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Shrestha B, Yang S, Griffith L, Ma J, Wang F, Liu H, Zhao Q, Du Y, Zhang J, Chang J, Guo JT. Discovery of hepatitis B virus subviral particle biogenesis inhibitors from a bioactive compound library. Antiviral Res 2024; 228:105955. [PMID: 38964614 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
High levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) in the blood of chronic HBV carriers are considered to drive the exhaustion of antigen-specific T and B lymphocytes and thus responsible for the persistence of infection. Accordingly, therapeutic elimination of HBsAg may facilitate the activation of adaptive antiviral immune responses against HBV and achieve a functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. We discovered recently that an amphipathic alpha helix spanning W156 to R169 of HBV small envelope (S) protein plays an essential role in the morphogenesis of subviral particles (SVPs) and metabolism of S protein. We thus hypothesized that pharmacological disruption of SVP morphogenesis may induce intracellular degradation of S protein and reduce HBsAg secretion. To identify inhibitors of SVP biogenesis, we screened 4417 bioactive compounds with a HepG2-derived cell line expressing HBV S protein and efficiently secreting small spherical SVPs. The screen identified 24 compounds that reduced intracellular SVPs and secreted HBsAg in a concentration-dependent manner. However, 18 of those compounds inhibited the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg in HBV replicon transfected HepG2 cells at similar efficiency, suggesting each of those compounds may disrupt a common cellular function required for the synthesis and/or secretion of these viral proteins. Interestingly, lycorine more efficiently inhibited the secretion of HBsAg in HepG2 cells transfected with HBV replicons, HepG2.2.15 cells and HBV infected - HepG2 cells expressing sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP). The structure activity relationship and antiviral mechanism of lycorine against HBV have been determined.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sisi Yang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Julia Ma
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, USA
| | - Fuxuan Wang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, USA
| | - Hui Liu
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, USA
| | - Qiong Zhao
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, USA
| | - Yanming Du
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, USA
| | - Jiming Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Ju-Tao Guo
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, USA.
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2
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Kornyeyev D, Song Z, Eng S, Soulette C, Ramirez R, Tang J, Yue Q, Subramanian R, Zaboli S, Moon C, Tam J, Brodbeck J, Aggarwal A, Diehl L, Fletcher SP, Hyrina A, Holdorf MM, Burdette D. Selective depletion of HBV-infected hepatocytes by class A capsid assembly modulators requires high levels of intrahepatic HBV core protein. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0042024. [PMID: 38780261 PMCID: PMC11232385 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00420-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Capsid assembly mediated by hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) is an essential part of the HBV replication cycle, which is the target for different classes of capsid assembly modulators (CAMs). While both CAM-A ("aberrant") and CAM-E ("empty") disrupt nucleocapsid assembly and reduce extracellular HBV DNA, CAM-As can also reduce extracellular HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) by triggering apoptosis of HBV-infected cells in preclinical mouse models. However, there have not been substantial HBsAg declines in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with CAM-As to date. To investigate this disconnect, we characterized the antiviral activity of tool CAM compounds in HBV-infected primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), as well as in HBV-infected human liver chimeric mice and mice transduced with adeno-associated virus-HBV. Mechanistic studies in HBV-infected PHH revealed that CAM-A, but not CAM-E, induced a dose-dependent aggregation of HBc in the nucleus which is negatively regulated by the ubiquitin-binding protein p62. We confirmed that CAM-A, but not CAM-E, induced HBc-positive cell death in both mouse models via induction of apoptotic and inflammatory pathways and demonstrated that the degree of HBV-positive cell loss was positively correlated with intrahepatic HBc levels. Importantly, we determined that there is a significantly lower level of HBc per hepatocyte in CHB patient liver biopsies than in either of the HBV mouse models. Taken together, these data confirm that CAM-As have a unique secondary mechanism with the potential to kill HBc-positive hepatocytes. However, this secondary mechanism appears to require higher intrahepatic HBc levels than is typically observed in CHB patients, thereby limiting the therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhijuan Song
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, California, USA
| | - Stacey Eng
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Qin Yue
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, California, USA
| | | | - Shiva Zaboli
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, California, USA
| | | | - Jane Tam
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, California, USA
| | | | | | - Lauri Diehl
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, California, USA
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3
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Li S, Li H, Lian R, Xie J, Feng R. New perspective of small-molecule antiviral drugs development for RNA viruses. Virology 2024; 594:110042. [PMID: 38492519 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
High variability and adaptability of RNA viruses allows them to spread between humans and animals, causing large-scale infectious diseases which seriously threat human and animal health and social development. At present, AIDS, viral hepatitis and other viral diseases with high incidence and low cure rate are still spreading around the world. The outbreaks of Ebola, Zika, dengue and in particular of the global pandemic of COVID-19 have presented serious challenges to the global public health system. The development of highly effective and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs is a substantial and urgent research subject to deal with the current RNA virus infection and the possible new viral infections in the future. In recent years, with the rapid development of modern disciplines such as artificial intelligence technology, bioinformatics, molecular biology, and structural biology, some new strategies and targets for antivirals development have emerged. Here we review the main strategies and new targets for developing small-molecule antiviral drugs against RNA viruses through the analysis of the new drug development progress against several highly pathogenic RNA viruses, to provide clues for development of future antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Huixia Li
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Ruiya Lian
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Jingying Xie
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Ruofei Feng
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China.
