201
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Nishio A, Bolte FJ, Takeda K, Park N, Yu ZX, Park H, Valdez K, Ghany MG, Rehermann B. Clearance of pegylated interferon by Kupffer cells limits NK cell activation and therapy response of patients with HBV infection. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/587/eaba6322. [PMID: 33790025 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba6322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α), where IFN-α is attached to polyethylene glycol (PEG), is an approved treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a disease that causes liver-related morbidity and mortality in 257 million people worldwide. It is unknown why only a minority of patients respond to PEG-IFN-α. Using sequential blood samples and liver biopsies of patients with chronic HBV infection before, during, and after PEG-IFN-α treatment, we find that patients with early natural killer (NK) cell activation after PEG-IFN-α injection experienced greater liver inflammation, lysis of HBV-infected hepatocytes, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decline than those without. NK cell activation was associated with induction of interferon-stimulated genes and determined by PEG-IFN-α pharmacokinetics. Patients with delayed increases in PEG-IFN-α concentrations had greater amounts of PEG-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) immune complexes in the blood and more PEG and IgM detected in the liver than patients with rapid increase in PEG-IFN-α concentration. This was associated with reduced NK cell activation. These results indicate that the immunomodulatory functions of PEG-IFN-α, particularly activation of NK cells, play a pivotal role in the response to treatment and further demonstrate that these functions are affected by PEG-IFN-α pharmacokinetics. Accelerated clearance of antibody-complexed pegylated drugs by Kupffer cells may be important beyond the field of HBV therapeutics. Thus, these findings may contribute to improving the efficacy of pegylated drugs that are now being developed for other chronic diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Nishio
- Immunology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Fabian J Bolte
- Immunology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kazuyo Takeda
- Pathology Core, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nana Park
- Immunology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zu-Xi Yu
- Pathology Core, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Heiyoung Park
- Immunology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kristin Valdez
- Clinical Research Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marc G Ghany
- Clinical Research Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Barbara Rehermann
- Immunology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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202
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Ou G, He L, Wang L, Song J, Lai X, Tian X, Wang L, Zhang K, Zhang X, Deng J, Zhuang H, Xiang K, Li T. The Genotype (A to H) Dependent N-terminal Sequence of HBV Large Surface Protein Affects Viral Replication, Secretion and Infectivity. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:687785. [PMID: 34305848 PMCID: PMC8299529 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.687785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variability has significant impacts on biological characteristics and pathogenicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV), in which the N-terminal sequence of the presurface 1 (preS1) region of HBV large surface protein (LHBs) displays genotype (GT) dependent genetic heterogeneity. However, the influence of this heterogeneity on its biological roles is largely unknown. By analyzing 6560 full-length genome sequences of GTA-GTH downloaded from HBVdb database, the preS1 N-terminal sequences were divided into four representative types, namely C-type (representative of GTA, GTB, and GTC), H-type (GTF and GTH), E-type (GTE and GTG), and D-type (GTD), respectively. We artificially substituted the preS1 N-termini of GTC and GTD plasmids or viral strains with each sequence of the four representative types. The roles of preS1 N-terminus on HBV replication, secretion and infectivity were investigated using HepG2 or HepG2-NTCP cells. In the transfection experiments, the results showed that the extracellular HBsAg levels and HBsAg secretion coefficients in D- and E-type strains were significantly higher than those in C- and H-type strains. D-type strain produced more extracellular HBV DNA than C-type strain. We further observed that D-, H-, and E-type strains increased the levels of intracellular replicative HBV DNAs, comparing with C-type strain. In the infection experiments, the levels of extracellular HBeAg, intracellular HBV total RNA and pgRNA/preC mRNA in D- and E-type strains were markedly higher than C and H-type ones. Our data suggest that the preS1 N-termini affect HBV replication, secretion and infectivity in a genotype dependent manner. The C- and H-type strains prefer to attenuate HBsAg secretion, while the strains of D- and E-type promoted infectivity. The existence and function of the intergenotypic shift of preS1 in naturally occurring recombination requires further investigation, as the data we acquired are mostly related to recombinant preS1 region between N-terminus of preS1 from genotypes A-H and the remaining preS1 portion of GTC or GTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guomin Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Lingyuan He
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luwei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Ji Song
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyuan Lai
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Tian
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xuechao Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
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203
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Hwang N, Sun L, Noe D, Lam PYS, Zhou T, Block TM, Du Y. Hepatoselective Dihydroquinolizinone Bis-acids for HBsAg mRNA Degradation. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1130-1136. [PMID: 34267883 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is characterized by high levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) in blood circulation. A major goal of CHB interventions is reducing or eliminating this antigenemia; however, there are currently no approved methods that can do this. A novel family of compounds with a dihydroquinolizinone (DHQ) scaffold has been shown to reduce circulating levels of HBsAg in animals, representing a first for a small molecule. Reductions of HBsAg were a result of the compound's effect on HBsAg mRNA levels. However, commercial development by Roche of a DHQ lead compound, RG-7834, was stopped due to undisclosed toxicity issues. Herein we report our effort to convert the systemic RG7834 compound to a hepatoselective DHQ analog to limit its distribution to the bloodstream and thus to other body tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Hwang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Liren Sun
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Daisy Noe
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Patrick Y. S. Lam
- Lam Drug Discovery Consulting, LLC, 6 Ridgway Drive, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania 19317, United States
| | - Tianlun Zhou
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Timothy M. Block
- Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
- Hepatitis B Foundation, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
| | - Yanming Du
- Medicinal Chemisty, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
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204
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Venkataraman S, Hefferon K, Makhzoum A, Abouhaidar M. Combating Human Viral Diseases: Will Plant-Based Vaccines Be the Answer? Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9070761. [PMID: 34358177 PMCID: PMC8310141 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular pharming or the technology of application of plants and plant cell culture to manufacture high-value recombinant proteins has progressed a long way over the last three decades. Whether generated in transgenic plants by stable expression or in plant virus-based transient expression systems, biopharmaceuticals have been produced to combat several human viral diseases that have impacted the world in pandemic proportions. Plants have been variously employed in expressing a host of viral antigens as well as monoclonal antibodies. Many of these biopharmaceuticals have shown great promise in animal models and several of them have performed successfully in clinical trials. The current review elaborates the strategies and successes achieved in generating plant-derived vaccines to target several virus-induced health concerns including highly communicable infectious viral diseases. Importantly, plant-made biopharmaceuticals against hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), the cancer-causing virus human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza virus, zika virus, and the emerging respiratory virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been discussed. The use of plant virus-derived nanoparticles (VNPs) and virus-like particles (VLPs) in generating plant-based vaccines are extensively addressed. The review closes with a critical look at the caveats of plant-based molecular pharming and future prospects towards further advancements in this technology. The use of biopharmed viral vaccines in human medicine and as part of emergency response vaccines and therapeutics in humans looks promising for the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srividhya Venkataraman
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kathleen Hefferon
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Abdullah Makhzoum
- Department of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science & Technology, Palapye, Botswana;
| | - Mounir Abouhaidar
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
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205
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Zhan Q, Xu JH, Yu YY, Lo KK E, El-Nezami H, Zeng Z. Human immune repertoire in hepatitis B virus infection. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:3790-3801. [PMID: 34321844 PMCID: PMC8291018 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i25.3790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a public health threat that affects 257 million people worldwide and can progress to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The HBV antigen- induced adaptive immune response plays an important role in HBV clearance. Immune repertoire sequencing (IRS) has been used to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind the immune system, find novel ways to treat HBV infection, and evaluate the genetic responses and immune characteristics of individuals infected by HBV or immunized by HBV vaccine. This review summarizes the human immune repertoire analysis methodology, and the application of the IRS in the prediction of HBV infection progression, treatment, and vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Zhan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Jing-Hang Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Yan-Yan Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Emily Lo KK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Felicianna
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hani El-Nezami
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland
| | - Zheng Zeng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
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206
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Li X, Xu Z, Mitra B, Wang M, Guo H, Feng Z. Elevated NTCP expression by an iPSC-derived human hepatocyte maintenance medium enhances HBV infection in NTCP-reconstituted HepG2 cells. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:123. [PMID: 34225786 PMCID: PMC8256212 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is a functional receptor for hepatitis B virus (HBV). NTCP-reconstituted human hepatoma cells support HBV infection, but the infection is suboptimal and no apparent HBV spread has been observed in this system. RESULTS We found that NTCP-reconstituted HepG2 cells were highly susceptible to HBV infection after cells were cultured in a commercial human inducible pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocyte maintenance medium (HMM). The enhanced HBV infection coincided with increased NTCP expression, and was observed in six different clones of HepG2-NTCP cells. Promoter assays indicated that HMM activated the cytomegalovirus immediate-early (IE) promoter that drives the NTCP expression in the HepG2-NTCP cells. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that HMM upregulated multiple metabolic pathways. Despite highly upregulated NTCP expression by HMM, no obvious HBV spread was observed even in the presence of PEG 8000. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that this particular medium could be used to enhance HBV infection in NTCP-reconstituted hepatocytes in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlei Li
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Zhaohui Xu
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Bidisha Mitra
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Minghang Wang
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zongdi Feng
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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207
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Yuan S, Liao G, Zhang M, Zhu Y, Wang K, Xiao W, Jia C, Dong M, Sun N, Walch A, Xu P, Zhang J, Deng Q, Hu R. Translatomic profiling reveals novel self-restricting virus-host interactions during HBV infection. J Hepatol 2021; 75:74-85. [PMID: 33621634 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS HBV remains a global threat to human health. It remains incompletely understood how HBV self-restricts in the host during most adult infections. Thus, we performed multi-omics analyses to systematically interrogate HBV-host interactions and the life cycle of HBV. METHODS RNA-sequencing and ribosome profiling were conducted with cell-based models for HBV replication and gene expression. The novel translational events or products hereby detected were then characterized, and functionally assessed in both cell and mouse models. Moreover, quasi-species analyses of HBV subpopulations were conducted with patients at immune tolerance or activation phases, using next- or third-generation sequencing. RESULTS We identified EnhI-SL (Enhancer I-stem loop) as a new cis element in the HBV genome; mutations disrupting EnhI-SL were found to elevate viral polymerase expression. Furthermore, while re-discovering HpZ/P', a previously under-explored isoform of HBV polymerase, we also identified HBxZ, a novel short isoform of HBX. Having confirmed their existence, we functionally characterized them as potent suppressors of HBV gene expression and genome replication. Mechanistically, HpZ/P' was found to repress HBV gene expression partially by interacting with, and sequestering SUPV3L1. Activation of the host immune system seemed to reduce the abundance of HBV mutants deficient in HpZ/P' or with disruptions in EnhI-SL. Finally, SRSF2, a host RNA spliceosome protein that is downregulated by HBV, was found to promote the splicing of viral pre-genomic RNA and HpZ/P' biogenesis. CONCLUSION This study has identified multiple self-restricting HBV-host interactions. In particular, SRSF2-HpZ/P' appeared to constitute another negative feedback mechanism in the HBV life cycle. Targeting host splicing machinery might thus represent a strategy to intervene in HBV-host interactions. LAY SUMMARY There remain many unknowns about the natural history of HBV infection in adults. Herein, we identified new HBV-host mechanisms which could be responsible for self-restricting infections. Targeting these mechanisms could be a promising strategy for the treatment of HBV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guanghong Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Menghuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yuanfei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE & MOH), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Kun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Weidi Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Research Unit of Proteomics & Research and Development of New Drug of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Caiwei Jia
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Minhui Dong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOH & MOE), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Na Sun
- Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Axel Walch
- Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Research Unit of Proteomics & Research and Development of New Drug of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Jiming Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOH & MOE), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai 200040, China.
