Q.); (R.J.P.B.)
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52
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Suresh M, Menne S. Application of the woodchuck animal model for the treatment of hepatitis B virus-induced liver cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2021; 13:509-535. [PMID: 34163570 PMCID: PMC8204361 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i6.509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This review describes woodchucks chronically infected with the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) as an animal model for hepatocarcinogenesis and treatment of primary liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Since laboratory animal models susceptible to HBV infection are limited, woodchucks experimentally infected with WHV, a hepatitis virus closely related to HBV, are increasingly used to enhance our understanding of virus-host interactions, immune response, and liver disease progression. A correlation of severe liver pathogenesis with high-level viral replication and deficient antiviral immunity has been established, which are present during chronic infection after WHV inoculation of neonatal woodchucks for modeling vertical HBV transmission in humans. HCC in chronic carrier woodchucks develops 17 to 36 mo after neonatal WHV infection and involves liver tumors that are comparable in size, morphology, and molecular gene signature to those of HBV-infected patients. Accordingly, woodchucks with WHV-induced liver tumors have been used for the improvement of imaging and ablation techniques of human HCC. In addition, drug efficacy studies in woodchucks with chronic WHV infection have revealed that prolonged treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs, alone or in combination with other compounds, minimizes the risk of liver disease progression to HCC. More recently, woodchucks have been utilized in the delineation of mechanisms involved in innate and adaptive immune responses against WHV during acute, self-limited and chronic infections. Therapeutic interventions based on modulating the deficient host antiviral immunity have been explored in woodchucks for inducing functional cure in HBV-infected patients and for reducing or even delaying associated liver disease sequelae, including the onset of HCC. Therefore, woodchucks with chronic WHV infection constitute a well-characterized, fully immunocompetent animal model for HBV-induced liver cancer and for preclinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of new modalities, which are based on chemo, gene, and immune therapy, for the prevention and treatment of HCC in patients for which current treatment options are dismal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasa Suresh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Stephan Menne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States
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53
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Stadler D, Kächele M, Jones AN, Hess J, Urban C, Schneider J, Xia Y, Oswald A, Nebioglu F, Bester R, Lasitschka F, Ringelhan M, Ko C, Chou W, Geerlof A, van de Klundert MA, Wettengel JM, Schirmacher P, Heikenwälder M, Schreiner S, Bartenschlager R, Pichlmair A, Sattler M, Unger K, Protzer U. Interferon-induced degradation of the persistent hepatitis B virus cccDNA form depends on ISG20. EMBO Rep 2021; 22:e49568. [PMID: 33969602 PMCID: PMC8183418 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201949568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persists by depositing a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the nucleus of infected cells that cannot be targeted by available antivirals. Interferons can diminish HBV cccDNA via APOBEC3-mediated deamination. Here, we show that overexpression of APOBEC3A alone is not sufficient to reduce HBV cccDNA that requires additional treatment of cells with interferon indicating involvement of an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) in cccDNA degradation. Transcriptome analyses identify ISG20 as the only type I and II interferon-induced, nuclear protein with annotated nuclease activity. ISG20 localizes to nucleoli of interferon-stimulated hepatocytes and is enriched on deoxyuridine-containing single-stranded DNA that mimics transcriptionally active, APOBEC3A-deaminated HBV DNA. ISG20 expression is detected in human livers in acute, self-limiting but not in chronic hepatitis B. ISG20 depletion mitigates the interferon-induced loss of cccDNA, and co-expression with APOBEC3A is sufficient to diminish cccDNA. In conclusion, non-cytolytic HBV cccDNA decline requires the concerted action of a deaminase and a nuclease. Our findings highlight that ISGs may cooperate in their antiviral activity that may be explored for therapeutic targeting.
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54
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Goh ZY, Ren EC, Ko HL. Intracellular interferon signalling pathways as potential regulators of covalently closed circular DNA in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:1369-1391. [PMID: 33911462 PMCID: PMC8047536 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i14.1369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is still a major global health threat as 250 million people worldwide continue to be chronically infected with the virus. While patients may be treated with nucleoside/nucleotide analogues, this only suppresses HBV titre to sub-detection levels without eliminating the persistent HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) genome. As a result, HBV infection cannot be cured, and the virus reactivates when conditions are favorable. Interferons (IFNs) are cytokines known to induce powerful antiviral mechanisms that clear viruses from infected cells. They have been shown to induce cccDNA clearance, but their use in the treatment of HBV infection is limited as HBV-targeting immune cells are exhausted and HBV has evolved multiple mechanisms to evade and suppress IFN signalling. Thus, to fully utilize IFN-mediated intracellular mechanisms to effectively eliminate HBV, instead of direct IFN administration, novel strategies to sustain IFN-mediated anti-cccDNA and antiviral mechanisms need to be developed. This review will consolidate what is known about how IFNs act to achieve its intracellular antiviral effects and highlight the critical interferon-stimulated gene targets and effector mechanisms with potent anti-cccDNA functions. These include cccDNA degradation by APOBECs and cccDNA silencing and transcription repression by epigenetic modifications. In addition, the mechanisms that HBV employs to disrupt IFN signalling will be discussed. Drugs that have been developed or are in the pipeline for components of the IFN signalling pathway and HBV targets that detract IFN signalling mechanisms will also be identified and discussed for utility in the treatment of HBV infections. Together, these will provide useful insights into design strategies that specifically target cccDNA for the eradication of HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yi Goh
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138648, Singapore
- Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme, NUS Graduate School, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
| | - Ee Chee Ren
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138648, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119260, Singapore
| | - Hui Ling Ko
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138648, Singapore
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55
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Korolowicz KE, Suresh M, Li B, Huang X, Yon C, Leng X, Kallakury BV, Tucker RD, Menne S. Treatment with the Immunomodulator AIC649 in Combination with Entecavir Produces Antiviral Efficacy in the Woodchuck Model of Chronic Hepatitis B. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040648. [PMID: 33918831 PMCID: PMC8069054 DOI: 10.3390/v13040648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As current interventions for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) rarely induce cure, more effective drugs are needed. Short-term treatment of woodchucks with the novel immunomodulator AIC649, a parapoxvirus-based stimulator of toll-like receptor 9 dependent and independent pathways, has been shown to reduce viral DNA and surface antigen via a unique, biphasic response pattern. The present study evaluated long-term AIC649 treatment in combination with Entecavir for potency and safety in woodchucks. AIC649 monotreatment induced modest reductions in serum viral DNA and surface and e antigens that were associated with the same biphasic response pattern previously observed. Entecavir monotreatment reduced transiently viremia but not antigenemia, while AIC649/Entecavir combination treatment mediated superior viral control. Undetectability of viral antigens and elicitation of antibodies in AIC649/Entecavir-treated woodchucks correlated with the expression of interferons and suppression of viral replication in liver. Combination treatment was well tolerated, and liver enzyme elevations were minor and transient. It was concluded that the AIC649-mediated effects were most likely based on an improvement and/or reconstitution of antiviral immune responses that are typically deficient in CHB. As a combination partner to Entecavir, the antiviral efficacy of AIC649 was markedly enhanced. This preclinical study supports future evaluation of AIC649 for treatment of human CHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle E. Korolowicz
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (K.E.K.); (M.S.); (B.L.); (X.H.); (C.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Manasa Suresh
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (K.E.K.); (M.S.); (B.L.); (X.H.); (C.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (K.E.K.); (M.S.); (B.L.); (X.H.); (C.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Xu Huang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (K.E.K.); (M.S.); (B.L.); (X.H.); (C.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Changsuek Yon
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (K.E.K.); (M.S.); (B.L.); (X.H.); (C.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Xuebing Leng
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (K.E.K.); (M.S.); (B.L.); (X.H.); (C.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Bhaskar V. Kallakury
- Department of Pathology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA;
| | - Robin D. Tucker
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA;
| | - Stephan Menne
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (K.E.K.); (M.S.); (B.L.); (X.H.); (C.Y.); (X.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(202)-687-2949
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56
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Chen X, Sun D, Dong S, Zhai H, Kong N, Zheng H, Tong W, Li G, Shan T, Tong G. Host Interferon-Stimulated Gene 20 Inhibits Pseudorabies Virus Proliferation. Virol Sin 2021; 36:1027-1035. [PMID: 33830434 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-021-00380-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Host interferon-stimulated gene 20 (ISG20) exerts antiviral effects on viruses by degrading viral RNA or by enhancing IFN signaling. Here, we examined the role of ISG20 during pseudorabies virus (PRV) proliferation. We found that ISG20 modulates PRV replication by enhancing IFN signaling. Further, ISG20 expression was upregulated following PRV infection and poly(I:C) treatment. Ectopic expression of ISG20 inhibited PRV proliferation in PK15 cells, whereas knockdown of ISG20 promoted PRV proliferation. In addition, ISG20 expression upregulated IFN-β expression and enhanced IFN downstream signaling during PRV infection. Notably, PRV UL24 suppressed the transcription of ISG20, thus antagonizing its antiviral effect. Further domain mapping analysis showed that the N terminus (amino acids 1-90) of UL24 was responsible for the inhibition of ISG20 transcription. Collectively, these findings characterize the role of ISG20 in suppressing PRV replication and increase the understanding of host-PRV interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyong Chen
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Dage Sun
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Sujie Dong
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Huanjie Zhai
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Ning Kong
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Wu Tong
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Guoxin Li
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Tongling Shan
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China. .,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
| | - Guangzhi Tong
- Department of Swine Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China. .,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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57
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Kim GW, Siddiqui A. The role of N6-methyladenosine modification in the life cycle and disease pathogenesis of hepatitis B and C viruses. Exp Mol Med 2021; 53:339-345. [PMID: 33742132 PMCID: PMC8080661 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00581-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification of mammalian cellular RNAs. m6A methylation is linked to epigenetic regulation of several aspects of gene expression, including RNA stability, splicing, nuclear export, RNA folding, and translational activity. m6A modification is reversibly catalyzed by methyltransferases (m6A writers) and demethylases (m6A erasers), and the dynamics of m6A-modified RNA are regulated by m6A-binding proteins (m6A readers). Recently, several studies have shown that m6A methylation sites have been identified in hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcripts and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome. Here, we review the role of m6A modification in HBV/HCV replication and its contribution to liver disease pathogenesis. A better understanding of the functions of m6A methylation in the life cycles of HBV and HCV is required to establish the role of these modifications in liver diseases associated with these viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geon-Woo Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Aleem Siddiqui
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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58
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Cheng X, Uchida T, Xia Y, Umarova R, Liu CJ, Chen PJ, Gaggar A, Suri V, Mücke MM, Vermehren J, Zeuzem S, Teraoka Y, Osawa M, Aikata H, Tsuji K, Mori N, Hige S, Karino Y, Imamura M, Chayama K, Liang TJ. Diminished hepatic IFN response following HCV clearance triggers HBV reactivation in coinfection. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:3205-3220. [PMID: 32163375 DOI: 10.1172/jci135616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In patients with HBV and HCV coinfection, HBV reactivation leading to severe hepatitis has been reported with the use of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to treat HCV infection. Here we studied the molecular mechanisms behind this viral interaction. In coinfected cell culture and humanized mice, HBV replication was suppressed by HCV coinfection. In vitro, HBV suppression was attenuated when interferon (IFN) signaling was blocked. In vivo, HBV viremia, after initial suppression by HCV superinfection, rebounded following HCV clearance by DAA treatment that was accompanied by a reduced hepatic IFN response. Using blood samples of coinfected patients, IFN-stimulated gene products including C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10), C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were identified to have predictive value for HBV reactivation after HCV clearance. Taken together, our data suggest that HBV reactivation is a result of diminished hepatic IFN response following HCV clearance and identify serologic markers that can predict HBV reactivation in DAA-treated HBV-HCV-coinfected persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Cheng
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Takuro Uchida
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuchen Xia