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4
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Moin AT, Rani NA, Patil RB, Robin TB, Ullah MA, Rahim Z, Rahman MF, Zubair T, Hossain M, Mollah AKMM, Absar N, Hossain M, Manchur MA, Islam NN. In-silico formulation of a next-generation polyvalent vaccine against multiple strains of monkeypox virus and other related poxviruses. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300778. [PMID: 38758816 PMCID: PMC11101047 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus and some related poxviruses including smallpox virus pose a significant threat to public health, and effective prevention and treatment strategies are needed. This study utilized a reverse vaccinology approach to retrieve conserved epitopes for monkeypox virus and construct a vaccine that could provide cross-protection against related viruses with similar antigenic properties. The selected virulent proteins of monkeypox virus, MPXVgp165, and Virion core protein P4a, were subjected to epitope mapping for vaccine construction. Two vaccines were constructed using selected T cell epitopes and B cell epitopes with PADRE and human beta-defensins adjuvants conjugated in the vaccine sequence. Both constructs were found to be highly antigenic, non-allergenic, nontoxic, and soluble, suggesting their potential to generate an adequate immune response and be safe for humans. Vaccine construct 1 was selected for molecular dynamic simulation studies. The simulation studies revealed that the TLR8-vaccine complex was more stable than the TLR3-vaccine complex. The lower RMSD and RMSF values of the TLR8 bound vaccine compared to the TLR3 bound vaccine suggested better stability and consistency of hydrogen bonds. The Rg values of the vaccine chain bound to TLR8 indicated overall stability, whereas the vaccine chain bound to TLR3 showed deviations throughout the simulation. These results suggest that the constructed vaccine could be a potential preventive measure against monkeypox and related viruses however, further experimental validation is required to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abu Tayab Moin
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Clinical Genetics, Genomics and Enzyme Research (LCGGER), University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Nurul Amin Rani
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Rajesh B. Patil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sinhgad Technical Education Society’s, Sinhgad College of Pharmacy, Maharashtra, India
| | - Tanjin Barketullah Robin
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Asad Ullah
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Zahidur Rahim
- Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Foyzur Rahman
- Department of Pharmacy, Dhaka International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Mohabbat Hossain
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Clinical Genetics, Genomics and Enzyme Research (LCGGER), University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | | | - Nurul Absar
- Faculty of Basic Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Science & Technology Chittagong, Khulshi, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Mahboob Hossain
- Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Microbiology Program, School of Data and Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammed Abul Manchur
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Microbiology, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Nazneen Naher Islam
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Clinical Genetics, Genomics and Enzyme Research (LCGGER), University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
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Du K, Wang X, Bai Y, Zhang X, Xue J, Li S, Xie Y, Sang Z, Tang Y, Wang X. Development of benzimidazole-based compounds as novel capsid assembly modulators for the treatment of HBV infection. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 271:116402. [PMID: 38636128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) represent a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of HBV infection. In this study, the hit compound CDI (IC50 = 2.46 ± 0.33 μM) was identified by screening of an in-house compound library. And then novel potent benzimidazole derivatives were designed and synthesized as core assembly modulators, and their antiviral effects were evaluated in vitro and in vivo biological experiments. The results indicated that compound 26f displayed the most optimized modulator of HBV capsid assembly (IC50 = 0.51 ± 0.20 μM, EC50 = 2.24 ± 0.43 μM, CC50 = 84.29 μM) and high selectivity index. Moreover, treatment with compound 26f for 14 days significantly decreased serum levels of HBV DNA levels in the Hydrodynamic-Injection (HDI) mouse model. Therefore, compound 26f could be considered as a promising candidate drug for further development of novel HBV CAMs with the desired potency and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixin Du
- Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education and One Health Institute, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Xianyang Wang
- Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Yuxin Bai
- Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education and One Health Institute, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Jie Xue
- Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Youhua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Zhipei Sang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education and One Health Institute, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
| | - Yu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Qingdao, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education and One Health Institute, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
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6
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Meewan I, Panmanee J, Petchyam N, Lertvilai P. HBCVTr: an end-to-end transformer with a deep neural network hybrid model for anti-HBV and HCV activity predictor from SMILES. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9262. [PMID: 38649402 PMCID: PMC11035669 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59933-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) are significant causes of chronic liver diseases, with approximately 350 million infections globally. To accelerate the finding of effective treatment options, we introduce HBCVTr, a novel ligand-based drug design (LBDD) method for predicting the inhibitory activity of small molecules against HBV and HCV. HBCVTr employs a hybrid model consisting of double encoders of transformers and a deep neural network to learn the relationship between small molecules' simplified molecular-input line-entry system (SMILES) and their antiviral activity against HBV or HCV. The prediction accuracy of HBCVTr has surpassed baseline machine learning models and existing methods, with R-squared values of 0.641 and 0.721 for the HBV and HCV test sets, respectively. The trained models were successfully applied to virtual screening against 10 million compounds within 240 h, leading to the discovery of the top novel inhibitor candidates, including IJN04 for HBV and IJN12 and IJN19 for HCV. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations identified IJN04, IJN12, and IJN19 target proteins as the HBV core antigen, HCV NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and HCV NS3/4A serine protease, respectively. Overall, HBCVTr offers a new and rapid drug discovery and development screening method targeting HBV and HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ittipat Meewan
- Center for Advanced Therapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
| | - Jiraporn Panmanee
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
| | - Nopphon Petchyam
- Center for Advanced Therapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
| | - Pichaya Lertvilai
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
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Yano Y, Sato I, Imanishi T, Yoshida R, Matsuura T, Ueda Y, Kodama Y. Clinical Significance and Remaining Issues of Anti-HBc Antibody and HBV Core-Related Antigen. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:728. [PMID: 38611641 PMCID: PMC11011781 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14070728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antibody (anti-HBc antibody) and HBV core-related antigen (HBcrAg) are widely used as serum markers for diagnosis based on the HBV core region. This review focused on anti-HBc antibodies and HBcrAg and aimed to summarize the clinical significance of currently used assay systems and the issues involved. While anti-HBc is very significant for clinical diagnosis, the clinical significance of quantitative assay of anti-HBc antibody has been reevaluated with improvements in diagnostic performance, including its association with clinical stage and prediction of carcinogenesis and reactivation. In addition, concerning the new HBcrAg, a high-sensitivity assay method has recently been established, and its diagnostic significance, including the prediction of reactivation, is being reevaluated. On the other hand, the quantitative level of anti-HBc antibody expressed in different units among assay systems complicates the interpretation of the results. However, it is difficult to standardize assay systems as they vary in advantages, and caution is needed in interpreting the assay results. In conclusion, with the development of highly sensitive HBcrAg and anti-HBc antibody, a rapid and sensitive detection assay system has been developed and used in clinical practice. In the future, it is hoped that a global standard will be created based on the many clinical findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiko Yano
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; (R.Y.); (T.M.); (Y.U.); (Y.K.)