| | - Qiang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE & MOH), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Ronggui Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200031, China; School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advance Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
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208
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Wing PAC, Liu PJ, Harris JM, Magri A, Michler T, Zhuang X, Borrmann H, Minisini R, Frampton NR, Wettengel JM, Mailly L, D'Arienzo V, Riedl T, Nobre L, Weekes MP, Pirisi M, Heikenwalder M, Baumert TF, Hammond EM, Mole DR, Protzer U, Balfe P, McKeating JA. Hypoxia inducible factors regulate hepatitis B virus replication by activating the basal core promoter. J Hepatol 2021; 75:64-73. [PMID: 33516779 PMCID: PMC8214165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are a hallmark of inflammation and are key regulators of hepatic immunity and metabolism, yet their role in HBV replication is poorly defined. HBV replicates in hepatocytes within the liver, a naturally hypoxic organ, however most studies of viral replication are performed under conditions of atmospheric oxygen, where HIFs are inactive. We therefore investigated the role of HIFs in regulating HBV replication. METHODS Using cell culture, animal models, human tissue and pharmacological agents inhibiting the HIF-prolyl hydroxylases, we investigated the impact of hypoxia on the HBV life cycle. RESULTS Culturing liver cell-based model systems under low oxygen uncovered a new role for HIFs in binding HBV DNA and activating the basal core promoter, leading to increased pre-genomic RNA and de novo HBV particle secretion. The presence of hypoxia responsive elements among all primate members of the hepadnaviridae highlights an evolutionary conserved role for HIFs in regulating this virus family. CONCLUSIONS Identifying a role for this conserved oxygen sensor in regulating HBV transcription suggests that this virus has evolved to exploit the HIF signaling pathway to persist in the low oxygen environment of the liver. Our studies show the importance of considering oxygen availability when studying HBV-host interactions and provide innovative routes to better understand and target chronic HBV infection. LAY SUMMARY Viral replication in host cells is defined by the cellular microenvironment and one key factor is local oxygen tension. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates in the liver, a naturally hypoxic organ. Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are the major sensors of low oxygen; herein, we identify a new role for these factors in regulating HBV replication, revealing new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A C Wing
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - James M Harris
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Magri
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas Michler
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Xiaodong Zhuang
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helene Borrmann
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rosalba Minisini
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Nicholas R Frampton
- Institute of Inflammation and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jochen M Wettengel
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Laurent Mailly
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; INSERM, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Tobias Riedl
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luis Nobre
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael P Weekes
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mario Pirisi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; INSERM, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ester M Hammond
- Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David R Mole
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Balfe
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jane A McKeating
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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209
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Hong X, Luckenbaugh L, Perlman D, Revill PA, Wieland SF, Menne S, Hu J. Characterization and Application of Precore/Core-Related Antigens in Animal Models of Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Hepatology 2021; 74:99-115. [PMID: 33458844 PMCID: PMC8286267 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg), a composite antigen of precore/core gene including classical hepatitis B core protein (HBc) and HBeAg and, additionally, the precore-related antigen PreC, retaining the N-terminal signal peptide, has emerged as a surrogate marker to monitor the intrahepatic HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and to define meaningful treatment endpoints. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we found that the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) precore/core gene products (i.e., WHV core-related antigen [WHcrAg]) include the WHV core protein and WHV e antigen (WHeAg) as well as the WHV PreC protein (WPreC) in infected woodchucks. Unlike in HBV infection, WHeAg and WPreC proteins were N-glycosylated, and no significant amounts of WHV empty virions were detected in WHV-infected woodchuck serum. WHeAg was the predominant form of WHcrAg, and a positive correlation was found between the serum WHeAg and intrahepatic cccDNA. Both WHeAg and WPreC antigens displayed heterogeneous proteolytic processing at their C-termini, resulting in multiple species. Analysis of the kinetics of each component of the precore/core-related antigen, along with serum viral DNA and surface antigens, in HBV-infected chimpanzees and WHV-infected woodchucks revealed multiple distinct phases of viral decline during natural resolution and in response to antiviral treatments. A positive correlation was found between HBc and intrahepatic cccDNA but not between HBeAg or HBcrAg and cccDNA in HBV-infected chimpanzees, suggesting that HBc can be a better marker for intrahepatic cccDNA. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, careful monitoring of each component of HBcrAg along with other classical markers will help understand intrahepatic viral activities to elucidate natural resolution mechanisms as well as guide antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xupeng Hong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Laurie Luckenbaugh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - David Perlman
- Merck Research Labs Exploratory Sciences Center, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peter A. Revill
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stefan F. Wieland
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Menne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Jianming Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,Corresponding Author: Jianming Hu, MD, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA. Phone: 717-531-6523.
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210
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Yan K, Feng J, Liu X, Wang H, Li Q, Li J, Xu T, Sajid M, Ullah H, Zhou L, Zhou L, Chen Y. Inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus by AAV8-Derived CRISPR/SaCas9 Expressed From Liver-Specific Promoters. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:665184. [PMID: 34254007 PMCID: PMC8271097 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.665184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Curative therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remain a distant goal, and the persistence of stable covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) during HBV replication is a key barrier that is hard to break through using the drugs currently approved for HBV treatment. Due to the accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of genome editing, CRISPR/Cas technologies are being widely used for gene therapy and in antiviral strategies. Although CRISPR/Cas could possibly clear cccDNA, ensuring its safety is requirement for application. In our study, we analyzed the liver specificity of several promoters and constructed candidate promoters in the CRISPR/Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 (SaCas9) system combined with hepatotropic AAV8 (whereby AAV refers to adeno-associated virus) to verify the efficacy against HBV. The results revealed that the reconstructed CRISPR/SaCas9 system in which the original promoter replaced with a liver-specific promoter could still inhibit HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo. Three functional guide RNAs (gRNAs), T2, T3, and T6, which target the conserved regions of different HBV genotypes, demonstrated consistently better anti-HBV effects with different liver-specific promoters. Moreover, the three gRNAs inhibited the replication of HBV genotypes A, B, and C to varying degrees. Under the action of the EnhII-Pa1AT promoter and AAV8, the expression of SaCas9 was further decreased in other organs or tissues in comparison to liver. These results are helpful for clinical applications in liver by ensuring the effects of the CRISPR/Cas9 system remain restricted to liver and, thereby, reducing the probability of undesired and harmful effects through nonspecific targeting in other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiangpeng Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiaohong Li
- Animal Biosafety Level III Laboratory at Center for Animal Experiment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiali Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianmo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Muhammad Sajid
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hafiz Ullah
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Animal Biosafety Level III Laboratory at Center for Animal Experiment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Limin Zhou
- Department of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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211
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Singh P, Kairuz D, Arbuthnot P, Bloom K. Silencing hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA: The potential of an epigenetic therapy approach. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:3182-3207. [PMID: 34163105 PMCID: PMC8218364 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i23.3182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Global prophylactic vaccination programmes have helped to curb new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. However, it is estimated that nearly 300 million people are chronically infected and have a high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. As such, HBV remains a serious health priority and the development of novel curative therapeutics is urgently needed. Chronic HBV infection has been attributed to the persistence of the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) which establishes itself as a minichromosome in the nucleus of hepatocytes. As the viral transcription intermediate, the cccDNA is responsible for producing new virions and perpetuating infection. HBV is dependent on various host factors for cccDNA formation and the minichromosome is amenable to epigenetic modifications. Two HBV proteins, X (HBx) and core (HBc) promote viral replication by modulating the cccDNA epigenome and regulating host cell responses. This includes viral and host gene expression, chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation, the antiviral immune response, apoptosis, and ubiquitination. Elimination of the cccDNA minichromosome would result in a sterilizing cure; however, this may be difficult to achieve. Epigenetic therapies could permanently silence the cccDNA minichromosome and promote a functional cure. This review explores the cccDNA epigenome, how host and viral factors influence transcription, and the recent epigenetic therapies and epigenome engineering approaches that have been described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashika Singh
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Dylan Kairuz
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Patrick Arbuthnot
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Kristie Bloom
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, Gauteng, South Africa
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Lu YX, Chang YZ, Liang P, Yang CQ. Effect of Additional Clostridium butyricum on the Intestinal Flora of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Entecavir. Infect Dis Ther 2021; 10:1519-1530. [PMID: 34132991 PMCID: PMC8322241 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00463-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To explore the influence of intestinal flora on the occurrence, development and antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 16S rDNA amplification sequencing was performed to investigate the intestinal flora in CHB patients treated with entecavir (ETV) and Clostridium butyricum (CB). METHODS CHB patients were divided into the ETV group (treatment with ETV alone) and ETV + CB group (treatment with ETV and CB). After 8-week treatment, feces samples were collected and processed for 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing; blood samples were collected for the biochemical, immunologic and virologic evaluations, which were compared between groups. RESULTS ETV treatment for 8 weeks significantly decreased the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and HBV DNA compared to those before treatment, but there were no marked differences between the ETV group and ETV + CB group. The intestinal flora changed significantly in the CHB patients after ETV + CB treatment: there were marked differences in 13 unique species before treatment and 4 unique species after ETV + CB treatment; at the phylum level, the top five bacteria with significant difference between patients before treatment and ETV + CB patients were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Euryarchaeota and Synergistetes. There were significant differences in 25 unique species in the ETV group and 4 unique species in the ETV + CB group; at the phylum level, the top five bacteria with significant difference between ETV patients and ETV + CB patients were Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Saccharibacteria and Synergistetes. CONCLUSION ETV treatment improves the serum biochemical, immunologic and virologic variables, but additional CB fails to further improve these variables. Of note, additional CB affects the intestinal flora in the CHB patients treated with ETV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Xia Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institution of Digestive Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xin Cun Road, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Yi-Zhong Chang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institution of Digestive Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xin Cun Road, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Ping Liang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xin Cun Road, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Chang-Qing Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institution of Digestive Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xin Cun Road, Shanghai, 200065, China.