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Regina Umarova
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Chun-Jen Liu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Hepatitis Research Center and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jer Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Hepatitis Research Center and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Anuj Gaggar
- Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, USA
| | | | - Marcus M Mücke
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Johannes Vermehren
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zeuzem
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Yuji Teraoka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Mitsutaka Osawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Aikata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Keiji Tsuji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Nami Mori
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shuhei Hige
- Department of Hepatology, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshiyasu Karino
- Department of Hepatology, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Michio Imamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - T Jake Liang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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59
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Kim GW, Imam H, Khan M, Mir SA, Kim SJ, Yoon SK, Hur W, Siddiqui A. HBV-Induced Increased N6 Methyladenosine Modification of PTEN RNA Affects Innate Immunity and Contributes to HCC. Hepatology 2021; 73:533-547. [PMID: 32394474 PMCID: PMC7655655 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Epitranscriptomic modification of RNA has emerged as the most prevalent form of regulation of gene expression that affects development, differentiation, metabolism, viral infections, and most notably cancer. We have previously shown that hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcripts are modified by N6 methyladenosine (m6 A) addition. HBV also affects m6 A modification of several host RNAs, including phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a well-known tumor suppressor. PTEN plays a critical role in antiviral innate immunity and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Reports have shown that PTEN controlled interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) nuclear localization by negative phosphorylation of IRF-3 at Ser97, and PTEN reduced carcinogenesis by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we show that HBV significantly increases the m6 A modification of PTEN RNA, which contributes to its instability with a corresponding decrease in PTEN protein levels. This is reversed in cells in which the expression of m6 A methyltransferases is silenced. PTEN expression directly increases activated IRF-3 nuclear import and subsequent interferon synthesis. In the absence of PTEN, IRF-3 dephosphorylation at the Ser97 site is decreased and interferon synthesis is crippled. In chronic HBV patient biopsy samples, m6 A-modified PTEN mRNA levels were uniformly up-regulated with a concomitant decrease of PTEN mRNA levels. HBV gene expression also activated the PI3K/AKT pathway by regulating PTEN mRNA stability in HCC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS The m6 A epitranscriptomic regulation of PTEN by HBV affects innate immunity by inhibiting IRF-3 nuclear import and the development of HCC by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Our studies collectively provide new insights into the mechanisms of HBV-directed immune evasion and HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis through m6 A modification of the host PTEN mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geon-Woo Kim
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCA
| | - Hasan Imam
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCA
| | - Mohsin Khan
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCA
| | - Saiful Anam Mir
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCA
| | - Seong-Jun Kim
- Center for Convergent Research of Emerging Virus InfectionKorea Research Institute of Chemical TechnologyDaejeonSouth Korea
| | - Seung Kew Yoon
- The Catholic University Liver Research CenterCollege of MedicineThe Catholic University of KoreaSeoulSouth Korea.,Division of HepatologyDepartment of Internal MedicineSeoul St. Mary's HospitalCollege of MedicineThe Catholic University of KoreaSeoulSouth Korea
| | - Wonhee Hur
- The Catholic University Liver Research CenterCollege of MedicineThe Catholic University of KoreaSeoulSouth Korea
| | - Aleem Siddiqui
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCA
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60
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Yang E, Li MMH. All About the RNA: Interferon-Stimulated Genes That Interfere With Viral RNA Processes. Front Immunol 2020; 11:605024. [PMID: 33362792 PMCID: PMC7756014 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.605024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon (IFN) signaling induces the expression of a wide array of genes, collectively referred to as IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) that generally function to inhibit viral replication. RNA viruses are frequently targeted by ISGs through recognition of viral replicative intermediates and molecular features associated with viral genomes, or the lack of molecular features associated with host mRNAs. The ISGs reviewed here primarily inhibit viral replication in an RNA-centric manner, working to sense, degrade, or repress expression of viral RNA. This review focuses on dissecting how these ISGs exhibit multiple antiviral mechanisms, often through use of varied co-factors, highlighting the complexity of the type I IFN response. Specifically, these ISGs can mediate antiviral effects through viral RNA degradation, viral translation inhibition, or both. While the OAS/RNase L pathway globally degrades RNA and arrests translation, ISG20 and ZAP employ targeted RNA degradation and translation inhibition to block viral replication. Meanwhile, SHFL targets translation by inhibiting -1 ribosomal frameshifting, which is required by many RNA viruses. Finally, a number of E3 ligases inhibit viral transcription, an attractive antiviral target during the lifecycle of negative-sense RNA viruses which must transcribe their genome prior to translation. Through this review, we aim to provide an updated perspective on how these ISGs work together to form a complex network of antiviral arsenals targeting viral RNA processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Yang
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Melody M. H. Li
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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61
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Imam H, Kim GW, Siddiqui A. Epitranscriptomic(N6-methyladenosine) Modification of Viral RNA and Virus-Host Interactions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:584283. [PMID: 33330128 PMCID: PMC7732492 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.584283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent and internal modification of eukaryotic mRNA. Multiple m6A methylation sites have been identified in the viral RNA genome and transcripts of DNA viruses in recent years. m6A modification is involved in all the phases of RNA metabolism, including RNA stability, splicing, nuclear exporting, RNA folding, translational modulation, and RNA degradation. Three protein groups, methyltransferases (m6A-writers), demethylases (m6A-erasers), and m6A-binding proteins (m6A-readers) regulate this dynamic reversible process. Here, we have reviewed the role of m6A modification dictating viral replication, morphogenesis, life cycle, and its contribution to disease progression. A better understanding of the m6A methylation process during viral pathogenesis is required to reveal novel approaches to combat the virus-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Imam
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Geon-Woo Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Aleem Siddiqui
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Block TM, Young JAT, Javanbakht H, Sofia MJ, Zhou T. Host RNA quality control as a hepatitis B antiviral target. Antiviral Res 2020; 186:104972. [PMID: 33242518 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of the host RNA polyadenylating polymerases, PAPD5 and PAPD7 (PAPD5/7), with dihydroquinolizinone, a small orally available, molecule, results in a rapid and selective degradation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA, and hence reduction in the amounts of viral gene products. DHQ, is a first in class investigational agent and could represent an entirely new category of HBV antivirals. PAPD5 and PAPD7 are non-canonical, cell specified, polyadenylating polymerases, also called terminal nucleotidyl transferases 4B and 4A (TENT4B/A), respectively. They are involved in the degradation of poor-quality cell transcripts, mostly non-coding RNAs and in the maturation of a sub-set of transcripts. They also appear to play a role in shielding some mRNA from degradation. The results of studies with DHQ, along with other recent findings, provide evidence that repression of the PAPD5/7 arm of the cell "RNA quality control" pathway, causes a profound (multi-fold) reduction rather than increase, in the amount of HBV pre-genomic, pre-core and HBsAg mRNA levels in tissue culture and animal models, as well. In this review we will briefly discuss the need for new HBV therapeutics and provide background about HBV transcription. We also discuss cellular degradation of host transcripts, as it relates to a new family of anti-HBV drugs that interfere with these processes. Finally, since HBV mRNA maturation appears to be selectively sensitive to PAPD5/7 inhibition in hepatocytes, we discuss the possibility of targeting host RNA "quality control" as an antiviral strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John A T Young
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Hassan Javanbakht
- SQZ Biotechnologies, 200 Arsenal Yards Blvd, Suite 210, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA.
| | - Michael J Sofia
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA.
| | - Tianlun Zhou
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA.
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63
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Shen S, Xie Z, Cai D, Yu X, Zhang H, Kim ES, Zhou B, Hou J, Zhang X, Huang Q, Sun J, Guo H. Biogenesis and molecular characteristics of serum hepatitis B virus RNA. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008945. [PMID: 33079954 PMCID: PMC7575114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
HBV is an enveloped DNA virus that replicates its DNA genome via reverse transcription of a pregenomic (pg) RNA intermediate in hepatocytes. Interestingly, HBV RNA can be detected in virus-like particles in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patient serum and has been utilized as a biomarker for intrahepatic cccDNA activity in treated patients. However, the biogenesis and molecular characteristics of serum HBV RNA remain to be fully defined. In this study, we found that the encapsidated serum HBV RNA predominately consists of pgRNA, which are detergent- and ribonuclease-resistant. Through blocking HBV DNA replication without affecting pgRNA encapsidation by using the priming-defective HBV mutant Y63D or 3TC treatment, we demonstrated that the cell culture supernatant contains a large amount of pgRNA-containing nonenveloped capsids and a minor population of pgRNA-containing virions. The formation of pgRNA-virion requires both capsid assembly and viral envelope proteins, which can be inhibited by capsid assembly modulators and an envelope-knockout mutant, respectively. Furthermore, the pgRNA-virion utilizes the multivesicular body pathway for egress, in a similar way as DNA-virion morphogenesis. Northern blotting, RT-PCR, and 3' RACE assays revealed that serum/supernatant HBV pgRNA are mainly spliced and devoid of the 3'-terminal sequences. Furthermore, pgRNA-virion collected from cells treated with a reversible HBV priming inhibitor L-FMAU was unable to establish infection in HepG2-NTCP cells. In summary, serum HBV RNA is secreted in noninfectious virion-like particle as spliced and poly(A)-free pgRNA. Our study will shed light on the molecular biology of serum HBV RNA in HBV life cycle, and aid the development of serum HBV RNA as a novel biomarker for CHB diagnosis and treatment prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Shen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Zhanglian Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Dawei Cai
- Assembly Biosciences, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Xiaoyang Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Hu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Elena S. Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Bin Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Jinlin Hou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Assembly Biosciences, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Jian Sun
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
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Lau KC, Burak KW, Coffin CS. Impact of Hepatitis B Virus Genetic Variation, Integration, and Lymphotropism in Antiviral Treatment and Oncogenesis. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1470. [PMID: 32987867 PMCID: PMC7599633 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global health burden. Although, effective treatment and vaccinations against HBV are available, challenges still exist, particularly in the development of curative therapies. The dynamic nature and unique features of HBV such as viral variants, integration of HBV DNA into host chromosomes, and extrahepatic reservoirs are considerations towards understanding the virus biology and developing improved anti-HBV treatments. In this review, we highlight the importance of these viral characteristics in the context of treatment and oncogenesis. Viral genotype and genetic variants can serve as important predictive factors for therapeutic response and outcomes in addition to oncogenic risk. HBV integration, particularly in coding genes, is implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, we will discuss emerging research that has identified various HBV nucleic acids and infection markers within extrahepatic sites (lymphoid cells). Intriguingly, the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-associated HBV variants and viral integration within the lymphoid cells may contribute towards the development of extrahepatic malignancies. Improved understanding of these HBV characteristics will enhance the development of a cure for chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith C.K. Lau
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Kelly W. Burak
- Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Carla S. Coffin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- Calgary Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
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Tsukuda S, Watashi K. Hepatitis B virus biology and life cycle. Antiviral Res 2020; 182:104925. [PMID: 32866519 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) specifically infects hepatocytes and causes severe liver diseases. The HBV life cycle is unique in that the genomic DNA (relaxed-circular partially double-stranded DNA: rcDNA) is converted to a molecular template DNA (covalently closed circular DNA: cccDNA) to amplify a viral RNA intermediate, which is then reverse-transcribed back to viral DNA. The highly stable characteristics of cccDNA result in chronic infection and a poor rate of cure. This complex life cycle of HBV offers a variety of targets to develop antiviral agents. We provide here an update on the current knowledge of HBV biology and its life cycle, which may help to identify new antiviral targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senko Tsukuda
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Koichi Watashi
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Japan; Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; MIRAI, JST, Saitama, Japan.