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; (I.S.); (T.I.)
| | - Itsuko Sato
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; (I.S.); (T.I.)
| | - Takamitsu Imanishi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; (I.S.); (T.I.)
| | - Ryutaro Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; (R.Y.); (T.M.); (Y.U.); (Y.K.)
| | - Takanori Matsuura
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; (R.Y.); (T.M.); (Y.U.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yoshihide Ueda
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; (R.Y.); (T.M.); (Y.U.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yuzo Kodama
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; (R.Y.); (T.M.); (Y.U.); (Y.K.)
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8
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Ma H, Yan QZ, Ma JR, Li DF, Yang JL. Overview of the immunological mechanisms in hepatitis B virus reactivation: Implications for disease progression and management strategies. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:1295-1312. [PMID: 38596493 PMCID: PMC11000084 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i10.1295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a clinically significant challenge in disease management. This review explores the immunological mechanisms underlying HBV reactivation, emphasizing disease progression and management. It delves into host immune responses and reactivation's delicate balance, spanning innate and adaptive immunity. Viral factors' disruption of this balance, as are interactions between viral antigens, immune cells, cytokine networks, and immune checkpoint pathways, are examined. Notably, the roles of T cells, natural killer cells, and antigen-presenting cells are discussed, highlighting their influence on disease progression. HBV reactivation's impact on disease severity, hepatic flares, liver fibrosis progression, and hepatocellular carcinoma is detailed. Management strategies, including anti-viral and immunomodulatory approaches, are critically analyzed. The role of prophylactic anti-viral therapy during immunosuppressive treatments is explored alongside novel immunotherapeutic interventions to restore immune control and prevent reactivation. In conclusion, this comprehensive review furnishes a holistic view of the immunological mechanisms that propel HBV reactivation. With a dedicated focus on understanding its implications for disease progression and the prospects of efficient management strategies, this article contributes significantly to the knowledge base. The more profound insights into the intricate interactions between viral elements and the immune system will inform evidence-based approaches, ultimately enhancing disease management and elevating patient outcomes. The dynamic landscape of management strategies is critically scrutinized, spanning anti-viral and immunomodulatory approaches. The role of prophylactic anti-viral therapy in preventing reactivation during immunosuppressive treatments and the potential of innovative immunotherapeutic interventions to restore immune control and proactively deter reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
| | - Qing-Zhu Yan
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jing-Ru Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
| | - Dong-Fu Li
- Digestive Diseases Center, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jun-Ling Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
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9
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Aoki K, Tsuda S, Ogata N, Kataoka M, Sasaki J, Inuki S, Ohno H, Watashi K, Yoshiya T, Oishi S. Synthesis of the full-length hepatitis B virus core protein and its capsid formation. Org Biomol Chem 2024; 22:2218-2225. [PMID: 38358380 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob02099a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Capsid assembly modulators can induce error-prone assembly of HBV core proteins to prevent the formation of infectious virions, representing promising candidates for treating chronic HBV infections. To explore novel capsid assembly modulators from unexplored mirror-image libraries of natural products, we have investigated the synthetic process of the HBV core protein for preparing the mirror-image target protein. In this report, the chemical synthesis of full-length HBV core protein (Cp183) containing an arginine-rich nucleic acid-binding domain at the C-terminus is presented. Sequential ligations using four peptide segments enabled the synthesis of Cp183 via convergent and C-to-N direction approaches. After refolding under appropriate conditions, followed by the addition of nucleic acid, the synthetic Cp183 assembled into capsid-like particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Aoki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan.
| | - Shugo Tsuda
- Peptide Institute, Inc. Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
| | - Naoko Ogata
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan.
| | - Michiyo Kataoka
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Jumpei Sasaki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Inuki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ohno
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Koichi Watashi
- Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Taku Yoshiya
- Peptide Institute, Inc. Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shinya Oishi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan.