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213
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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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214
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Maravelia P, Frelin L, Ni Y, Caro Pérez N, Ahlén G, Jagya N, Verch G, Verhoye L, Pater L, Johansson M, Pasetto A, Meuleman P, Urban S, Sällberg M. Blocking Entry of Hepatitis B and D Viruses to Hepatocytes as a Novel Immunotherapy for Treating Chronic Infections. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:128-138. [PMID: 31994701 PMCID: PMC7781452 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic hepatitis B and D virus (HBV/HDV) infections can cause cancer. Current HBV therapy using nucleoside analogues (NAs) is life-long and reduces but does not eliminate the risk of cancer. A hallmark of chronic hepatitis B is a dysfunctional HBV-specific T-cell response. We therefore designed an immunotherapy driven by naive healthy T cells specific for the HDV antigen (HDAg) to bypass the need for HBV-specific T cells in order to prime PreS1-specific T cells and PreS1 antibodies blocking HBV entry. Methods Ten combinations of PreS1 and/or HDAg sequences were evaluated for induction of PreS1 antibodies and HBV- and HDV-specific T cells in vitro and in vivo. Neutralization of HBV by PreS1-specific murine and rabbit antibodies was evaluated in cell culture, and rabbit anti-PreS1 were tested for neutralization of HBV in mice repopulated with human hepatocytes. Results The best vaccine candidate induced T cells to PreS1 and HDAg, and PreS1 antibodies blocking HBV entry in vitro. Importantly, adoptive transfer of PreS1 antibodies prevented, or modulated, HBV infection after a subsequent challenge in humanized mice. Conclusions We here describe a novel immunotherapy for chronic HBV/HDV that targets viral entry to complement NAs and coming therapies inhibiting viral maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Maravelia
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Frelin
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yi Ni
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Noelia Caro Pérez
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Ahlén
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Neetu Jagya
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georg Verch
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lieven Verhoye
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Lena Pater
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Johansson
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anna Pasetto
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matti Sällberg
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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215
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Review of Lambda Interferons in Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Outcomes and Therapeutic Strategies. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061090. [PMID: 34207487 PMCID: PMC8230240 DOI: 10.3390/v13061090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects over 250 million people worldwide and causes nearly 1 million deaths per year due to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Approved treatments for chronic infection include injectable type-I interferons and nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors. A small minority of patients achieve seroclearance after treatment with type-I interferons, defined as sustained absence of detectable HBV DNA and surface antigen (HBsAg) antigenemia. However, type-I interferons cause significant side effects, are costly, must be administered for months, and most patients have viral rebound or non-response. Nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors reduce HBV viral load and improve liver-related outcomes, but do not lower HBsAg levels or impart seroclearance. Thus, new therapeutics are urgently needed. Lambda interferons (IFNLs) have been tested as an alternative strategy to stimulate host antiviral pathways to treat HBV infection. IFNLs comprise an evolutionarily conserved innate immune pathway and have cell-type specific activity on hepatocytes, other epithelial cells found at mucosal surfaces, and some immune cells due to restricted cellular expression of the IFNL receptor. This article will review work that examined expression of IFNLs during acute and chronic HBV infection, the impact of IFNLs on HBV replication in vitro and in vivo, the association of polymorphisms in IFNL genes with clinical outcomes, and the therapeutic evaluation of IFNLs for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.
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216
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Tang D, Zhao H, Wu Y, Peng B, Gao Z, Sun Y, Duan J, Qi Y, Li Y, Zhou Z, Guo G, Zhang Y, Li C, Sui J, Li W. Transcriptionally inactive hepatitis B virus episome DNA preferentially resides in the vicinity of chromosome 19 in 3D host genome upon infection. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109288. [PMID: 34192543 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects 257 million people worldwide. HBV infection requires establishment and persistence of covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA, a viral episome, in nucleus. Here, we study cccDNA spatial localization in the 3D host genome by using chromosome conformation capture-based sequencing analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We show that transcriptionally inactive cccDNA is not randomly distributed in host nucleus. Rather, it is preferentially accumulated at specialized areas, including regions close to chromosome 19 (chr.19). Activation of the cccDNA is apparently associated with its re-localization, from a pre-established heterochromatin hub formed by 5 regions of chr.19 to transcriptionally active regions formed by chr.19 and nearby chromosomes including chr.16, 17, 20, and 22. This active versus inactive positioning at discrete regions of the host genome is primarily controlled by the viral HBx protein and by host factors including the structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 5/6 (SMC5/6) complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingbin Tang
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hanqing Zhao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yumeng Wu
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenchao Gao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yinyan Sun
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinzhi Duan
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yonghe Qi
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfei Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongmin Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guilan Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Li
- School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Center for Bioinformatics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhua Sui
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China; Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhui Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China; Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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217
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Regulation of Hepatitis B Virus Replication by Cyclin Docking Motifs in Core Protein. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI.00230-21. [PMID: 33789995 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00230-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid or core protein (HBc) consists of an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD) connected by a short linker peptide. Dynamic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of HBc regulate its multiple functions in capsid assembly and viral replication. The cellular cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) plays a major role in HBc phosphorylation and, furthermore, is incorporated into the viral capsid, accounting for most of the "endogenous kinase" activity associated with the capsid. The packaged CDK2 is thought to play a role in phosphorylating HBc to trigger nucleocapsid disassembly (uncoating), an essential step during viral infection. However, little is currently known on how CDK2 is recruited and packaged into the capsid. We have now identified three RXL motifs in the HBc NTD known as cyclin docking motifs (CDMs), which mediate the interactions of various CDK substrates/regulators with CDK/cyclin complexes. Mutations of the CDMs in the HBc NTD reduced CTD phosphorylation and diminished CDK2 packaging into the capsid. Also, the CDM mutations showed little effects on capsid assembly and pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) packaging but impaired the integrity of mature nucleocapsids. Furthermore, the CDM mutations blocked covalently closed circular DNA (CCC DNA) formation during infection while having no effect on or enhancing CCC DNA formation via intracellular amplification. These results indicate that the HBc NTD CDMs play a role in CDK2 recruitment and packaging, which, in turn, is important for productive infection.IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an important global human pathogen and persistently infects hundreds of millions of people, who are at high risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. HBV capsid packages a host cell protein kinase, the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), which is thought to be required to trigger disassembly of the viral nucleocapsid during infection by phosphorylating the capsid protein, a prerequisite for successful infection. We have identified docking sites on the capsid protein for recruiting CDK2, in complex with its cyclin partner, to facilitate capsid protein phosphorylation and CDK2 packaging. Mutations of these docking sites reduced capsid protein phosphorylation, impaired CDK2 packaging into HBV capsids, and blocked HBV infection. These results provide novel insights regarding CDK2 packaging into HBV capsids and the role of CDK2 in HBV infection and should facilitate the development of antiviral drugs that target the HBV capsid protein.
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Innate immunity in hepatitis B and D virus infection: consequences for viral persistence, inflammation, and T cell recognition. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:535-548. [PMID: 34019142 PMCID: PMC8443521 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00864-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Chronic infections with human hepatitis viruses continue to be a major health burden worldwide. Despite the availability of an effective prophylactic vaccine against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and of antiviral agents efficiently suppressing HBV replication, more than 250 million people are currently chronically infected with this hepatotropic DNA virus, and resolution of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is rarely achieved. Moreover, coinfection with the hepatitis D virus (HDV), a human RNA satellite virus requiring the envelope proteins of HBV for productive viral spreading, substantially aggravates the disease course of CHB. The molecular mechanisms by which these viruses interact with each other and with the intrinsic innate responses of the hepatocytes are not fully understood. While HBV appears to avoid innate immune recognition, HDV elicits a strong enhancement of innate responses. Notwithstanding, such induction does not hamper HDV replication but contributes to liver inflammation and pathogenesis. Intriguingly, HDV appears to influence the ability of T cells to recognize infected hepatocytes by boosting antigen presentation. This review focuses on current knowledge regarding how these viruses can shape and counteract the intrinsic innate responses of the hepatocytes, thus affecting the immune system and pathogenesis. Understanding the distinct strategies of persistence that HBV and HDV have evolved is central for advancing the development of curative therapies.