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Interferon Alpha Induces Multiple Cellular Proteins That Coordinately Suppress Hepadnaviral Covalently Closed Circular DNA Transcription. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.00442-20. [PMID: 32581092 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00442-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepadnaviruses exists as an episomal minichromosome in the nucleus of an infected hepatocyte and serves as the template for the transcription of viral mRNAs. It had been demonstrated by others and us that interferon alpha (IFN-α) treatment of hepatocytes induced a prolonged suppression of human and duck hepatitis B virus cccDNA transcription, which is associated with the reduction of cccDNA-associated histone modifications specifying active transcription (H3K9ac or H3K27ac), but not the histone modifications marking constitutive (H3K9me3) or facultative (H3K27me3) heterochromatin formation. In our efforts to identify IFN-induced cellular proteins that mediate the suppression of cccDNA transcription by the cytokine, we found that downregulating the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1 (SMCHD1), or promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein increased basal level of cccDNA transcription activity and partially attenuated IFN-α suppression of cccDNA transcription. In contrast, ectopic expression of STAT1, SMCHD1, or PML significantly reduced cccDNA transcription activity. SMCHD1 is a noncanonical SMC family protein and implicated in epigenetic silencing of gene expression. PML is a component of nuclear domain 10 (ND10) and is involved in suppressing the replication of many DNA viruses. Mechanistic analyses demonstrated that STAT1, SMCHD1, and PML were recruited to cccDNA minichromosomes and phenocopied the IFN-α-induced posttranslational modifications of cccDNA-associated histones. We thus conclude that STAT1, SMCHD1, and PML may partly mediate the suppressive effect of IFN-α on hepadnaviral cccDNA transcription.IMPORTANCE Pegylated IFN-α is the only therapeutic regimen that can induce a functional cure of chronic hepatitis B in a small, but significant, fraction of treated patients. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the antiviral functions of IFN-α in hepadnaviral infection may reveal molecular targets for development of novel antiviral agents to improve the therapeutic efficacy of IFN-α. By a loss-of-function genetic screening of individual IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) on hepadnaviral mRNAs transcribed from cccDNA, we found that downregulating the expression of STAT1, SMCHD1, or PML significantly increased the level of viral RNAs without altering the level of cccDNA. Mechanistic analyses indicated that those cellular proteins are recruited to cccDNA minichromosomes and induce the posttranslational modifications of cccDNA-associated histones similar to those induced by IFN-α treatment. We have thus identified three IFN-α-induced cellular proteins that suppress cccDNA transcription and may partly mediate IFN-α silencing of hepadnaviral cccDNA transcription.
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Park YK, Lee SY, Lee AR, Kim K, Kim K, Kim K, Choi B. Antiviral activity of interferon-stimulated gene 20, as a putative repressor binding to hepatitis B virus enhancer II and core promoter. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 35:1426-1436. [PMID: 31951295 PMCID: PMC7497004 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.14986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Interferon-stimulated gene 20 (ISG20) is an interferon-inducible exonuclease that inhibits the replication of several RNA viruses. In patients with chronic hepatitis B, ISG20 expression is related to the interferon-α treatment response. However, the molecular mechanism of ISG20-mediated anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity is unclear. METHODS We have investigated the effect of ISG20 on antiviral activity to address that. The life cycle of HBV was analyzed by the ectopic expression of ISG20 in HepG2 and HepG2-NTCP cells. Finally, to provide physiological relevance of our study, the expression of ISG20 from chronic hepatitis B patients was examined. RESULTS Interferon-stimulated gene 20 was mainly induced by interferon-β and dramatically inhibited HBV replication. In addition, ISG20 decreased HBV gene expression and transcription. Although ISG20 inhibited HBV replication by reducing viral enhancer activity, the expression of transcription factors that bind the HBV enhancer was not affected. Particularly, ISG20 suppressed HBV enhancer activity by binding to the enhancer II and core promoter (EnhII/Cp) region. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that ISG20 exerts the anti-HBV activity by acting as a putative repressor binding to the HBV EnhII/Cp region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Kwang Park
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| | - Sun Young Lee
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| | - Ah Ram Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research and Diagnostic Medicine, IBST, School of MedicineKonkuk UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Kyung‐Chang Kim
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| | - Kisoon Kim
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| | - Kyun‐Hwan Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research and Diagnostic Medicine, IBST, School of MedicineKonkuk UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Byeong‐Sun Choi
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
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Stadelmayer B, Diederichs A, Chapus F, Rivoire M, Neveu G, Alam A, Fraisse L, Carter K, Testoni B, Zoulim F. Full-length 5'RACE identifies all major HBV transcripts in HBV-infected hepatocytes and patient serum. J Hepatol 2020; 73:40-51. [PMID: 32087349 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is the episomal form of the HBV genome that stably resides in the nucleus of infected hepatocytes. cccDNA is the template for the transcription of 6 major viral RNAs, i.e. preC, pg, preS1/2, S and HBx RNA. All viral transcripts share the same 3' end and are all to various degrees subsets of each other. Especially under infection conditions, it has been difficult to study in depth the transcription of the different viral transcripts. We thus wanted to develop a method with which we could easily detect the full spectrum of viral RNAs in any lab. METHODS We set up an HBV full-length 5'RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) method with which we measured and characterized the full spectrum of viral RNAs in cell culture and in chronically infected patients. RESULTS In addition to canonical HBx transcripts coding for full-length X, we identified shorter HBx transcripts potentially coding for short X proteins. We showed that interferon-β treatment leads to a strong reduction of preC and pgRNAs but has only a moderate effect on the other viral transcripts. We found pgRNA, 1 spliced pgRNA variant and a variety of HBx transcripts associated with viral particles generated by HepAD38 cells. The different HBx RNAs are both capped and uncapped. Lastly, we identified 3 major categories of circulating RNA species in patients with chronic HBV infection: pgRNA, spliced pgRNA variants and HBx. CONCLUSIONS This HBV full-length 5'RACE method should significantly contribute to the understanding of HBV transcription during the course of infection and therapy and may guide the development of novel therapies aimed at targeting cccDNA. LAY SUMMARY Especially under infection conditions, it has been difficult to study the different hepatitis B virus transcripts in depth. This study introduces a new method that can be used in any standard lab to discriminate all hepatitis B viral transcripts in cell culture and in the serum of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Stadelmayer
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR-5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, 69008, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard (UCBL), 69008 Lyon, France.
| | - Audrey Diederichs
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR-5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, 69008, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard (UCBL), 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Fleur Chapus
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR-5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, 69008, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard (UCBL), 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Michel Rivoire
- INSERM U1032, Centre Léon Bérard (CLB), 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Gregory Neveu
- Evotec, 1541 Avenue Marcel Mérieux, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Antoine Alam
- Evotec, 1541 Avenue Marcel Mérieux, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Laurent Fraisse
- Evotec, 1541 Avenue Marcel Mérieux, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Kara Carter
- Evotec, 1541 Avenue Marcel Mérieux, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Barbara Testoni
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR-5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, 69008, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard (UCBL), 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR-5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, 69008, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard (UCBL), 69008 Lyon, France; Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), 69002 Lyon, France.
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Osteopetrosis-Associated Transmembrane Protein 1 Recruits RNA Exosome To Restrict Hepatitis B Virus Replication. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01800-19. [PMID: 32188736 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01800-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects approximately 350 million people worldwide, and 600,000 deaths are caused by HBV-related hepatic failure, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma annually. It is important to reveal the mechanism underlying the regulation of HBV replication. This study demonstrated that osteopetrosis-associated transmembrane protein 1 (Ostm1) plays an inhibitory role in HBV replication. Ostm1 represses the levels of HBeAg and HBsAg proteins, HBV 3.5-kb and 2.4/2.1-kb RNAs, and core-associated DNA in HepG2, Huh7, and NTCP-HepG2 cells. Notably, Ostm1 has no direct effect on the activity of HBV promoters or the transcription of HBV RNAs; instead, Ostm1 binds to HBV RNA to facilitate RNA decay. Detailed studies further demonstrated that Ostm1 binds to and recruits the RNA exosome complex to promote the degradation of HBV RNAs, and knockdown of the RNA exosome component exonuclease 3 (Exosc3) leads to the elimination of Ostm1-mediated repression of HBV replication. Mutant analyses revealed that the N-terminal domain, the transmembrane domain, and the C-terminal domain are responsible for the repression of HBV replication, and the C-terminal domain is required for interaction with the RNA exosome complex. Moreover, Ostm1 production is not regulated by interferon-α (IFN-α) or IFN-γ, and the expression of IFN signaling components is not affected by Ostm1, suggesting that Ostm1 anti-HBV activity is independent of the IFN signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study revealed a distinct mechanism underlying the repression of HBV replication, in which Ostm1 binds to HBV RNA and recruits RNA exosomes to degrade viral RNA, thereby restricting HBV replication.IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a human pathogen infecting the liver to cause a variety of diseases ranging from acute hepatitis to advanced liver diseases, fulminate hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, thereby causing a major health problem worldwide. In this study, we demonstrated that Ostm1 plays an inhibitory role in HBV protein production, RNA expression, and DNA replication. However, Ostm1 has no effect on the activities of the four HBV promoters; instead, it binds to HBV RNA and recruits RNA exosomes to promote HBV RNA degradation. We further demonstrated that the anti-HBV activity of Ostm1 is independent of the interferon signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study reveals a distinct mechanism underlying the repression of HBV replication and suggests that Ostm1 is a potential therapeutic agent for HBV infection.