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10
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Xia Y, Cheng X, Nilsson T, Zhang M, Zhao G, Inuzuka T, Teng Y, Li Y, Anderson DE, Holdorf M, Liang TJ. Nucleolin binds to and regulates transcription of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA minichromosome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306390120. [PMID: 38015841 PMCID: PMC10710063 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306390120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major public health threat with nearly 300 million people chronically infected worldwide who are at a high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Current therapies are effective in suppressing HBV replication but rarely lead to cure. Current therapies do not affect the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which serves as the template for viral transcription and replication and is highly stable in infected cells to ensure viral persistence. In this study, we aim to identify and elucidate the functional role of cccDNA-associated host factors using affinity purification and protein mass spectrometry in HBV-infected cells. Nucleolin was identified as a key cccDNA-binding protein and shown to play an important role in HBV cccDNA transcription, likely via epigenetic regulation. Targeting nucleolin to silence cccDNA transcription in infected hepatocytes may be a promising therapeutic strategy for a functional cure of HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Xia
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan430071, China
| | - Xiaoming Cheng
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan430071, China
| | - Tobias Nilsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA94608
| | - Min Zhang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Gaihong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan430071, China
| | - Tadashi Inuzuka
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Yan Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan430071, China
| | - Yao Li
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - D. Eric Anderson
- Advanced Mass Spectrometry Core, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Meghan Holdorf
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA94608
| | - T. Jake Liang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
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11
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Nayak S, Gowda J, Abbas SA, Kim H, Han SB. Recent Advances in the Development of Sulfamoyl-Based Hepatitis B Virus Nucleocapsid Assembly Modulators. Viruses 2023; 15:2367. [PMID: 38140607 PMCID: PMC10747759 DOI: 10.3390/v15122367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the primary contributor to severe liver ailments, encompassing conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Globally, 257 million people are affected by HBV annually and 887,000 deaths are attributed to it, representing a substantial health burden. Regrettably, none of the existing therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have achieved satisfactory clinical cure rates. This issue stems from the existence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which is difficult to eliminate from the nucleus of infected hepatocytes. HBV genetic material is composed of partially double-stranded DNA that forms complexes with viral polymerase inside an icosahedral capsid composed of a dimeric core protein. The HBV core protein, consisting of 183 to 185 amino acids, plays integral roles in multiple essential functions within the HBV replication process. In this review, we describe the effects of sulfamoyl-based carboxamide capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) on capsid assembly, which can suppress HBV replication and disrupt the production of new cccDNA. We present research on classical, first-generation sulfamoyl benzocarboxamide CAMs, elucidating their structural composition and antiviral efficacy. Additionally, we explore newly identified sulfamoyl-based CAMs, including sulfamoyl bicyclic carboxamides, sulfamoyl aromatic heterocyclic carboxamides, sulfamoyl aliphatic heterocyclic carboxamides, cyclic sulfonamides, and non-carboxamide sulfomoyl-based CAMs. We believe that certain molecules derived from sulfamoyl groups have the potential to be developed into essential components of a well-suited combination therapy, ultimately yielding superior clinical efficacy outcomes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandesha Nayak
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jayaraj Gowda
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Syed Azeem Abbas
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejin Kim
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Bong Han
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
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12
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Zhao S, Wang Y, Zhang X, Qiao L, Wang S, Jin Y, Wu S, Li Y, Zhan P, Liu X. Discovery of carboxyl-containing heteroaryldihydropyrimidine derivatives as novel HBV capsid assembly modulators with significantly improved metabolic stability. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:2380-2400. [PMID: 37974964 PMCID: PMC10650354 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00461a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Interfering with the assembly of hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid is a promising approach for treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In order to enhance the metabolic stability and reduce the strong hERG inhibitory effect of HBV capsid assembly modulator (CAM) GLS4, we rationally designed a series of carboxyl-containing heteroaryldihydropyrimidine (HAP) derivatives based on structural biology information combined with medicinal chemistry strategies. The results from biological evaluation demonstrated that compound 6a-25 (EC50 = 0.020 μM) exhibited greater potency than the positive drug lamivudine (EC50 = 0.09 μM), and was comparable to the lead compound GLS4 (EC50 = 0.007 μM). Furthermore, it was observed that 6a-25 reduced levels of core protein (Cp) and capsid in cells. Preliminary assessment of drug-likeness revealed that 6a-25 exhibited superior water solubility (pH 2.0: 374.81 μg mL-1; pH 7.0: 6.85 μg mL-1; pH 7.4: 25.48 μg mL-1), liver microsomal metabolic stability (t1/2 = 108.2 min), and lower hERG toxicity (10 μM inhibition rate was 72.66%) compared to the lead compound GLS4. Overall, compound 6a-25 holds promise for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujie Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University 44 West Culture Road 250012 Jinan Shandong PR China