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Management of chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis: current status and future directions. Chin Med J (Engl) 2021; 133:2647-2649. [PMID: 32925282 PMCID: PMC7647494 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000001084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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220
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Buschow SI, Jansen DTSL. CD4 + T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis B and T Cell-Directed Immunotherapy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051114. [PMID: 34066322 PMCID: PMC8148211 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The impaired T cell responses observed in chronic hepatitis B (HBV) patients are considered to contribute to the chronicity of the infection. Research on this impairment has been focused on CD8+ T cells because of their cytotoxic effector function; however, CD4+ T cells are crucial in the proper development of these long-lasting effector CD8+ T cells. In this review, we summarize what is known about CD4+ T cells in chronic HBV infection and discuss the importance and opportunities of including CD4+ T cells in T cell-directed immunotherapeutic strategies to cure chronic HBV.
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Wagner J, Yuen L, Littlejohn M, Sozzi V, Jackson K, Suri V, Tan S, Feierbach B, Gaggar A, Marcellin P, Buti Ferret M, Janssen HLA, Gane E, Chan HLY, Colledge D, Rosenberg G, Bayliss J, Howden BP, Locarnini SA, Wong D, Thompson AT, Revill PA. Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus Haplotype Diversity Detects Striking Sequence Conservation Across Genotypes and Chronic Disease Phase. Hepatology 2021; 73:1652-1670. [PMID: 32780526 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS We conducted haplotype analysis of complete hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomes following deep sequencing from 368 patients across multiple phases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection from four major genotypes (A-D), analyzing 4,110 haplotypes to identify viral variants associated with treatment outcome and disease progression. APPROACH AND RESULTS Between 18.2% and 41.8% of nucleotides and between 5.9% and 34.3% of amino acids were 100% conserved in all genotypes and phases examined, depending on the region analyzed. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss by week 192 was associated with different haplotype populations at baseline. Haplotype populations differed across the HBV genome and CHB history, this being most pronounced in the precore/core gene. Mean number of haplotypes (frequency) per patient was higher in immune-active, HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis phase 2 (11.8) and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis phase 4 (16.2) compared to subjects in the "immune-tolerant," HBeAg-positive chronic infection phase 1 (4.3, P< 0.0001). Haplotype frequency was lowest in genotype B (6.2, P< 0.0001) compared to the other genotypes (A = 11.8, C = 11.8, D = 13.6). Haplotype genetic diversity increased over the course of CHB history, being lowest in phase 1, increasing in phase 2, and highest in phase 4 in all genotypes except genotype C. HBeAg loss by week 192 of tenofovir therapy was associated with different haplotype populations at baseline. CONCLUSIONS Despite a degree of HBV haplotype diversity and heterogeneity across the phases of CHB natural history, highly conserved sequences in key genes and regulatory regions were identified in multiple HBV genotypes that should be further investigated as targets for antiviral therapies and predictors of treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Wagner
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lilly Yuen
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Margaret Littlejohn
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Vitina Sozzi
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kathy Jackson
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria Buti Ferret
- Liver Unit, Valle d'Hebron University Hospital, Ciberehd del Insituto Carlos III Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Harry L A Janssen
- Toronto Center for Liver Diseases, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ed Gane
- New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Henry L Y Chan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Danni Colledge
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gillian Rosenberg
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Julianne Bayliss
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Benjamin P Howden
- Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, The University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen A Locarnini
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Darren Wong
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Gastroenterology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alexander T Thompson
- Department of Gastroenterology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter A Revill
- Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases, Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Healthy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Prifti GM, Moianos D, Giannakopoulou E, Pardali V, Tavis JE, Zoidis G. Recent Advances in Hepatitis B Treatment. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:417. [PMID: 34062711 PMCID: PMC8147224 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus infection affects over 250 million chronic carriers, causing more than 800,000 deaths annually, although a safe and effective vaccine is available. Currently used antiviral agents, pegylated interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues, have major drawbacks and fail to completely eradicate the virus from infected cells. Thus, achieving a "functional cure" of the infection remains a real challenge. Recent findings concerning the viral replication cycle have led to development of novel therapeutic approaches including viral entry inhibitors, epigenetic control of cccDNA, immune modulators, RNA interference techniques, ribonuclease H inhibitors, and capsid assembly modulators. Promising preclinical results have been obtained, and the leading molecules under development have entered clinical evaluation. This review summarizes the key steps of the HBV life cycle, examines the currently approved anti-HBV drugs, and analyzes novel HBV treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia-Myrto Prifti
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Dimitrios Moianos
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Erofili Giannakopoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Vasiliki Pardali
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
| | - John E. Tavis
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA;
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
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Vieira Barbosa J, Sahli R, Aubert V, Chaouch A, Moradpour D, Fraga M. Demographics and outcomes of hepatitis B and D: A 10-year retrospective analysis in a Swiss tertiary referral center. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250347. [PMID: 33905426 PMCID: PMC8078781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health challenge with approximately 250-350 million chronically infected individuals. An improved understanding of the demographic features and outcomes of chronic HBV infection and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection in low-endemic areas may improve prevention, early identification and management both at individual and community levels. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment rates and outcomes of adult patients with chronic HBV infection with or without HDV coinfection examined at Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland over a 10-year period. METHODS We analyzed the medical records of all adult patients with chronic HBV and HDV infection examined in our center between 2007 and 2016. Liver-related outcome was defined as the occurrence of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation or liver-related death. Analyses were performed using logistic regression and results were reported as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS Of 672 consecutive patients, 421 (62.6%) were male, median age was 36 years (interquartile range, 28-46 years), and 233 (34.7%) were of African origin. The prevalence of HDV coinfection was 7.1% and the proportion of anti-HDV-positive patients with detectable HDV RNA was 70.0%. In multivariate analysis, HDV coinfection was the strongest predictor for liver-related outcome (OR 6.06, 95% CI 2.93-12.54, p<0.001), followed by HBeAg positivity (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.30-4.69, p = 0.006), age (OR per 10-year increase 2.03, 95% CI 1.63-2.52, p<0.001) and sex (OR for female 0.39, 95% CI 0.22-0.71, p = 0.002). The predictive accuracy of the multivariate model was high (receiver operator characteristic area under the curve 0.81). CONCLUSION This retrospective study underscores the importance of migration in the epidemiology of chronic hepatitis B in low-endemic areas. HDV coinfection, HBeAg positivity and age predicted liver-related outcomes while female sex had a protective effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Vieira Barbosa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Roland Sahli
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Aubert
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aziz Chaouch
- Division of Biostatistics, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Darius Moradpour
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Montserrat Fraga
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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Colón-Thillet R, Jerome KR, Stone D. Optimization of AAV vectors to target persistent viral reservoirs. Virol J 2021; 18:85. [PMID: 33892762 PMCID: PMC8067653 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01555-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene delivery of antiviral therapeutics to anatomical sites where viruses accumulate and persist is a promising approach for the next generation of antiviral therapies. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are one of the leading vectors for gene therapy applications that deliver gene-editing enzymes, antibodies, and RNA interference molecules to eliminate viral reservoirs that fuel persistent infections. As long-lived viral DNA within specific cellular reservoirs is responsible for persistent hepatitis B virus, Herpes simplex virus, and human immunodeficiency virus infections, the discovery of AAV vectors with strong tropism for hepatocytes, sensory neurons and T cells, respectively, is of particular interest. Identification of natural isolates from various tissues in humans and non-human primates has generated an extensive catalog of AAV vectors with diverse tropisms and transduction efficiencies, which has been further expanded through molecular genetic approaches. The AAV capsid protein, which forms the virions' outer shell, is the primary determinant of tissue tropism, transduction efficiency, and immunogenicity. Thus, over the past few decades, extensive efforts to optimize AAV vectors for gene therapy applications have focused on capsid engineering with approaches such as directed evolution and rational design. These approaches are being used to identify variants with improved transduction efficiencies, alternate tropisms, reduced sequestration in non-target organs, and reduced immunogenicity, and have produced AAV capsids that are currently under evaluation in pre-clinical and clinical trials. This review will summarize the most recent strategies to identify AAV vectors with enhanced tropism and transduction in cell types that harbor viral reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Colón-Thillet
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Keith R Jerome
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Daniel Stone
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, USA.