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Wang YX, Niklasch M, Liu T, Wang Y, Shi B, Yuan W, Baumert TF, Yuan Z, Tong S, Nassal M, Wen YM. Interferon-inducible MX2 is a host restriction factor of hepatitis B virus replication. J Hepatol 2020; 72:865-876. [PMID: 31863794 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Non-cytolytic cure of HBV-infected hepatocytes by cytokines, including type I interferons (IFNs), is of importance for resolving acute and chronic infection. However, as IFNs stimulate hundreds of genes, those most relevant for HBV suppression remain largely unknown. Amongst them are the large myxovirus resistance (Mx) GTPases. Human MX1 (or MxA) is active against many RNA viruses, while MX2 (or MxB) was recently found to restrict HIV-1, HCV, and herpesviruses. Herein, we investigated the anti-HBV activity of MX2. METHODS The potential anti-HBV activity of MX2 and functional variants were assessed in transfected and HBV-infected hepatoma cells and primary human hepatocytes, employing multiple assays to analyze the synthesis and decay of HBV nucleic acids. The specific roles of MX2 in IFN-α-driven inhibition of HBV transcription and replication were assessed by MX2-specific shRNA interference (RNAi). RESULTS Both MX2 alone and IFN-α substantially inhibited HBV replication, due to significant deceleration of the synthesis and slight acceleration of the turnover of viral RNA. RNAi knockdown of MX2 significantly reduced the inhibitory effects of IFN-α. Strikingly, MX2 inhibited HBV infection by reducing covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), most likely by indirectly impairing the conversion of relaxed circular DNA to cccDNA rather than by destabilizing existing cccDNA. Various mutations affecting the GTPase activity and oligomerization status reduced MX2's anti-HBV activity. CONCLUSION MX2 is an important IFN-α inducible effector that decreases HBV RNA levels but can also potently inhibit HBV infection by indirectly impairing cccDNA formation. MX2 likely has the potential for therapeutic applications aimed at curing HBV infection by eliminating cccDNA. LAY SUMMARY This study shows that the protein MX2, which is induced by interferon-α, has important anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) effector functions. MX2 can reduce the amount of covalently closed circular DNA, which is the form of DNA that HBV uses to maintain viral persistence within hepatocytes. MX2 also reduces HBV RNA levels by downregulating synthesis of viral RNA. MX2 likely represents a novel intrinsic HBV inhibitor that could have therapeutic potential, as well as being useful for improving our understanding of the complex biology of HBV and the antiviral mechanisms of interferon-α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Xiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China.
| | - Matthias Niklasch
- University Hospital Freiburg, Department of Internal Medicine II/Molecular Biology, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tiantian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Bisheng Shi
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 201508 Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Pôle Hépato-Digestif, Unité d'Hépatologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, 67091 Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Unité Inserm 1110, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Zhenghong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Shuping Tong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Michael Nassal
- University Hospital Freiburg, Department of Internal Medicine II/Molecular Biology, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yu-Mei Wen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, China
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SAMD4 family members suppress human hepatitis B virus by directly binding to the Smaug recognition region of viral RNA. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 18:1032-1044. [PMID: 32341522 PMCID: PMC7223975 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-0431-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
HBV infection initiates hepatitis B and promotes liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. IFN-α is commonly used in hepatitis B therapy, but how it inhibits HBV is not fully understood. We screened 285 human interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) for anti-HBV activity using a cell-based assay, which revealed several anti-HBV ISGs. Among these ISGs, SAMD4A was the strongest suppressor of HBV replication. We found the binding site of SAMD4A in HBV RNA, which was a previously unidentified Smaug recognition region (SRE) sequence conserved in HBV variants. SAMD4A binds to the SRE site in viral RNA to trigger its degradation. The SAM domain in SAMD4A is critical for RNA binding and the C-terminal domain of SAMD4A is required for SAMD4A anti-HBV function. Human SAMD4B is a homolog of human SAMD4A but is not an ISG, and the murine genome encodes SAMD4. All these SAMD4 proteins suppressed HBV replication when overexpressed in vitro and in vivo. We also showed that knocking out the Samd4 gene in hepatocytes led to a higher level of HBV replication in mice and AAV-delivered SAMD4A expression reduced the virus titer in HBV-producing transgenic mice. In addition, a database analysis revealed a negative correlation between the levels of SAMD4A/B and HBV in patients. Our data suggest that SAMD4A is an important anti-HBV ISG for use in IFN therapy of hepatitis B and that the levels of SAMD4A/B expression are related to HBV sensitivity in humans.
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72
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Imam H, Kim GW, Mir SA, Khan M, Siddiqui A. Interferon-stimulated gene 20 (ISG20) selectively degrades N6-methyladenosine modified Hepatitis B Virus transcripts. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008338. [PMID: 32059034 PMCID: PMC7046284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon (IFN) stimulates a whole repertoire of cellular genes, collectively referred to as ISGs (Interferon-stimulated genes). ISG20, a 3´-5´ exonuclease enzyme, has been previously shown to bind and degrade hepatitis B Virus (HBV) transcripts. Here, we show that the N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified HBV transcripts are selectively recognized and processed for degradation by ISG20. Moreover, this effect of ISG20 is critically regulated by m6A reader protein, YTHDF2 (YTH-domain family 2). Previously, we identified a unique m6A site within HBV transcripts and confirmed that methylation at nucleotide A1907 regulates HBV lifecycle. In this report, we now show that the methylation at A1907 is a critical regulator of IFN-α mediated decay of HBV RNA. We observed that the HBV RNAs become less sensitive to ISG20 mediated degradation when methyltransferase enzymes or m6A reader protein YTHDF2 are silenced in HBV expressing cells. By using an enzymatically inactive form ISG20D94G, we further demonstrated that ISG20 forms a complex with m6A modified HBV RNA and YTHDF2 protein. Due to terminal redundancy, HBV genomic nucleotide A1907 position is acquired twice by pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) during transcription and therefore the sites of methylation are encoded within 5´ and 3´ epsilon stem loops. We generated HBV mutants that lack m6A site at either one (5´ or 3´) or both the termini (5´& 3´). Using these mutants, we demonstrated that m6A modified HBV RNAs are subjected to ISG20-mediated decay and propose sequence of events, in which ISG20 binds with YTHDF2 and recognizes m6A-modified HBV transcripts to carry out the ribonuclease activity. This is the first study, which identifies a hitherto unknown role of m6A modification of RNA in IFN-α induced viral RNA degradation and proposes a new role of YTHDF2 protein as a cofactor required for IFN-α mediated viral RNA degradation. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a DNA virus but replicates through a transitional pregenomic RNA (pgRNA). Interferon stimulated antiviral RNase, ISG20 selectively binds to the lower epsilon stem loop of HBV RNA and causes their degradation. Surprisingly this ISG20 binding site is chemically modified by N6-methyladenosine addition to A1907 residue, which resides in the lower region of the epsilon stem loop. This single m6A site occurs twice due to terminal redundancy of sequences in the pgRNA. We demonstrated herein that IFN-α-induced ISG20 can selectively degrade m6A modified HBV RNA. Using a combined strategy of silencing cellular methyltransferases, m6A binding protein YTHDF2 and the m6A sites mutants, we show that HBV transcripts are resistant to either IFN-α treatment or ectopically introduced ISG20 mediated degradation. YTHDF2 is an m6A binding protein which makes the HBV RNAs less stable. YTHDF2 protein forms a complex with IFN-α stimulated ISG20 and executes the nuclease digestion of the recruited m6A modified transcripts. Absence of cellular m6A machinery (methyltransferases or m6A reader proteins) makes the HBV RNA unresponsive to ISG20 mediated decay. This study provides molecular explanation of IFN-α mediated degradation of m6A modified HBV RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Imam
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Geon-Woo Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Saiful Anam Mir
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Mohsin Khan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MK); (AS)
| | - Aleem Siddiqui
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MK); (AS)
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73
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Xu T, Ruan H, Gao S, Liu J, Liu Y, Song Z, Cao Q, Wang K, Bao L, Liu D, Tong J, Shi J, Liang H, Yang H, Chen K, Zhang X. ISG20 serves as a potential biomarker and drives tumor progression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:1808-1827. [PMID: 32003757 PMCID: PMC7053611 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common malignancies and lacks reliable biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, which results in high incidence and mortality rates of ccRCC. In this study, ISG20, HJURP, and FOXM1 were identified as hub genes via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Cox regression analysis. Samples validation showed that only ISG20 was up-regulated in ccRCC. Therefore, ISG20 was selected for further study. High ISG20 expression was associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival. Furthermore, the expression of ISG20 could effectively differentiate ccRCC from normal tissues and was positively correlated to clinical stages. Functional experiments proved that knockdown of ISG20 expression could obviously inhibit cell growth, migration, and invasion in ccRCC cells. To find the potential mechanisms of ISG20, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed and revealed that high expression of ISG20 was significantly involved in metastasis and cell cycle pathways. In addition, we found that ISG20 could regulate the expression of MMP9 and CCND1. In conclusion, these findings suggested that ISG20 promoted cell proliferation and metastasis via regulating MMP9/CCND1 expression and might serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbo Xu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Hailong Ruan
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Su Gao
- Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Jingchong Liu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Yuenan Liu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Zhengshuai Song
- Department of Urology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Qi Cao
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Keshan Wang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Lin Bao
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Di Liu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Junwei Tong
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Huageng Liang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xiaoping Zhang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
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Immunopathogenesis of HBV Infection. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1179:71-107. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-9151-4_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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75
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Wu N, Nguyen XN, Wang L, Appourchaux R, Zhang C, Panthu B, Gruffat H, Journo C, Alais S, Qin J, Zhang N, Tartour K, Catez F, Mahieux R, Ohlmann T, Liu M, Du B, Cimarelli A. The interferon stimulated gene 20 protein (ISG20) is an innate defense antiviral factor that discriminates self versus non-self translation. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008093. [PMID: 31600344 PMCID: PMC6805002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
ISG20 is a broad spectrum antiviral protein thought to directly degrade viral RNA. However, this mechanism of inhibition remains controversial. Using the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) as a model RNA virus, we show here that ISG20 interferes with viral replication by decreasing protein synthesis in the absence of RNA degradation. Importantly, we demonstrate that ISG20 exerts a translational control over a large panel of non-self RNA substrates including those originating from transfected DNA, while sparing endogenous transcripts. This activity correlates with the protein's ability to localize in cytoplasmic processing bodies. Finally, these functions are conserved in the ISG20 murine ortholog, whose genetic ablation results in mice with increased susceptibility to viral infection. Overall, our results posit ISG20 as an important defense factor able to discriminate the self/non-self origins of the RNA through translation modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Wu
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease Institute, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan-Nhi Nguyen
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Li Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Romain Appourchaux
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Chengfei Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Baptiste Panthu
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Henri Gruffat
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Chloé Journo
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Sandrine Alais
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Juliang Qin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kevin Tartour
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Frédéric Catez
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Renaud Mahieux
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Theophile Ohlmann
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Du
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (BD); (AC)
| | - Andrea Cimarelli
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
- * E-mail: (BD); (AC)
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76
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Abstract
With a yearly death toll of 880,000, hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major health problem worldwide, despite an effective prophylactic vaccine and well-tolerated, effective antivirals. HBV causes chronic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The viral genome persists in infected hepatocytes even after long-term antiviral therapy, and its integration, though no longer able to support viral replication, destabilizes the host genome. HBV is a DNA virus that utilizes a virus-encoded reverse transcriptase to convert an RNA intermediate, termed pregenomic RNA, into the relaxed circular DNA genome, which is subsequently converted into a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the host cell nucleus. cccDNA is maintained in the nucleus of the infected hepatocyte as a stable minichromosome and functions as the viral transcriptional template for the production of all viral gene products, and thus, it is the molecular basis of HBV persistence. The nuclear cccDNA pool can be replenished through recycling of newly synthesized, DNA-containing HBV capsids. Licensed antivirals target the HBV reverse transcriptase activity but fail to eliminate cccDNA, which would be required to cure HBV infection. Elimination of HBV cccDNA is so far only achieved by antiviral immune responses. Thus, this review will focus on possible curative strategies aimed at eliminating or crippling the viral cccDNA. Newer insights into the HBV life cycle and host immune response provide novel, potentially curative therapeutic opportunities and targets.