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225
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Maepa MB, Bloom K, Ely A, Arbuthnot P. Hepatitis B virus: promising drug targets and therapeutic implications. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:451-466. [PMID: 33843412 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1915990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Current therapy for infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) rarely clears the virus, and viremia commonly resurges following treatment withdrawal. To prevent serious complications of the infection, research has been aimed at identifying new viral and host targets that can be exploited to inactivate HBV replication.Areas covered: This paper reviews the use of these new molecular targets to advance anti-HBV therapy. Emphasis is on appraising data from pre-clinical and early clinical studies described in journal articles published during the past 10 years and available from PubMed.Expert opinion: The wide range of viral and host factors that can be targeted to disable HBV is impressive and improved insight into HBV molecular biology continues to provide the basis for new drug design. In addition to candidate therapies that have direct or indirect actions on HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), compounds that inhibit HBsAg secretion, viral entry, destabilize viral RNA and effect enhanced immune responses to HBV show promise. Preclinical and clinical evaluation of drug candidates, as well as investigating use of treatment combinations, are encouraging. The field is poised at an interesting stage and indications are that reliably achieving functional cure from HBV infection is a tangible goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohube Betty Maepa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kristie Bloom
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Abdullah Ely
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Patrick Arbuthnot
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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226
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Wang G, Guan J, Khan NU, Li G, Shao J, Zhou Q, Xu L, Huang C, Deng J, Zhu H, Chen Z. Potential capacity of interferon-α to eliminate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in hepatocytes infected with hepatitis B virus. Gut Pathog 2021; 13:22. [PMID: 33845868 PMCID: PMC8040234 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-021-00421-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and nucleot(s)ide analogs (NAs) are first-line drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. Generally, NAs target the reverse transcription of HBV pregenomic RNA, but they cannot eliminate covalently-closed-circular DNA (cccDNA). Although effective treatment with NAs can dramatically decrease HBV proteins and DNA loads, and even promote serological conversion, cccDNA persists in the nucleus of hepatocytes due to the lack of effective anti-cccDNA drugs. Of the medications currently available, only IFN-α can potentially target cccDNA. However, the clinical effects of eradicating cccDNA using IFN-α in the hepatocytes of patients with HBV are not proficient as well as expected and are not well understood. Herein, we review the anti-HBV mechanisms of IFN-α involving cccDNA modification as the most promising approaches to cure HBV infection. We expect to find indications of promising areas of research that require further study to eliminate cccDNA of HBV in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Nazif U Khan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guojun Li
- Institute for Hepatology, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen, 518112, Guangdong, China.,The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, 518112, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junwei Shao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qihui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lichen Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chunhong Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingwen Deng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haihong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
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Yang Z, Zhang T, Han S, Kusumanchi P, Huda N, Jiang Y, Liangpunsakul S. Long noncoding RNA H19 - a new player in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. Transl Res 2021; 230:139-150. [PMID: 33227504 PMCID: PMC9330166 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2020.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The liver is a vital organ that controls glucose and lipid metabolism, hormone regulation, and bile secretion. Liver injury can occur from various insults such as viruses, metabolic diseases, and alcohol, which lead to acute and chronic liver diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated the implications of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. These newly discovered lncRNAs have various functions attributing to many cellular biological processes via distinct and diverse mechanisms. LncRNA H19, one of the first lncRNAs being identified, is highly expressed in fetal liver but not in adult normal liver. Its expression, however, is increased in liver diseases with various etiologies. In this review, we focused on the roles of H19 in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. This comprehensive review is aimed to provide useful perspectives and translational applications of H19 as a potential therapeutic target of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Yang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
| | - Ting Zhang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Sen Han
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Praveen Kusumanchi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Nazmul Huda
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Yanchao Jiang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Suthat Liangpunsakul
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Tang F, Huang G, Lin L, Yin H, Shao L, Xu R, Cui X. Anti-HBV Activities of Polysaccharides from Thais clavigera (Küster) by In Vitro and In Vivo Study. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19040195. [PMID: 33808126 PMCID: PMC8066037 DOI: 10.3390/md19040195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health problem. It is therefore imperative to develop drugs for anti-hepatitis B with high-efficiency and low toxicity. Attracted by the observations and evidence that the symptoms of some patients from the Southern Fujian, China, suffering from hepatitis B were alleviated after daily eating an edible marine mollusk, Thais clavigera (Küster 1860) (TCK). Water-soluble polysaccharide from TCK (TCKP1) was isolated and characterized. The anti-HBV activity of TCKP1 and its regulatory pathway were investigated on both HepG2.2.15 cell line and HBV transgenic mice. The data obtained from in vitro studies showed that TCKP1 significantly enhanced the production of IFN-α, and reduced the level of HBV antigens and HBV DNA in the supernatants of HepG2.2.15 cells in a dose-dependent manner with low cytotoxicity. The result of the study on the HBV transgenic mice further revealed that TCKP1 significantly decreased the level of transaminases, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA in the serum, as well as HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV DNA, and HBV RNA in the liver of HBV transgenic (HBV-Tg) mice. Furthermore, TCKP1 exhibited equivalent inhibitory effect with the positive control tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) on the markers above except for HBV DNA even in low dosage in a mouse model. However, the TCKP1 high-dose group displayed stronger inhibition of transaminases and liver HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV RNA when compared with those of TAF. Meanwhile, inflammation of the liver was, by pathological observation, relieved in a dose-dependent manner after being treated with TCKP1. In addition, elevated levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon γ (IFN-γ), and reduced level of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the serum were observed, indicating that the anti-HBV effect of TCKP1 was achieved by potentiating immunocyte function and regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Tang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China; (F.T.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (H.Y.); (L.S.)
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine and Gene Drugs, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Guanghua Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China; (F.T.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (H.Y.); (L.S.)
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine and Gene Drugs, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Liping Lin
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China; (F.T.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (H.Y.); (L.S.)
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine and Gene Drugs, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Hong Yin
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China; (F.T.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (H.Y.); (L.S.)
| | - Lili Shao
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China; (F.T.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (H.Y.); (L.S.)
| | - Ruian Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China; (F.T.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (H.Y.); (L.S.)
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine and Gene Drugs, Xiamen 361021, China
- Correspondence: (R.X.); (X.C.)
| | - Xiuling Cui
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China; (F.T.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (H.Y.); (L.S.)
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine and Gene Drugs, Xiamen 361021, China
- Correspondence: (R.X.); (X.C.)
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Li Q, Edwards TC, Ponzar NL, Tavis JE. A mid-throughput HBV replication inhibition assay capable of detecting ribonuclease H inhibitors. J Virol Methods 2021; 292:114127. [PMID: 33766659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) ribonuclease H (RNaseH) is a promising but unexploited drug target. Inhibiting the RNaseH blocks viral reverse transcription by truncating the minus-polarity DNA strand, causing accumulation of RNA:DNA heteroduplexes, and abrogating plus-polarity DNA synthesis. Screening for RNaseH inhibitors is complicated by the presence of the minus-polarity DNA strand even when replication is fully inhibited because this residual DNA can be detected by standard screening assays that measure reduction in total HBV DNA accumulation. We previously developed a strand-preferential qPCR assay that detects RNaseH replication inhibitors by measuring preferential suppression of the viral plus-polarity DNA strand. However, this assay employed cells grown in 6- or 12-well plates and hence was of very low throughput. Here, we adapted the assay to a 96-well format and conducted a proof-of-principle screen of 727 compounds. The newly developed assay is a valuable tool for anti-HBV drug discovery, particularly when screening for RNaseH inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilan Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Tiffany C Edwards
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Nathan L Ponzar
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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230
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Conservation of the HBV RNA element epsilon in nackednaviruses reveals ancient origin of protein-primed reverse transcription. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2022373118. [PMID: 33753499 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022373118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepadnaviruses, with the human hepatitis B virus as prototype, are small, enveloped hepatotropic DNA viruses which replicate by reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. Replication is initiated by a unique protein-priming mechanism whereby a hydroxy amino acid side chain of the terminal protein (TP) domain of the viral polymerase (P) is extended into a short DNA oligonucleotide, which subsequently serves as primer for first-strand synthesis. A key component in the priming of reverse transcription is the viral RNA element epsilon, which contains the replication origin and serves as a template for DNA primer synthesis. Here, we show that recently discovered non-enveloped fish viruses, termed nackednaviruses [C. Lauber et al., Cell Host Microbe 22, 387-399 (2017)], employ a fundamentally similar replication mechanism despite their huge phylogenetic distance and major differences in genome organization and viral lifestyle. In vitro cross-priming studies revealed that few strategic nucleotide substitutions in epsilon enable site-specific protein priming by heterologous P proteins, demonstrating that epsilon is functionally conserved since the two virus families diverged more than 400 Mya. In addition, other cis elements crucial for the hepadnavirus-typical replication of pregenomic RNA into relaxed circular double-stranded DNA were identified at conserved positions in the nackednavirus genomes. Hence, the replication mode of both hepadnaviruses and nackednaviruses was already established in their Paleozoic common ancestor, making it a truly ancient and evolutionary robust principle of genome replication that is more widespread than previously thought.
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231
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Zhuang X, Forde D, Tsukuda S, D'Arienzo V, Mailly L, Harris JM, Wing PAC, Borrmann H, Schilling M, Magri A, Rubio CO, Maidstone RJ, Iqbal M, Garzon M, Minisini R, Pirisi M, Butterworth S, Balfe P, Ray DW, Watashi K, Baumert TF, McKeating JA. Circadian control of hepatitis B virus replication. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1658. [PMID: 33712578 PMCID: PMC7955118 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of liver disease and cancer worldwide for which there are no curative therapies. The major challenge in curing infection is eradicating or silencing the covalent closed circular DNA (cccDNA) form of the viral genome. The circadian factors BMAL1/CLOCK and REV-ERB are master regulators of the liver transcriptome and yet their role in HBV replication is unknown. We establish a circadian cycling liver cell-model and demonstrate that REV-ERB directly regulates NTCP-dependent hepatitis B and delta virus particle entry. Importantly, we show that pharmacological activation of REV-ERB inhibits HBV infection in vitro and in human liver chimeric mice. We uncover a role for BMAL1 to bind HBV genomes and increase viral promoter activity. Pharmacological inhibition of BMAL1 through REV-ERB ligands reduces pre-genomic RNA and de novo particle secretion. The presence of conserved E-box motifs among members of the Hepadnaviridae family highlight an evolutionarily conserved role for BMAL1 in regulating this family of small DNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Zhuang
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Donall Forde
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Senko Tsukuda
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Japan
| | | | - Laurent Mailly
- University of Strasbourg and Inserm, UMR-S1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
| | - James M Harris
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter A C Wing
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helene Borrmann
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mirjam Schilling
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Magri
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Robert J Maidstone
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mudassar Iqbal
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Miguel Garzon
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences and Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rosalba Minisini
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Mario Pirisi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Sam Butterworth
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences and Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Peter Balfe
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David W Ray
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Koichi Watashi
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Japan
- Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Tokyo University of Science Graduate School of Science and Technology, Japan and Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- University of Strasbourg and Inserm, UMR-S1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
- Pôle Hépato-Digestif, Institut Hopitalo-Universitaire (IHU), Hopitaux Universitaire de Strasbourg, Strasbourg and Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Jane A McKeating
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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232
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Tseng TC. Another oral antiviral treatment, but still far away from hepatitis B virus cure. Clin Mol Hepatol 2021; 27:281-282. [PMID: 33687857 PMCID: PMC8046632 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2021.0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tai-Chung Tseng
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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233
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Dicoumarol, an NQO1 inhibitor, blocks cccDNA transcription by promoting degradation of HBx. J Hepatol 2021; 74:522-534. [PMID: 32987030 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Current antiviral therapies help keep HBV under control, but they are not curative, as they are unable to eliminate the intracellular viral replication intermediate termed covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Therefore, there remains an urgent need to develop strategies to cure CHB. Functional silencing of cccDNA is a crucial curative strategy that may be achieved by targeting the viral protein HBx. METHODS We screened 2,000 small-molecule compounds for their ability to inhibit HiBiT-tagged HBx (HiBiT-HBx) expression by using a HiBiT lytic detection system. The antiviral activity of a candidate compound and underlying mechanism of its effect on cccDNA transcription were evaluated in HBV-infected cells and a humanised liver mouse model. RESULTS Dicoumarol, an inhibitor of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), significantly reduced HBx expression. Moreover, dicoumarol showed potent antiviral activity against HBV RNAs, HBV DNA, HBsAg and HBc protein in HBV-infected cells and a humanised liver mouse model. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that endogenous NQO1 binds to and protects HBx protein from 20S proteasome-mediated degradation. NQO1 knockdown or dicoumarol treatment significantly reduced the recruitment of HBx to cccDNA and inhibited the transcriptional activity of cccDNA, which was associated with the establishment of a repressive chromatin state. The absence of HBx markedly blocked the antiviral effect induced by NQO1 knockdown or dicoumarol treatment in HBV-infected cells. CONCLUSIONS Herein, we report on a novel small molecule that targets HBx to combat chronic HBV infection; we also reveal that NQO1 has a role in HBV replication through the regulation of HBx protein stability. LAY SUMMARY Current antiviral therapies for hepatitis B are not curative because of their inability to eliminate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which persists in the nuclei of infected cells. HBV X (HBx) protein has an important role in regulating cccDNA transcription. Thus, targeting HBx to silence cccDNA transcription could be an important curative strategy. We identified that the small molecule dicoumarol could block cccDNA transcription by promoting HBx degradation; this is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
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235
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D’Arienzo V, Magri A, Harris JM, Wing PAC, Ko C, Rubio CO, Revill PA, Protzer U, Balfe P, McKeating JA. A PCR assay to quantify patterns of HBV transcription. J Gen Virol 2021; 102:001373. [PMID: 31846416 PMCID: PMC7610515 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the prototype member of the family Hepadnaviridae and replicates via episomal copies of a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) genome of approximately 3.2 kb. The chromatinization of this small viral genome, with overlapping open reading frames and regulatory elements, suggests an important role for epigenetic pathways to regulate HBV transcription. However, the host pathways that regulate HBV transcription and the temporal nature of promoter usage in infected cells are not well understood, in part due to the compact genome structure and overlapping open reading frames. To address this we developed a simple and cost-effective PCR assay to quantify the major viral RNAs and validated this technique using current state-of-art de novo HBV infection model systems. Our PCR method is three orders of magnitude more sensitive than Northern blot and requires relatively small amounts of starting material, making this an attractive tool for assessing HBV transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina D’Arienzo
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Magri
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - James M. Harris
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter A. C. Wing
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Chunkyu Ko
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität, München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany
| | - Claudia Orbegozo Rubio
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter A. Revill
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität, München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Balfe
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Jane A. McKeating
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
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236
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Pacella I, Cammarata I, Martire C, Brancaccio G, Gaeta GB, Barnaba V, Piconese S. CD8 + T cells specific to apoptosis-associated epitopes are expanded in patients with chronic HBV infection and fibrosis. Liver Int 2021; 41:470-481. [PMID: 33159402 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS During chronic viral infections, the apoptosis of activated T cell elicits a CD8+ T cell response directed to those cryptic epitopes that emerge from caspase-cleaved structural proteins. Such response directed to apoptosis-associated epitopes (AEs) contributes to the amplification of immunopathology. METHODS Here, we have analysed through flow cytometry AE-specific CD8+ T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, naïve-to-treatment or undergoing nucleos(t)ide-analogue (NUC) therapy. RESULTS We found that AE-specific CD8+ T cell frequencies were significantly increased only in those NUC-treated patients who also presented advanced hepatic fibrosis. Regulatory T cells were also expanded in those patients, and AE-specific, but not HBV-specific, CD8+ T cell frequency positively correlated with Treg percentages. Through multiparameter flow cytometry, multidimensionality reduction and unsupervised clustering analysis, we could identify novel subpopulations among effector memory (em) and emCD45RA+ T cell (Tem and Temra) subsets. CD8+ T cells with distinct specificities differentially populated the subpopulation map: while HBV-specific were mostly contained in the Tem subset, AE-specific CD8+ T cells encompassed naïve, as well as T central memory, Tem and Temra cells. CONCLUSION All together, these findings indicate a link between AE-specific CD8+ T cells and advanced liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV infection, and suggest that virus-specific and AE-specific CD8+ T cells exhibit distinct differentiation states and contribute in distinct ways to immunopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Pacella
- Department of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Cammarata
- Department of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Martire
- Department of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Battista Gaeta
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Barnaba
- Department of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Piconese
- Department of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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237
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Immunostimulatory siRNA with a uridine bulge leads to potent inhibition of HBV and activation of innate immunity. Virol J 2021; 18:37. [PMID: 33602251 PMCID: PMC7890953 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01509-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is difficult to cure. HBV-specific immune tolerance plays a key role in HBV persistence, and enhancing cellular and humoral immunity will improve the control of HBV infection. The purpose of the study was to explore the anti-HBV and immunostimulatory effects of msiRNAs that introduce unpaired uridine bulges in the passenger strand. METHODS msiRNAs targeting the HBV S and X genes were designed and named msiHBs and msiHBx, respectively. HepG2 cells were cotransfected with siRNA or msiRNA and the HBV replication-competent plasmid pHY106-wta or pHY106-X15. HepG2.215 cells were transfected with siRNA or msiRNA. The levels of HBsAg, HBeAg, and the cytokines TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-1α, and IL-6 in the culture supernatant was detected by ELISA. The levels of intracellular HBV RNA, nuclear HBV replication intermediates, and HBV DNA in the supernatant were measured by quantitative RT-PCR and PCR. The levels of HBV replication intermediates were detected by Southern blotting. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were transfected with siRNA or msiRNA, and the levels of secreted cytokines IFN-α and IFN-β were detected by ELISA. The bioactivity of type I interferons in the supernatants was detected by the virus protection assay. RESULTS msiHBx treatment led to a significant decrease in HBsAg (to a negative level) and HBV DNA (95.5%) in the supernatant and intrahepatocellular HBV replication intermediates (89.8%) in HepG2 cells with transient HBV replication and in HepG2.2.15 cells. There was no significant difference between msiHBx and siHBx in terms of the reduction in HBV proteins and HBV replication (P > 0.05). Compared with siHBx, msiHBx treatment of HepG2 cells transfected with the HBV replication-competent plasmid led to a significant increase in the levels of the antiviral cytokines TNF-α (3.3-fold), IFN-α (1.4-fold), and IFN-β (2.5-fold) (P < 0.01), without upregulation of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α and IL-6. The virus protection assay results showed msiHBx-mediated type I interferons effectively protected L929 cells against ECMV infection. CONCLUSIONS msiHBx could effectively inhibit HBV expression and replication and induce an antiviral innate immune response without proinflammatory activation. The dual RNAi and immunostimulatory activity of msiRNAs may play an important role in the control of HBV infection.