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77
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Liu G, Ma X, Wang Z, Wakae K, Yuan Y, He Z, Yoshiyama H, Iizasa H, Zhang H, Matsuda M, Sugiyama R, Yuan Z, Muramatsu M, Li L. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA-1 (ADAR1) inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by enhancing microRNA-122 processing. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:14043-14054. [PMID: 31366735 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.007970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA-1 (ADAR1) involves adenosine to inosine RNA editing and microRNA processing. ADAR1 is known to be involved in the replication of various viruses, including hepatitis C and D. However, the role of ADAR1 in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has not yet been elucidated. Here, for the first time, we demonstrated ADAR1 antiviral activity against HBV. ADAR1 has two splicing isoforms in human hepatocytes: constitutive p110 protein and interferon-α (IFN-α)-responsive p150 protein. We found that overexpression of ADAR1 decreased HBV RNA in an HBV culture model. A catalytic-site mutant ADAR1 also decreased HBV RNA levels, whereas another adenosine deaminases that act on the RNA (ADAR) family protein, ADAR2, did not. Moreover, the induction of ADAR1 by stimulation with IFN-α also reduced HBV RNA levels. Decreases in endogenous ADAR1 expression by knock-down or knock-out increased HBV RNA levels. A major hepatocyte-specific microRNA, miRNA-122, was found to be positively correlated with ADAR1 expression, and exogenous miRNA-122 decreased both HBV RNA and DNA, whereas, conversely, transfection with a miRNA-122 inhibitor increased them. The reduction of HBV RNA by ADAR1 expression was abrogated by p53 knock-down, suggesting the involvement of p53 in the ADAR1-mediated reduction of HBV RNA. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that ADAR1 plays an antiviral role against HBV infection by increasing the level of miRNA-122 in hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyan Liu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang 110034, China.,Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China.,Department of Molecular Genetics, Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Xiancai Ma
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan.,Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China.,The Key Laboratory of Biomarker High Throughput Screening and Target Translation of Breast and Gastrointestinal Tumor, Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
| | - Kousho Wakae
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Yaochang Yuan
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhangping He
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Hironori Yoshiyama
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan
| | - Hisashi Iizasa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Mami Matsuda
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Tokyo 164-8640, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Sugiyama
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Tokyo 164-8640, Japan
| | - Zhiyu Yuan
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang 110034, China
| | - Masamichi Muramatsu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan .,Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Tokyo 164-8640, Japan
| | - Linghua Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510060, China
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78
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Charre C, Levrero M, Zoulim F, Scholtès C. Non-invasive biomarkers for chronic hepatitis B virus infection management. Antiviral Res 2019; 169:104553. [PMID: 31288041 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health burden with over 250 million cases worldwide. This complex infection can lead to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Complete recovery is seldom achieved due to the persistence in infected hepatocytes of covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA, which is not targeted by current antiviral therapies. Routine circulating biomarkers used for clinical monitoring of patients do not accurately reflect the cccDNA pool and transcriptional activity. New biomarkers, such as serum HB core-related Ag and circulating HBV RNAs, are under development. In this review, we discuss surrogate non-invasive biomarkers for evaluating intrahepatic cccDNA abundance and transcriptional activity. We also present their relevance for improving the classification of patients with regards to their natural history and for evaluating novel compounds to assess target engagement and to define new virological endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Charre
- INSERM U1052-Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 69008, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Lyon, France; Department of Virology, Croix Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Massimo Levrero
- INSERM U1052-Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 69008, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Lyon, France; Department of Hepatology, Croix Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- INSERM U1052-Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 69008, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Lyon, France; Department of Hepatology, Croix Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Caroline Scholtès
- INSERM U1052-Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 69008, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Lyon, France; Department of Virology, Croix Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
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79
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Mitra B, Wang J, Kim ES, Mao R, Dong M, Liu Y, Zhang J, Guo H. Hepatitis B Virus Precore Protein p22 Inhibits Alpha Interferon Signaling by Blocking STAT Nuclear Translocation. J Virol 2019; 93:e00196-19. [PMID: 31019054 PMCID: PMC6580977 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00196-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antagonism of host immune defenses against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by the viral proteins is speculated to cause HBV persistence and the development of chronic hepatitis. The circulating hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg, p17) is known to manipulate host immune responses to assist in the establishment of persistent viral infection, and HBeAg-positive (HBeAg+) patients respond less effectively to IFN-α therapy than do HBeAg-negative (HBeAg-) patients in clinical practice. However, the function(s) of the intracellular form of HBeAg, previously reported as the precore protein intermediate (p22) without the N-terminal signal peptide, remains elusive. Here, we report that the cytosolic p22 protein, but not the secreted HBeAg, significantly reduces interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) activity and the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) upon alpha interferon (IFN-α) stimulation in cell cultures. In line with this, HBeAg+ patients exhibit weaker induction of ISGs in their livers than do HBeAg- patients upon IFN-α therapy. Mechanistically, while p22 does not alter the total STAT1 or pSTAT1 levels in cells treated with IFN-α, it blocks the nuclear translocation of pSTAT1 by interacting with the nuclear transport factor karyopherin α1 through its C-terminal arginine-rich domain. In summary, our study suggests that HBV precore protein, specifically the p22 form, impedes JAK-STAT signaling to help the virus evade the host innate immune response and, thus, causes resistance to IFN therapy.IMPORTANCE Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a major global health concern, and patients who fail to mount an efficient immune response to clear the virus will develop a life-long chronic infection that can progress to chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. There is no definite cure for chronic hepatitis B, and alpha interferon (IFN-α) is the only available immunomodulatory drug, to which only a minority of chronic patients are responsive, with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients responding better than HBeAg-positive patients. We herein report that the intracellular HBeAg, also known as precore or p22, inhibits the antiviral signaling of IFN-α, which sheds light on the enigmatic function of precore protein in shaping HBV chronicity and provides a perspective toward areas that need to be further studied to make the current therapy better until a cure is achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bidisha Mitra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Jinyu Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Elena S Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Richeng Mao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Minhui Dong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanjie Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Jiming Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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80
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Hu J, Cheng J, Tang L, Hu Z, Luo Y, Li Y, Zhou T, Chang J, Guo JT. Virological Basis for the Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:659-674. [PMID: 29893548 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has infected one-third of world population, and 240 million people are chronic carriers, to whom a curative therapy is still not available. Similar to other viruses, persistent HBV infection relies on the virus to exploit host cell functions to support its replication and efficiently evade host innate and adaptive antiviral immunity. Understanding HBV replication and concomitant host cell interactions is thus instrumental for development of therapeutics to disrupt the virus-host interactions critical for its persistence and cure chronic hepatitis B. Although the currently available cell culture systems of HBV infection are refractory to genome-wide high throughput screening of key host cellular factors essential for and/or regulating HBV replication, classic one-gene (or pathway)-at-a-time studies in the last several decades have already revealed many aspects of HBV-host interactions. An overview of the landscape of HBV-hepatocyte interaction indicates that, in addition to more tightly suppressing viral replication by directly targeting viral proteins, disruption of key viral-host cell interactions to eliminate or inactivate the covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA, the most stable HBV replication intermediate that exists as an episomal minichromosome in the nucleus of infected hepatocyte, is essential to achieve a functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Moreover, therapeutic targeting of integrated HBV DNA and their transcripts may also be required to induce hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance and prevent liver carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Hu
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, 1 Tian-tan Xi-li, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Junjun Cheng
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Liudi Tang
- Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, United States
| | - Zhanying Hu
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Yue Luo
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
- Institute of Hepatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yuhuan Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, 1 Tian-tan Xi-li, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Tianlun Zhou
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Jinhong Chang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Ju-Tao Guo
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
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81
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Xie X, Liu PS, Percipalle P. Analysis of Global Transcriptome Change in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts After dsDNA and dsRNA Viral Mimic Stimulation. Front Immunol 2019; 10:836. [PMID: 31057555 PMCID: PMC6478819 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The activation of innate immunity by viral nucleic acids present in the cytoplasm plays an essential role in controlling viral infection in both immune and non-immune cells. The dsDNA and dsRNA viral mimics can stimulate the cytosolic nucleic acids sensors and activate the antiviral innate immunity. In this study, taking advantage of dsDNA and dsRNA viral mimics, we investigated the global transcriptome changes after the antiviral immunity activation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Results from our data identified a positive feedback up-regulation of sensors (e.g., Tlr2, Tlr3, Ddx58, cGAS), transducers (e.g., Traf2, Tbk1) and transcription factors (e.g., Irf7, Jun, Stat1, Stat2) in multiple pathways involved in detecting viral or microbial infections upon viral mimic stimulation. A group of genes involved in DNA damage response and DNA repair such as Parp9, Dtx3l, Rad52 were also up-regulated, implying the involvement of these genes in antiviral immunity. Molecular function analysis further showed that groups of helicase genes (e.g., Dhx58, Helz2), nuclease genes (e.g., Dnase1l3, Rsph10b), methyltransferase genes (e.g., histone methyltransferase Prdm9, Setdb2; RNA methyltransferase Mettl3, Mttl14), and protein ubiquitin-ligase genes (e.g., Trim genes and Rnf genes) were up-regulated upon antiviral immunity activation. In contrast, viral mimic stimulation down-regulated genes involved in a broad range of general biological processes (e.g., cell division, metabolism), cellular components (e.g., mitochondria and ribosome), and molecular functions (e.g., cell-cell adhesion, microtubule binding). In summary, our study provides valuable information about the global transcriptome changes upon antiviral immunity activation. The identification of novel groups of genes up-regulated upon antiviral immunity activation serves as useful resource for mining new antiviral sensors and effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xie