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238
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Lasagna A, Zuccaro V, Sacchi P, Chiellino S, Bruno R, Pedrazzoli P. Risk of reactivation of occult hepatitis B during immunotherapy in cancer treatment: myth, reality or new horizons? Future Oncol 2021; 17:1577-1580. [PMID: 33590770 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-1196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Angioletta Lasagna
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, Pavia, Italy
| | - Valentina Zuccaro
- Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Sacchi
- Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Chiellino
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, Pavia, Italy
| | - Raffaele Bruno
- Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic & Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Pedrazzoli
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Internal Medicine & Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, Pavia, Italy
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239
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Wu Y, Huang H, Luo Y. Management of Hepatitis B Virus in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Front Immunol 2021; 11:610500. [PMID: 33613534 PMCID: PMC7890023 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.610500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The high morbidity of HBV reactivation following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is partially due to the intense immunologic potency of complex therapeutic regimens, the use of antithymocyte globulin and calcineurin inhibitors to prevent graft versus-host disease (GVHD), prolonged immune reconstitution, and hematological malignancies infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Immunosuppression results in the reactivation of HBV replication from covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) residing in hepatocytes. However, the role of viral mutations during HBV reactivation needs to be validated. All individuals scheduled to receive allo-HSCT or wish to donate stem cells should be screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core (anti-HBc), and HBV-DNA. HBsAg-positive recipients of allo-HSCT have a high risk of HBV reactivation; thus, they should receive prophylactic antiviral therapy. The high barrier to resistance nucleos(t)-ide analogs (NAs) seems to be superior to the low barrier agents. Resolved-HBV recipients have a lower risk of HBV reactivation than HBsAg-positive recipients. Although prophylactic antiviral therapy remains controversial, regular monitoring of alanine transaminase (ALT) and HBV-DNA combined with preemptive antiviral treatment may be an optimized strategy. However, optimal antiviral therapy duration and time intervals for monitoring remain to be established. Accepting stem cells from HBsAg-positive donors is associated with a risk of developing HBV-related hepatitis. The overall intervention strategy, including donors and recipients, may decrease the risk of HBV-related hepatitis following HSCT from HBsAg positive stem cells. In this review, we summarize the issues of HBV in allo-HSCT, including HBV reactivation mechanism, HBsAg-positive recipients, HBV-resolved infection recipients, and donor-related factors, and discuss their significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Wu
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems & Precision Medicine, Zhejiang Province Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunity Therapy, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems & Precision Medicine, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - He Huang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems & Precision Medicine, Zhejiang Province Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunity Therapy, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems & Precision Medicine, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems & Precision Medicine, Zhejiang Province Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunity Therapy, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems & Precision Medicine, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China
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240
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Chen J, Li Y, Lai F, Wang Y, Sutter K, Dittmer U, Ye J, Zai W, Liu M, Shen F, Wu M, Hu K, Li B, Lu M, Zhang X, Zhang J, Li J, Chen Q, Yuan Z. Functional Comparison of Interferon-α Subtypes Reveals Potent Hepatitis B Virus Suppression by a Concerted Action of Interferon-α and Interferon-γ Signaling. Hepatology 2021; 73:486-502. [PMID: 32333814 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Interferon (IFN)-α, composed of numerous subtypes, plays a crucial role in immune defense. As the most studied subtype, IFN-α2 has been used for treating chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with advantages of finite treatment duration and sustained virologic response, but its efficacy remains relatively low. This study aimed to screen for IFN-α subtypes with the highest anti-HBV potency and to characterize mechanisms of IFN-α-mediated HBV restriction. APPROACH AND RESULTS Using cell culture-based HBV infection systems and a human-liver chimeric mouse model, IFN-α subtype-mediated antiviral response and signaling activation were comprehensively analyzed. IFN-α14 was identified as the most effective subtype in suppression of HBV covalently closed circular DNA transcription and HBV e antigen/HBV surface antigen production, with median inhibitory concentration values approximately 100-fold lower than those of the conventional IFN-α2. IFN-α14 alone elicited IFN-α and IFN-γ signaling crosstalk in a manner similar to the combined use of IFN-α2 and IFN-γ, inducing multiple potent antiviral effectors, which synergistically restricted HBV replication. Guanylate binding protein 5, one of the most differentially expressed genes between IFN-α14-treated and IFN-α2-treated liver cells, was identified as an HBV restriction factor. A strong IFN-α-IFN-α receptor subunit 1 interaction determines the anti-HBV activity of IFN-α. The in vivo anti-HBV activity of IFN-α14 and treatment-related transcriptional patterns were further confirmed, and few adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS A concerted IFN-α and IFN-γ response in liver, which could be efficiently elicited by IFN-α subtype 14, is associated with potent HBV suppression. These data deepen the understanding of the divergent activities of IFN-α subtypes and the mechanism underlying the synergism between IFN-α and IFN-γ signaling, with implications for improved IFN therapy and HBV curative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieliang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yaming Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Fritz Lai
- Institute of Molecular and Cell BiologyAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchSingaporeSingapore
| | - Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Kathrin Sutter
- Institute for VirologyUniversity Hospital EssenUniversity of Duisburg-EssenEssenGermany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for VirologyUniversity Hospital EssenUniversity of Duisburg-EssenEssenGermany
| | - Jianyu Ye
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wenjing Zai
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Min Liu
- Institute of Molecular and Cell BiologyAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchSingaporeSingapore
| | - Fang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Min Wu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical CenterFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Kongying Hu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Baocun Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Mengji Lu
- Institute for VirologyUniversity Hospital EssenUniversity of Duisburg-EssenEssenGermany
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical CenterFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jiming Zhang
- Department of Infectious DiseasesHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jianhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qingfeng Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cell BiologyAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchSingaporeSingapore
| | - Zhenghong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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241
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Ely A, Bloom K, Maepa MB, Arbuthnot P. Recent Update on the Role of Circular RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:1-17. [PMID: 33542907 PMCID: PMC7851377 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s268291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
After being overlooked for decades, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently generated considerable interest. circRNAs play a role in a variety of normal and pathological biological processes, including hepatocarcinogenesis. Many circRNAs contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis through sponging of microRNAs (miRs) and disruption of cellular signaling pathways that play a part in control of cell proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis. In most cases, overexpressed circRNAs sequester miRs to cause de-repressed translation of mRNAs that encode oncogenic proteins. Conversely, low expression of circRNAs has also been described in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with inhibited production of tumor suppressor proteins. Other functions of circRNAs that contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis include translation of truncated proteins and acting as adapters to regulate influence of transcription factors on target gene expression. circRNAs also affect hepatocyte transformation indirectly. For example, the molecules regulate immune surveillance of cancerous cells and influence the liver fibrosis that commonly precedes HCC. Marked over- or under-expression of circRNA expression in HCC, with correlating plasma concentrations, has diagnostic utility and assays of these RNAs are being developed as biomarkers of HCC. Although knowledge in the field has recently surged, the myriad of described effects suggests that not all may be vital to hepatocarcinogenesis. Nevertheless, investigation of the role of circRNAs is providing valuable insights that are likely to contribute to improved management of a serious and highly aggressive cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Ely
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kristie Bloom
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mohube Betty Maepa
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Patrick Arbuthnot
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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242
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Aberrant Splicing Events and Epigenetics in Viral Oncogenomics: Current Therapeutic Strategies. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020239. [PMID: 33530521 PMCID: PMC7910916 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Global cancer incidence and mortality are on the rise. Although cancer is fundamentally a non-communicable disease, a large number of cancers are known to have a viral aetiology. A high burden of infectious agents (Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV)) in certain Sub-Saharan African countries drives the rates of certain cancers. About one-third of all cancers in Africa are attributed to infection. Seven viruses have been identified with carcinogenic characteristics, namely the HPV, HBV, Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Human T cell leukaemia virus 1 (HTLV-1), Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV), and HIV-1. The cellular splicing machinery is compromised upon infection, and the virus generates splicing variants that promote cell proliferation, suppress signalling pathways, inhibition of tumour suppressors, alter gene expression through epigenetic modification, and mechanisms to evade an immune response, promoting carcinogenesis. A number of these splice variants are specific to virally-induced cancers. Elucidating mechanisms underlying how the virus utilises these splice variants to maintain its latent and lytic phase will provide insights into novel targets for drug discovery. This review will focus on the splicing genomics, epigenetic modifications induced by and current therapeutic strategies against HPV, HBV, HCV, EBV, HTLV-1, KSHV and HIV-1.
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243
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Kim JU, Ingiliz P, Shimakawa Y, Lemoine M. Improving care of migrants is key for viral hepatitis elimination in Europe. Bull World Health Organ 2021; 99:280-286. [PMID: 33953445 PMCID: PMC8085634 DOI: 10.2471/blt.20.260919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
By 2040, deaths from chronic viral hepatitis worldwide are projected to exceed those from human immunodeficiency virus infection, tuberculosis and malaria combined. The burden of this disease is predominantly carried by low-resource countries in Africa and Asia. In resource-rich countries, the epidemiological spread of viral hepatitis is partially driven by migrant movements from areas of high endemicity. In the last decade, Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area have experienced an unprecedented influx of migrants, which has resulted in the polarization of political views about migration. In addition, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has worsened the economic and health conditions of migrants and contributed to hostility to ensuring their health rights. Moreover, the implementation of hostile laws in some host nations has increased the vulnerability of marginalized migrant subgroups, such as asylum seekers and undocumented individuals. These developments have complicated the historical challenge of identifying high-risk migrant groups for screening and treatment. However, if European countries can apply the simplified assessment tools and diagnostic tests for viral hepatitis that have been used for decentralized screening and monitoring in resource-poor countries, the uptake of care by migrants could be dramatically increased. Given the global calls for the elimination of viral hepatitis, European nations should recognize the importance of treating this vulnerable migrant population. Political and health strategies need to be adapted to meet this challenge and help eliminate viral hepatitis globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Un Kim
- Hepatology Section, Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, 10th Floor QEQM Wing, St Mary's Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, South Wharf Street, London W2 1NY, England
| | - Patrick Ingiliz
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yusuke Shimakawa
- Unité d'Épidémiologie des Maladies Émergentes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Maud Lemoine
- Hepatology Section, Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, 10th Floor QEQM Wing, St Mary's Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, South Wharf Street, London W2 1NY, England
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244
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Komatsu H, Inui A, Yoshio S, Fujisawa T. Pharmacotherapy options for managing hepatitis B in children. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2021; 22:449-467. [PMID: 33090882 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2020.1841165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the first global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis, with particular focus given to hepatitis B and C in 2016. To achieve the reduction of mortality in children, it is indispensable to know which children should be treated and how to treat them. AREA COVERED In this article, the authors review the antiviral treatment of children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection including antivirals available for children with chronic HBV infection. EXPERT OPINION The approvals of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) for children have lowered a hurdle to the initiation of antiviral treatment in children. The international guidelines use nearly the same criteria of antiviral treatment for children with chronic HBV infection, but the WHO guidelines provide a cautious stance on the antiviral treatment of children. Not only PEG-IFN but also NAs with a high genetic barrier to drug resistance should be the first-line treatment for children. In settings with limited medical resources, NAs can be the first-line treatment for children. Although the concept of an 'immune-tolerant phase' is challenged, evidence is not sufficient to recommend the treatment of HBeAg-positive immune-tolerant children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruki Komatsu
- Department of Pediatrics, Toho University, Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ayano Inui
- Department of Pediatric Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Eastern Yokohama Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Sachiyo Yoshio
- Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomoo Fujisawa
- Department of Pediatric Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Eastern Yokohama Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
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245
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Hong X, Luckenbaugh L, Mendenhall M, Walsh R, Cabuang L, Soppe S, Revill PA, Burdette D, Feierbach B, Delaney W, Hu J. Characterization of Hepatitis B Precore/Core-Related Antigens. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI.01695-20. [PMID: 33148795 PMCID: PMC7925093 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01695-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Current therapies rarely cure chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection due to the persistence of the viral episome, the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), in hepatocytes. The hepatitis B virus core-related antigen (HBcrAg), a mixture of the viral precore/core gene products, has emerged as one potential marker to monitor the levels and activities of intrahepatic cccDNA. In this study, a comprehensive characterization of precore/core gene products revealed that HBcrAg components included the classical hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBc) and e antigen (HBeAg) and, additionally, the precore-related antigen, PreC, retaining the N-terminal signal peptide. Both HBeAg and PreC antigens displayed heterogeneous proteolytic processing at their C termini resulting in multiple species, which varied with viral genotypes. HBeAg was the predominant form of HBcrAg in HBeAg-positive patients. Positive correlations were found between HBcrAg and PreC, between HBcrAg and HBeAg, and between PreC and HBeAg but not between HBcrAg and HBc. Serum HBeAg and PreC shared similar buoyant density and size distributions, and both displayed density and size heterogeneity. HBc, but not HBeAg or PreC antigen, was found as the main component of capsids in DNA-containing or empty virions. Neither HBeAg nor PreC protein was able to form capsids in cells or in vitro under physiological conditions. In conclusion, our study provides important new quantitative information on levels of each component of precore/core gene products as well as their biochemical and biophysical characteristics, implying that each component may have distinct functions and applications in reflecting intrahepatic viral activities.IMPORTANCE Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection afflicts approximately 257 million people, who are at high risk of progressing to chronic liver diseases, including fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current therapies rarely achieve cure of HBV infection due to the persistence of the HBV episome, the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), in the nuclei of infected hepatocytes. Peripheral markers of cccDNA levels and transcriptional activities are urgently required to guide antiviral therapy and drug development. Serum hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is one such emerging peripheral marker. We have characterized the components of HBcrAg in HBV-infected patients as well as in cell cultures. Our results provide important new quantitative information on levels of each HBcrAg component, as well as their biochemical and biophysical characteristics. Our findings suggest that each HBcrAg component may have distinct functions and applications in reflecting intrahepatic viral activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xupeng Hong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laurie Luckenbaugh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Megan Mendenhall
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Renae Walsh
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Liza Cabuang
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sally Soppe
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Peter A Revill
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Jianming Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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246
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Li Q, Wang J, Islam H, Kirschning C, Lu H, Hoffmann D, Dittmer U, Lu M. Hepatitis B virus particles activate B cells through the TLR2-MyD88-mTOR axis. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:34. [PMID: 33414473 PMCID: PMC7791069 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03284-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Host immune control plays a pivotal role in resolving primary hepatitis-B-virus (HBV) infections. The complex interaction between HBV and host immune cells, however, remains unclear. In this study, the transcriptional profiling of specimens from animals infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) indicated TLR2 mRNA accumulation as most strongly impacted during WHV infection resolution as compared to other mRNAs. Analysis of blood transcriptional modules demonstrated that monocytes and B-cells were the predominantly activated cell types in animals that showed resolution of infection, which was similar to the response of TLR2-stimulated PBMCs. Further investigation of TLR2-stimulated B-cells pointed at interactions between activated TLR signaling, Akt-mTOR, and glucose metabolic pathways. Moreover, analysis of B-cells from Tlr2-/-, Trif-/-, Myd88-/-, and Trif/Myd88-/- mice challenged with HBV particles indicated B-cell function and glucose metabolism alterations is TLR2-MyD88-mTOR axis dependent. Overall, our study implicates B-cell TLR2 activation in HBV infection resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Center of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth People's Hospital of Wuxi, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Heba Islam
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Carsten Kirschning
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Hongzhou Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Daniel Hoffmann
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mengji Lu
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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247
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Lythgoe KA, Lumley SF, Pellis L, McKeating JA, Matthews PC. Estimating hepatitis B virus cccDNA persistence in chronic infection. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veaa063. [PMID: 33732502 PMCID: PMC7947180 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veaa063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem with over 240 million infected individuals at risk of developing progressive liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV is an enveloped DNA virus that establishes its genome as an episomal, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the nucleus of infected hepatocytes. Currently, available standard-of-care treatments for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) include nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) that suppress HBV replication but do not target the cccDNA and hence rarely cure infection. There is considerable interest in determining the lifespan of cccDNA molecules to design and evaluate new curative treatments. We took a novel approach to this problem by developing a new mathematical framework to model changes in evolutionary rates during infection which, combined with previously determined within-host evolutionary rates of HBV, we used to determine the lifespan of cccDNA. We estimate that during HBe-antigen positive (HBeAgPOS) infection the cccDNA lifespan is 61 (36-236) days, whereas during the HBeAgNEG phase of infection it is only 26 (16-81) days. We found that cccDNA replicative capacity declined by an order of magnitude between HBeAgPOS and HBeAgNEG phases of infection. Our estimated lifespan of cccDNA is too short to explain the long durations of chronic infection observed in patients on NA treatment, suggesting that either a sub-population of long-lived hepatocytes harbouring cccDNA molecules persists during therapy, or that NA therapy does not suppress all viral replication. These results provide a greater understanding of the biology of the cccDNA reservoir and can aid the development of new curative therapeutic strategies for treating CHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina A Lythgoe
- Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Sheila F Lumley
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Lorenzo Pellis
- Department of Mathematics, Alan Turing Building, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jane A McKeating
- Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Philippa C Matthews
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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248
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Ely A, Singh P, Smith TS, Arbuthnot P. In vitro transcribed mRNA for expression of designer nucleases: Advantages as a novel therapeutic for the management of chronic HBV infection. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 168:134-146. [PMID: 32485207 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.05.010] [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: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a significant worldwide medical problem. While diseases caused by HIV infection, tuberculosis and malaria are on the decline, new cases of chronic hepatitis B are on the rise. Because often fatal complications of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are associated with chronic hepatitis B, the need for a cure is as urgent as ever. Currently licensed therapeutics fail to eradicate the virus and this is attributable to persistence of the viral replication intermediate comprising covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Elimination or inactivation of the viral cccDNA is thus a goal of research aimed at hepatitis B cure. The ability to engineer nucleases that are capable of specific cleavage of a DNA sequence now provides the means to disable cccDNA permanently. The scientific literature is replete with many examples of using designer zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and RNA-guided endonucleases (RGENs) to inactivate HBV. However, important concerns about safety, dose control and efficient delivery need to be addressed before the technology is employed in a clinical setting. Use of in vitro transcribed mRNA to express therapeutic gene editors goes some way to overcoming these concerns. The labile nature of RNA limits off-target effects and enables dose control. Compatibility with hepatotropic non-viral vectors is convenient for the large scale preparation that will be required for advancing gene editing as a mode of curing chronic hepatitis B.
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249
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Liver-Resident Memory CD8 + T Cells: Possible Roles in Chronic HBV Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010283. [PMID: 33396596 PMCID: PMC7795050 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Achieving a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or complete elimination of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) has been challenging in the treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. Although novel antivirals are being investigated, improving HBV-specific adaptive immune responses is also important for durable viral clearance. Tissue-resident memory CD8+ T (TRM) cells were recently reported as a T-cell population that resides in peripheral tissues and does not recirculate. TRM cells have been studied in the livers of mice and humans. Liver TRM cells have distinct characteristics compared to T cells in peripheral blood or other tissues, which may be associated with the unique microenvironment of the liver. In this review, we describe the characteristics of liver TRM cells and their implications in chronic HBV infection. We emphasize that liver TRM cells can be an immunotherapeutic target for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.
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250
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Fatehi F, Bingham RJ, Dykeman EC, Patel N, Stockley PG, Twarock R. An Intracellular Model of Hepatitis B Viral Infection: An In Silico Platform for Comparing Therapeutic Strategies. Viruses 2020; 13:v13010011. [PMID: 33374798 PMCID: PMC7823939 DOI: 10.3390/v13010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major focus of antiviral research worldwide. The International Coalition to Eliminate HBV, together with the World Health Organisation (WHO), have prioritised the search for a cure, with the goal of eliminating deaths from viral hepatitis by 2030. We present here a comprehensive model of intracellular HBV infection dynamics that includes all molecular processes currently targeted by drugs and agrees well with the observed outcomes of several clinical studies. The model reveals previously unsuspected kinetic behaviour in the formation of sub-viral particles, which could lead to a better understanding of the immune responses to infection. It also enables rapid comparative assessment of the impact of different treatment options and their potential synergies as combination therapies. A comparison of available and currently developed treatment options reveals that combinations of multiple capsid assembly inhibitors perform best.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Fatehi
- York Cross-Disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis, University of York, York YO10 5GE, UK; (F.F.); (R.J.B.); (E.C.D.)
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Richard J. Bingham
- York Cross-Disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis, University of York, York YO10 5GE, UK; (F.F.); (R.J.B.); (E.C.D.)
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5NG, UK
| | - Eric C. Dykeman
- York Cross-Disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis, University of York, York YO10 5GE, UK; (F.F.); (R.J.B.); (E.C.D.)
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Nikesh Patel
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT UK;
| | - Peter G. Stockley
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT UK;
- Correspondence: (P.G.S.); (R.T.)
| | - Reidun Twarock
- York Cross-Disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis, University of York, York YO10 5GE, UK; (F.F.); (R.J.B.); (E.C.D.)
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5NG, UK
- Correspondence: (P.G.S.); (R.T.)
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