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Pu-Ste Liu
- Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Piergiorgio Percipalle
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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82
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Liu S, Zhou B, Valdes JD, Sun J, Guo H. Serum Hepatitis B Virus RNA: A New Potential Biomarker for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Hepatology 2019; 69:1816-1827. [PMID: 30362148 PMCID: PMC6438723 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B infection is one of the major etiological causes of liver failure, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. This condition cannot be completely cured by currently available drugs due to the persistent existence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the bona fide transcription template for HBV RNAs, in infected hepatocytes. Because quantifying cccDNA per se requires an invasive procedure, serum biomarkers reflecting intrahepatic cccDNA activity are warranted. Recently, a growing body of research suggests that the circulating HBV RNA may serve as a serum biomarker for HBV infection, treatment, and prognosis. In order to delineate the molecular and clinical characteristics of serum HBV RNA, we systematically reviewed the available literature on serum HBV RNA dating back to the early 1990s. In this review, we summarize the reported serum HBV RNA quantification methods and discuss the potential HBV RNA species in patient serum. We also compare the reported correlations of serum HBV RNA with other serological markers, including HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen, e antigen, and core-related antigen, as well as their correlations with intrahepatic cccDNA, to assess their potential in clinical applications. Future directions for serum HBV RNA research are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Juan D. Valdes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jian Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Corresponding Authors: Haitao Guo, Ph.D: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Phone: 317-274-0530, Fax: 317-278-3331, ; Jian Sun, M.D/Ph.D: Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. Phone: 086-20-62787432, Fax: 086-20-62786530,
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA,Corresponding Authors: Haitao Guo, Ph.D: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Phone: 317-274-0530, Fax: 317-278-3331, ; Jian Sun, M.D/Ph.D: Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. Phone: 086-20-62787432, Fax: 086-20-62786530,
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83
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Zhang Y, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang J, Guo H. Naturally occurring core protein mutations compensate for the reduced replication fitness of a lamivudine-resistant HBV isolate. Antiviral Res 2019; 165:47-54. [PMID: 30902704 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates its DNA genome through reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. The lack of proofreading capacity of the viral DNA polymerase results in a high mutation rate of HBV genome. Under the selective pressure created by the nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) antiviral drugs, viruses with resistance mutations are selected. However, the replication fitness of NA-resistant mutants is markedly reduced compared to wild-type. Compensatory mutations in HBV polymerase, which restore the viral replication capacity, have been reported to arise under continuous treatment with lamivudine (LMV). We have previously identified a highly replicative LMV-resistant HBV isolate from a chronic hepatitis B patient experiencing acute disease exacerbation. Besides the common YMDD drug-resistant mutations, this isolate possesses multiple additional mutations in polymerase and core regions. The transcomplementation assay demonstrated that the enhanced viral replication is due to the mutations of core protein. Further mutagenesis study revealed that the P5T mutation of core protein plays an important role in the enhanced viral replication through increasing the levels of capsid formation and pregenomic RNA encapsidation. However, the LMV-resistant virus harboring compensatory core mutations remains sensitive to capsid assembly modulators (CpAMs). Taken together, our study suggests that the enhanced HBV nucleocapsid formation resulting from core mutations represents an important viral strategy to surmount the antiviral drug pressure and contribute to viral pathogenesis, and CpAMs hold promise for developing the combinational antiviral therapy for hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongmei Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Junjie Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jiming Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOH & MOE), Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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84
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Manjunath S, Saxena S, Mishra B, Santra L, Sahu AR, Wani SA, Tiwari AK, Mishra BP, Singh RK, Janga SC, Kumar GR. Early transcriptome profile of goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infected with peste des petits ruminant's vaccine virus (Sungri/96) revealed induction of antiviral response in an interferon independent manner. Res Vet Sci 2019; 124:166-177. [PMID: 30903969 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sungri/96 vaccine strain is considered the most potent vaccine providing long-term immunity against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in India. Previous studies in our laboratory highlighted induction of robust antiviral response in an interferon independent manner at 48 h and 120 h post infection (p.i.). However, immune response at the earliest time point 6 h p.i. (time taken to complete one PPRV life cycle), in PBMCs infected with Sungri/96 vaccine virus has not been investigated. This study was taken up to understand the global gene expression profiling of goat PBMCs after Sungri/96 PPRV vaccine strain infection at 6 h post infection (p.i.). A total of 1926 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified with 616 - upregulated and 1310 - downregulated. TLR7/TLR3, IRF7/IRF1, ISG20, IFIT1/IFIT2, IFITM3, IL27 and TREX1 were identified as key immune sensors and antiviral candidate genes. Interestingly, type I interferons (IFNα/β) were not differentially expressed at this time point as well. TREX1, an exonuclease which inhibits type I interferons at the early stage of virus infection was found to be highly upregulated. IL27, an important antiviral host immune factor was significantly upregulated. ISG20, an antiviral interferon induced gene with exonuclease activity specific to ssRNA viruses was highly expressed. Functional profiling of DEGs showed significant enrichment of immune system processes with 233 genes indicating initiation of immune defense response in host cells. Protein interaction network showed important innate immune molecules in the immune network with high connectivity. The study highlights important immune and antiviral genes at the earliest time point.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddappa Manjunath
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India; Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 5021 Health Information and Translational Sciences (HITS), 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Shikha Saxena
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India
| | - Bina Mishra
- Division of Biological Products, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India
| | - Lakshman Santra
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India
| | - Amit Ranjan Sahu
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India
| | - Sajad Ahmed Wani
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Tiwari
- Division of Biological Standardization, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122, India
| | - Bishnu Prasad Mishra
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India
| | - Raj Kumar Singh
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India
| | - Sarath Chandra Janga
- School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University Purdue University, 719 Indiana Ave Ste 319, Walker Plaza Building, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 5021 Health Information and Translational Sciences (HITS), 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Library Building, 975 West Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Gandham Ravi Kumar
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500032, India.
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85
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Peroxiredoxin 1, a Novel HBx-Interacting Protein, Interacts with Exosome Component 5 and Negatively Regulates Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Propagation through Degradation of HBV RNA. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.02203-18. [PMID: 30567989 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02203-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for the development of chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A growing body of evidence suggests that HBV X protein (HBx) plays a crucial role in viral replication and HCC development. Here, we identified peroxiredoxin 1 (Prdx1), a cellular hydrogen peroxide scavenger, as a novel HBx-interacting protein. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis coupled with site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the region from amino acids 17 to 20 of the HBx, particularly HBx Cys17, is responsible for the interaction with Prdx1. Knockdown of Prdx1 by siRNA significantly increased the levels of intracellular HBV RNA, HBV antigens, and extracellular HBV DNA, whereas knockdown of Prdx1 did not increase the activities of HBV core, enhancer I (Enh1)/X, preS1, and preS2/S promoters. Kinetic analysis of HBV RNA showed that knockdown of Prdx1 inhibited HBV RNA decay, suggesting that Prdx1 reduces HBV RNA levels posttranscriptionally. The RNA coimmunoprecipitation assay revealed that Prdx1 interacted with HBV RNA. The exosome component 5 (Exosc5), a member of the RNA exosome complexes, was coimmunoprecipitated with Prdx1, suggesting its role in regulation of HBV RNA stability. Taken together, these results suggest that Prdx1 and Exosc5 play crucial roles in host defense mechanisms against HBV infection.IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem. HBx plays important roles in HBV replication and viral carcinogenesis through its interaction with host factors. In this study, we identified Prdx1 as a novel HBx-binding protein. We provide evidence suggesting that Prdx1 promotes HBV RNA decay through interaction with HBV RNA and Exosc5, leading to downregulation of HBV RNA. These results suggest that Prdx1 negatively regulates HBV propagation. Our findings may shed new light on the roles of Prdx1 and Exosc5 in host defense mechanisms in HBV infection.
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86
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RNA-Binding Motif Protein 24 (RBM24) Is Involved in Pregenomic RNA Packaging by Mediating Interaction between Hepatitis B Virus Polymerase and the Epsilon Element. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.02161-18. [PMID: 30626666 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02161-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Encapsidation of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) is a crucial step in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Binding by viral polymerase (Pol) to the epsilon stem-loop (ε) on the 5'-terminal region (TR) of pgRNA is required for pgRNA packaging. However, the detailed mechanism is not well understood. RNA-binding motif protein 24 (RBM24) inhibits core translation by binding to the 5'-TR of pgRNA. Here, we demonstrate that RBM24 is also involved in pgRNA packaging. RBM24 directly binds to the lower bulge of ε via RNA recognition submotifs (RNPs). RBM24 also interacts with Pol in an RNA-independent manner. The alanine-rich domain (ARD) of RBM24 and the reverse transcriptase (RT) domain of Pol are essential for binding between RBM24 and Pol. In addition, overexpression of RBM24 increases Pol-ε interaction, whereas RBM24 knockdown decreases the interaction. RBM24 was able to rescue binding between ε and mutant Pol lacking ε-binding activity, further showing that RBM24 mediates the interaction between Pol and ε by forming a Pol-RBM24-ε complex. Finally, RBM24 significantly promotes the packaging efficiency of pgRNA. In conclusion, RBM24 mediates Pol-ε interaction and formation of a Pol-RBM24-ε complex, which inhibits translation of pgRNA and results in pgRNA packing into capsids/virions for reverse transcription and DNA synthesis.IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a ubiquitous human pathogen, and HBV infection is a major global health burden. Chronic HBV infection is associated with the development of liver diseases, including fulminant hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. A currently approved vaccine can prevent HBV infection, and medications are able to reduce viral loads and prevent liver disease progression. However, current treatments rarely achieve a cure for chronic infection. Thus, it is important to gain insight into the mechanisms of HBV replication. In this study, we found that the host factor RBM24 is involved in pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) packaging and regulates HBV replication. These findings highlight a potential target for antiviral therapeutics of HBV infection.
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87
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Zhang B, Liu Y, Wang X, Li J, Xu X, Guo L, Ho WZ. TLR3 Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cell Line Suppresses HBV Replication in HepG2 Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2921. [PMID: 30619284 PMCID: PMC6304368 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is limited information about the role of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the liver innate immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We thus examined whether hepatic stellate cell line (LX-2) can be immunologically activated and produce antiviral factors that inhibit HBV replication in HepG2 cells. We found that LX-2 cells expressed the functional Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), activation of which by PolyI:C resulted in the selective induction of interferon-β (IFN-β) and IFN-λs, the phosphorylation of IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and IRF7. When HepG2 cells were treated with supernatant (SN) from PolyI:C-activated LX-2 cells, HBV replication was significantly inhibited. IFN-β and IFN-λ appeared to contribute to LX-2 SN-mediated HBV inhibition, as the antibodies to IFN-β and IFN-λ receptors could largely block the LX-2 SN action. Mechanistically, LX-2 SN treatment of the HepG2 cells induced a number of antiviral IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs: ISG20, ISG54, ISG56, OAS-1, Trim22, and Trim25) and facilitated the phosphorylation of STATs. These observations support further studies on the role of HSCs in the liver innate immunity against HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jieliang Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Xiqiu Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Le Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen-Zhe Ho
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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88
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Mitra B, Thapa RJ, Guo H, Block TM. Host functions used by hepatitis B virus to complete its life cycle: Implications for developing host-targeting agents to treat chronic hepatitis B. Antiviral Res 2018; 158:185-198. [PMID: 30145242 PMCID: PMC6193490 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Similar to other mammalian viruses, the life cycle of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is heavily dependent upon and regulated by cellular (host) functions. These cellular functions can be generally placed in to two categories: (a) intrinsic host restriction factors and innate defenses, which must be evaded or repressed by the virus; and (b) gene products that provide functions necessary for the virus to complete its life cycle. Some of these functions may apply to all viruses, but some may be specific to HBV. In certain cases, the virus may depend upon the host function much more than does the host itself. Knowing which host functions regulate the different steps of a virus' life cycle, can lead to new antiviral targets and help in developing novel treatment strategies, in addition to improving a fundamental understanding of viral pathogenesis. Therefore, in this review we will discuss known host factors which influence key steps of HBV life cycle, and further elucidate therapeutic interventions targeting host-HBV interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bidisha Mitra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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89
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The Interferon-Induced Exonuclease ISG20 Exerts Antiviral Activity through Upregulation of Type I Interferon Response Proteins. mSphere 2018; 3:3/5/e00209-18. [PMID: 30232164 PMCID: PMC6147134 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00209-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The host immune responses to infection lead to the production of type I interferon (IFN), and the upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) reduces virus replication and virus dissemination within a host. Ectopic expression of the interferon-induced 20-kDa exonuclease ISG20 suppressed replication of chikungunya virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, two mosquito-vectored RNA alphaviruses. Since the replication of alphavirus genomes occurs exclusively in the cytoplasm, the mechanism of nucleus-localized ISG20 inhibition of replication is unclear. In this study, we determined that ISG20 acts as a master regulator of over 100 genes, many of which are ISGs. Specifically, ISG20 upregulated IFIT1 genes and inhibited translation of the alphavirus genome. Furthermore, IFIT1-sensitive alphavirus replication was increased in Isg20−/− mice compared to the replication of wild-type viruses but not in cells ectopically expressing ISG20. We propose that ISG20 acts as an indirect regulator of RNA virus replication in the cytoplasm through the upregulation of many other ISGs. Type I interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs) have critical roles in inhibiting virus replication and dissemination. Despite advances in understanding the molecular basis of ISG restriction, the antiviral mechanisms of many remain unclear. The 20-kDa ISG ISG20 is a nuclear 3′–5′ exonuclease with preference for single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and has been implicated in the IFN-mediated restriction of several RNA viruses. Although the exonuclease activity of ISG20 has been shown to degrade viral RNA in vitro, evidence has yet to be presented that virus inhibition in cells requires this activity. Here, we utilized a combination of an inducible, ectopic expression system and newly generated Isg20−/− mice to investigate mechanisms and consequences of ISG20-mediated restriction. Ectopically expressed ISG20 localized primarily to Cajal bodies in the nucleus and restricted replication of chikungunya and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses. Although restriction by ISG20 was associated with inhibition of translation of infecting genomic RNA, degradation of viral RNAs was not observed. Instead, translation inhibition of viral RNA was associated with ISG20-induced upregulation of over 100 other genes, many of which encode known antiviral effectors. ISG20 modulated the production of IFIT1, an ISG that suppresses translation of alphavirus RNAs. Consistent with this observation, the pathogenicity of IFIT1-sensitive alphaviruses was increased in Isg20−/− mice compared to that of wild-type viruses but not in cells ectopically expressing ISG20. Our findings establish an indirect role for ISG20 in the early restriction of RNA virus replication by regulating expression of other ISGs that inhibit translation and possibly other activities in the replication cycle. IMPORTANCE The host immune responses to infection lead to the production of type I interferon (IFN), and the upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) reduces virus replication and virus dissemination within a host. Ectopic expression of the interferon-induced 20-kDa exonuclease ISG20 suppressed replication of chikungunya virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, two mosquito-vectored RNA alphaviruses. Since the replication of alphavirus genomes occurs exclusively in the cytoplasm, the mechanism of nucleus-localized ISG20 inhibition of replication is unclear. In this study, we determined that ISG20 acts as a master regulator of over 100 genes, many of which are ISGs. Specifically, ISG20 upregulated IFIT1 genes and inhibited translation of the alphavirus genome. Furthermore, IFIT1-sensitive alphavirus replication was increased in Isg20−/− mice compared to the replication of wild-type viruses but not in cells ectopically expressing ISG20. We propose that ISG20 acts as an indirect regulator of RNA virus replication in the cytoplasm through the upregulation of many other ISGs.
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90
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Tan G, Song H, Xu F, Cheng G. When Hepatitis B Virus Meets Interferons. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1611. [PMID: 30072974 PMCID: PMC6058040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection imposes a severe burden on global public health. Currently, there are no curative therapies for millions of chronic HBV-infected patients (Lok et al., 2017). Interferon (IFN; including pegylated IFN) is an approved anti-HBV drug that not only exerts direct antiviral activity, but also augments immunity against HBV infection. Through a systematic review of the literature, here we summarize and present recent progress in research regarding the interactions between IFN and HBV as well as dissect the antiviral mechanisms of IFN. We focus on inhibition of HBV replication by IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) as well as inhibition of IFN signaling by HBV and viral proteins. Finally, we briefly discuss current IFN-based HBV treatment strategies. This review may help to better understand the mechanisms involved in the therapeutic action of IFN as well as the crosstalk between IFN and HBV, and facilitate the development of both direct-acting and immunology-based new HBV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyun Tan
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongxiao Song
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Fengchao Xu
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Genhong Cheng
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Center of System Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
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91
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Interferon-Stimulated Gene (ISG)-Expression Screening Reveals the Specific Antibunyaviral Activity of ISG20. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.02140-17. [PMID: 29695422 PMCID: PMC6002717 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02140-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bunyaviruses pose a significant threat to human health, prosperity, and food security. In response to viral infections, interferons (IFNs) upregulate the expression of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), whose cumulative action can potently inhibit the replication of bunyaviruses. We used a flow cytometry-based method to screen the ability of ∼500 unique ISGs from humans and rhesus macaques to inhibit the replication of Bunyamwera orthobunyavirus (BUNV), the prototype of both the Peribunyaviridae family and the Bunyavirales order. Candidates possessing antibunyaviral activity were further examined using a panel of divergent bunyaviruses. Interestingly, one candidate, ISG20, exhibited potent antibunyaviral activity against most viruses examined from the Peribunyaviridae, Hantaviridae, and Nairoviridae families, whereas phleboviruses (Phenuiviridae) largely escaped inhibition. Similar to the case against other viruses known to be targeted by ISG20, the antibunyaviral activity of ISG20 is dependent upon its functional RNase activity. Through use of an infectious virus-like particle (VLP) assay (based on the BUNV minigenome system), we confirmed that gene expression from all 3 viral segments is strongly inhibited by ISG20. Using in vitro evolution, we generated a substantially ISG20-resistant BUNV and mapped the determinants of ISG20 sensitivity/resistance. Taking all the data together, we report that ISG20 is a broad and potent antibunyaviral factor but that some bunyaviruses are remarkably ISG20 resistant. Thus, ISG20 sensitivity/resistance may influence the pathogenesis of bunyaviruses, many of which are emerging viruses of clinical or veterinary significance. IMPORTANCE There are hundreds of bunyaviruses, many of which cause life-threatening acute diseases in humans and livestock. The interferon (IFN) system is a key component of innate immunity, and type I IFNs limit bunyaviral propagation both in vitro and in vivo. Type I IFN signaling results in the upregulation of hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), whose concerted action generates an “antiviral state.” Although IFNs are critical in limiting bunyaviral replication and pathogenesis, much is still unknown about which ISGs inhibit bunyaviruses. Using ISG-expression screening, we examined the ability of ∼500 unique ISGs to inhibit Bunyamwera orthobunyavirus (BUNV), the prototypical bunyavirus. Using this approach, we identified ISG20, an interferon-stimulated exonuclease, as a potent inhibitor of BUNV. Interestingly, ISG20 possesses highly selective antibunyaviral activity, with multiple bunyaviruses being potently inhibited while some largely escape inhibition. We speculate that the ability of some bunyaviruses to escape ISG20 may influence their pathogenesis.
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92
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Van Tong H, Hoan NX, Binh MT, Quyen DT, Meyer CG, Song LH, Toan NL, Velavan TP. Interferon-stimulated gene 20 kDa protein serum levels and clinical outcome of hepatitis B virus-related liver diseases. Oncotarget 2018; 9:27858-27871. [PMID: 29963243 PMCID: PMC6021248 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-stimulated gene 20 kDa protein (ISG20) with 3' to 5' exonuclease activity mainly targeting single-stranded RNA plays an important role in immune responses against various infectious pathogens, including hepatitis viruses. ISG20 levels were measured by ELISA assays in sera of 339 hepatitis B-virus (HBV) infected patients and 71 healthy individuals and were correlated with clinical and laboratory parameters. ISG20 mRNA was quantified by qRT-PCR in 30 pairs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumour and adjacent non-tumour liver tissues. ISG20 levels were significantly elevated in HBV patients compared to healthy controls (P<0.0001). In the patient group, varying ISG20 levels were associated with different forms of HBV-related liver diseases. ISG20 levels were higher in patients with HCC compared to those without HCC (P<0.0001), and increased according to the stages of HCC (P<0.0001). ISG20 mRNA expression was up-regulated in tumour tissues compared to the expression in adjacent non-tumour tissues (P=0.017). Importantly, ISG20 levels were strongly correlated with the levels of AST, ALT, total and direct bilirubin among HCC patients (Pearson's r = 0.43, 0.35, 0.34, 0.3; P<0.0001, respectively). Although differences between liver cirrhosis (LC) and non-LC patients were not observed, ISG20 levels were elevated according to the progression of cirrhosis in patients with LC plus HCC (P=0.005). In conclusions, ISG20 levels are induced by HBV infection and significantly associated with progression and clinical outcome of HBV-related liver diseases, especially in patients with HCC. ISG20 might be a potential indicator for liver injury and the clinical outcome in HBV-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Van Tong
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nghiem Xuan Hoan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Vietnamese-German Center of Excellence in Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Mai Thanh Binh
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Vietnamese-German Center of Excellence in Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Dao Thanh Quyen
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Vietnamese-German Center of Excellence in Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Christian G. Meyer
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Vietnamese-German Center of Excellence in Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Le Huu Song
- 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Vietnamese-German Center of Excellence in Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Linh Toan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Vietnamese-German Center of Excellence in Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
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93
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Tsukamoto Y, Ikeda S, Uwai K, Taguchi R, Chayama K, Sakaguchi T, Narita R, Yao WL, Takeuchi F, Otakaki Y, Watashi K, Wakita T, Kato H, Fujita T. Rosmarinic acid is a novel inhibitor for Hepatitis B virus replication targeting viral epsilon RNA-polymerase interaction. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197664. [PMID: 29782545 PMCID: PMC5962091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Current therapeutics for hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients such as nucleoside analogs (NAs) are effective; however, new antiviral drugs against HBV are still desired. Since the interaction between the epsilon (ε) sequence of HBV pregenomic RNA and viral polymerase (Pol) is a key step in the HBV replication cycle, we aimed to identify small compounds for its inhibition, and established a pull-down assay system for the detection of ε-RNA-binding-Pol. Screening showed that 5 out of 3,965 compounds inhibited ε-Pol binding, and we identified rosmarinic acid, which exhibited specificity, as a potential antiviral agent. In order to examine the anti-HBV effects of rosmarinic acid, HBV-infected primary human hepatocytes from a humanized mouse liver were treated with rosmarinic acid. The rosmarinic acid treatment decreased HBV components including the amounts of extracellular HBV DNA with negligible cytotoxicity. We also investigated the combined effects of rosmarinic acid and the NA, lamivudine. rosmarinic acid slightly enhanced the anti-HBV activity of lamivudine, suggesting that the HBV replication step targeted by rosmarinic acid is distinct from that of NA. We analyzed an additional 25 rosmarinic acid derivatives, and found that 5 also inhibited ε-Pol. Structural comparisons between these derivatives implied that the "two phenolic hydroxyl groups at both ends" and the "caffeic acid-like structure" of rosmarinic acid are critical for the inhibition of ε-Pol binding. Collectively, our results demonstrate that rosmarinic acid inhibits HBV replication in HBV-infected cells by specifically targeting ε-Pol binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Tsukamoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sotaro Ikeda
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koji Uwai
- Division of Sustainable and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Muroran, Japan
| | - Riho Taguchi
- Division of Sustainable and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Muroran, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takemasa Sakaguchi
- Department of Virology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Ryo Narita
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Centre for Structural Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Wan-Ling Yao
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fumihiko Takeuchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukie Otakaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koichi Watashi
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Japan
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama, Japan
| | - Takaji Wakita
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kato
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Fujita
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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94
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Yao Y, Yang B, Cao H, Zhao K, Yuan Y, Chen Y, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Pei R, Chen J, Hu X, Zhou Y, Lu M, Wu C, Chen X. RBM24 stabilizes hepatitis B virus pregenomic RNA but inhibits core protein translation by targeting the terminal redundancy sequence. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:86. [PMID: 29760415 PMCID: PMC5951808 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0091-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The terminal redundancy (TR) sequence of the 3.5-kb hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA contains sites that govern many crucial functions in the viral life cycle, including polyadenylation, translation, RNA packaging, and DNA synthesis. In the present study, RNA-binding motif protein 24 (RBM24) is shown to be involved in the modulation of HBV replication by targeting the TR of HBV RNA. In HBV-transfected hepatoma cell lines, both knockdown and overexpression of RBM24 led to decreased HBV replication and transcription. Ectopic expression of RBM24 inhibited HBV replication, which was partly restored by knockdown of RBM24, indicating that a proper level of RBM24 was required for HBV replication. The regulation of RBM24 of HBV replication and translation was achieved by the interaction between the RNA-binding domains of RBM24 and both the 5' and 3' TR of 3.5-kb RNA. RBM24 interacted with the 5' TR of HBV pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) to block 80S ribosome assembly on HBV pgRNA and thus inhibited core protein translation, whereas the interaction between RBM24 and the 3' TR enhanced the stability of HBV RNA. Finally, the regulatory function of RBM24 on HBV replication was further confirmed in a HBV infection model. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the dual functions of RBM24 by interacting with different TRs of viral RNA and reveals that RBM24 is an important host gene for HBV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongxuan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kaitao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yifei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingshan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenhua Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Rongjuan Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jizheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xue Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengji Lu
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Chunchen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xinwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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95
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Chardès B, Lucifora J, Salvetti A. La protéine ISG20, un nouveau facteur de restriction contre le virus de l’hépatite B ? Med Sci (Paris) 2018; 34:388-391. [DOI: 10.1051/medsci/20183405006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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96
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Mutz P, Metz P, Lempp FA, Bender S, Qu B, Schöneweis K, Seitz S, Tu T, Restuccia A, Frankish J, Dächert C, Schusser B, Koschny R, Polychronidis G, Schemmer P, Hoffmann K, Baumert TF, Binder M, Urban S, Bartenschlager R. HBV Bypasses the Innate Immune Response and Does Not Protect HCV From Antiviral Activity of Interferon. Gastroenterology 2018; 154:1791-1804.e22. [PMID: 29410097 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is sensitive to interferon (IFN)-based therapy, whereas hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is not. It is unclear whether HBV escapes detection by the IFN-mediated immune response or actively suppresses it. Moreover, little is known on how HBV and HCV influence each other in coinfected cells. We investigated interactions between HBV and the IFN-mediated immune response using HepaRG cells and primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). We analyzed the effects of HBV on HCV replication, and vice versa, at the single-cell level. METHODS PHHs were isolated from liver resection tissues from HBV-, HCV-, and human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients. Differentiated HepaRG cells overexpressing the HBV receptor sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (dHepaRGNTCP) and PHHs were infected with HBV. Huh7.5 cells were transfected with circular HBV DNA genomes resembling viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), and subsequently infected with HCV; this served as a model of HBV and HCV coinfection. Cells were incubated with IFN inducers, or IFNs, and antiviral response and viral replication were analyzed by immune fluorescence, reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and flow cytometry. RESULTS HBV infection of dHepaRGNTCP cells and PHHs neither activated nor inhibited signaling via pattern recognition receptors. Incubation of dHepaRGNTCP cells and PHHs with IFN had little effect on HBV replication or levels of cccDNA. HBV infection of these cells did not inhibit JAK-STAT signaling or up-regulation of IFN-stimulated genes. In coinfected cells, HBV did not prevent IFN-induced suppression of HCV replication. CONCLUSIONS In dHepaRGNTCP cells and PHHs, HBV evades the induction of IFN and IFN-induced antiviral effects. HBV infection does not rescue HCV from the IFN-mediated response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Mutz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; HBIGS graduate school, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philippe Metz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian A Lempp
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silke Bender
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bingqian Qu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katrin Schöneweis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Seitz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Tu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Agnese Restuccia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jamie Frankish
- Research Group "Dynamics of early viral infection and the innate antiviral response", Division Virus-associated carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christopher Dächert
- Research Group "Dynamics of early viral infection and the innate antiviral response", Division Virus-associated carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Schusser
- Reproductive Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ronald Koschny
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infection and Intoxication, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Georgios Polychronidis
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Schemmer
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Katrin Hoffmann
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marco Binder
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Research Group "Dynamics of early viral infection and the innate antiviral response", Division Virus-associated carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; HBIGS graduate school, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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97
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Michailidis E, Pabon J, Xiang K, Park P, Ramanan V, Hoffmann HH, Schneider WM, Bhatia SN, de Jong YP, Shlomai A, Rice CM. A robust cell culture system supporting the complete life cycle of hepatitis B virus. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16616. [PMID: 29192196 PMCID: PMC5709435 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16882-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) as the hepatitis B virus (HBV) receptor enabled researchers to create hepatoma cell lines susceptible to HBV infection. Infection in current systems, however, is inefficient and virus fails to spread. Infection efficiency is enhanced by treating cells with polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG) during infection. However, this alone does not promote virus spread. Here we show that maintaining PEG in culture medium increases the rate of infection by at least one order of magnitude, and, most importantly, promotes virus spread. To demonstrate the utility of this system, we show that two interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), ISG20 and tetherin, restrict HBV spread in NTCP-expressing hepatoma cells. Thus, this protocol can be easily applied to existing cell culture systems to study the complete HBV life cycle, including virus spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftherios Michailidis
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Pabon
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Center of Infectious Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Paul Park
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vyas Ramanan
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hans-Heinrich Hoffmann
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - William M Schneider
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sangeeta N Bhatia
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ype P de Jong
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amir Shlomai
- Department of Medicine D and the Liver Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Belinson Hospital, Petach-Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Charles M Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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98
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Zhou T, Block T, Liu F, Kondratowicz AS, Sun L, Rawat S, Branson J, Guo F, Steuer HM, Liang H, Bailey L, Moore C, Wang X, Cuconatti A, Gao M, Lee ACH, Harasym T, Chiu T, Gotchev D, Dorsey B, Rijnbrand R, Sofia MJ. HBsAg mRNA degradation induced by a dihydroquinolizinone compound depends on the HBV posttranscriptional regulatory element. Antiviral Res 2017; 149:191-201. [PMID: 29133129 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In pursuit of novel therapeutics targeting the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, we evaluated a dihydroquinolizinone compound (DHQ-1) that in the nanomolar range reduced the production of virion and surface protein (HBsAg) in tissue culture. This compound also showed broad HBV genotype coverage, but was inactive against a panel of DNA and RNA viruses of other species. Oral administration of DHQ-1 in the AAV-HBV mouse model resulted in a significant reduction of serum HBsAg as soon as 4 days following the commencement of treatment. Reduction of HBV markers in both in vitro and in vivo experiments was related to the reduced amount of viral RNA including pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA) and 2.4/2.1 kb HBsAg mRNA. Nuclear run-on and subcellular fractionation experiments indicated that DHQ-1 mediated HBV RNA reduction was the result of accelerated viral RNA degradation in the nucleus, rather than the consequence of inhibition of transcription initiation. Through mutagenesis of HBsAg gene sequences, we found induction of HBsAg mRNA decay by DHQ-1 required the presence of the HBV posttranscriptional regulatory element (HPRE), with a 109 nucleotides sequence within the central region of the HPRE alpha sub-element being the most critical. Taken together, the current study shows that a small molecule can reduce the overall levels of HBV RNA, especially the HBsAg mRNA, and viral surface proteins. This may shed light on the development of a new class of HBV therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianlun Zhou
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Doylestown, PA 18902, United States.
| | - Timothy Block
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Doylestown, PA 18902, United States
| | - Fei Liu
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Andrew S Kondratowicz
- Arbutus BioPharma, 100 - 8900 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia V5J 5J8, Canada
| | - Liren Sun
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Doylestown, PA 18902, United States
| | - Siddhartha Rawat
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Doylestown, PA 18902, United States
| | - Jeffrey Branson
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Doylestown, PA 18902, United States
| | - Fang Guo
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | | | - Hongyan Liang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Doylestown, PA 18902, United States
| | - Lauren Bailey
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Chris Moore
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Xiaohe Wang
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Andy Cuconatti
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Min Gao
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Amy C H Lee
- Arbutus BioPharma, 100 - 8900 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia V5J 5J8, Canada
| | - Troy Harasym
- Arbutus BioPharma, 100 - 8900 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia V5J 5J8, Canada
| | - Tim Chiu
- Arbutus BioPharma, 100 - 8900 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia V5J 5J8, Canada
| | - Dimitar Gotchev
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Bruce Dorsey
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Rene Rijnbrand
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
| | - Michael J Sofia
- Arbutus BioPharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, United States.
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Ortega-Prieto AM, Dorner M. Immune Evasion Strategies during Chronic Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2017; 5:E24. [PMID: 28862649 PMCID: PMC5620555 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines5030024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are a major global healthcare problem with more than 240 million and 70 million infected, respectively. Both viruses persist within the liver and result in progressive liver disease, resulting in liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Strikingly, this pathogenesis is largely driven by immune responses, unable to clear an established infection, rather than by the viral pathogens themselves. Even though disease progression is very similar in both infections, HBV and HCV have evolved distinct mechanisms, by which they ensure persistence within the host. Whereas HCV utilizes a cloak-and-dagger approach, disguising itself as a lipid-like particle and immediately crippling essential pattern-recognition pathways, HBV has long been considered a "stealth" virus, due to the complete absence of innate immune responses during infection. Recent developments and access to improved model systems, however, revealed that even though it is among the smallest human-tropic viruses, HBV may, in addition to evading host responses, employ subtle immune evasion mechanisms directed at ensuring viral persistence in the absence of host responses. In this review, we compare the different strategies of both viruses to ensure viral persistence by actively interfering with viral recognition and innate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcus Dorner
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK.
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