| | - Ya Wang
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College 100050 Beijing PR China
| | - Xujie Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University 44 West Culture Road 250012 Jinan Shandong PR China
| | - Lijun Qiao
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College 100050 Beijing PR China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University 44 West Culture Road 250012 Jinan Shandong PR China
| | - Yu Jin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University 44 West Culture Road 250012 Jinan Shandong PR China
| | - Shuo Wu
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College 100050 Beijing PR China
| | - Yuhuan Li
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College 100050 Beijing PR China
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University 44 West Culture Road 250012 Jinan Shandong PR China
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University 44 West Culture Road 250012 Jinan Shandong PR China
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13
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Hwang N, Wu S, Ban H, Luo H, Ma J, Cheng J, Zhao Q, Laney JA, Du N, Guo J, Suresh M, Shen L, Tolufashe G, Viswanathan U, Kulp J, Lam P, Chang J, Clement JA, Menne S, Guo JT, Du Y. Identification of novel tetrahydroquinoxaline derived phenyl ureas as modulators of the hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid assembly. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 259:115634. [PMID: 37499290 PMCID: PMC10753860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
A key step of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is the selective packaging of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) by core protein (Cp) dimers, forming a nucleocapsid where the reverse transcriptional viral DNA replication takes place. One approach in the development of new anti-HBV drugs is to disrupt the assembly of HBV nucleocapsids by misdirecting Cp dimers to assemble morphologically normal capsids devoid of pgRNA. In this study, we built upon our previous discovery of benzamide-derived HBV capsid assembly modulators by exploring fused bicyclic scaffolds with an exocyclic amide that is β, γ to the fused ring, and identified 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline derived phenyl ureas as a novel scaffold. Structure-activity relationship studies showed that a favorable hydrophobic substitution can be tolerated at the 2-position of the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline core, and the resulting compound 88 demonstrated comparable or improved antiviral potencies in mouse and human hepatocyte-derived HBV-replicating cell lines compared to our previously reported benzamide compound, 38017 (8). In addition, a novel bis-urea series based on 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline was also found to inhibit HBV DNA replication with sub-micromolar EC50 values. The mode of action of these compounds is consistent with specific inhibition of pgRNA encapsidation into nucleocapsids in hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Hwang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Shuo Wu
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Haiqun Ban
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA; Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1630 Dongfang Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Huixin Luo
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Julia Ma
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Junjun Cheng
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Qiong Zhao
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Jessilyn A Laney
- United States Naval Academy, 121 Blake Rd, Annapolis, MD, 21402, USA
| | - Na Du
- Pharmaron, 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Junyang Guo
- Pharmaron, 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Manasa Suresh
- Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Liangxian Shen
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Gideon Tolufashe
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Usha Viswanathan
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - John Kulp
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Patrick Lam
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Jinhong Chang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Jason A Clement
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Stephan Menne
- Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Ju-Tao Guo
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA.
| | - Yanming Du
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA.
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14
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Wang M, Zhang J, Dou Y, Liang M, Xie Y, Xue P, Liu L, Li C, Wang Y, Tao F, Zhang X, Hu H, Feng K, Zhang L, Wu Z, Chen Y, Zhan P, Jia H. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Thioureidobenzamide (TBA) Derivatives as HBV Capsid Assembly Modulators. J Med Chem 2023; 66:13968-13990. [PMID: 37839070 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) represent a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of HBV infection. In this study, we designed and synthesized five series of benzamide derivatives based on a multisite-binding strategy at the tolerant region and diversity modification in the solvent-exposed region. Among them, thioureidobenzamide compound 17i exhibited significantly increased anti-HBV activity in HepAD38 (EC50 = 0.012 μM) and HBV-infected HLCZ01 cells (EC50 = 0.033 μM). Moreover, 17i displayed a better inhibitory effect on the assembly of HBV capsid protein compared with NVR 3-778 and a inhibitory effect similar to the clinical drug GLS4. In addition, 17i showed moderate metabolic stability in human microsomes, had excellent oral bioavailability in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and inhibited HBV replication in the HBV carrier mice model, which could be considered as a promising candidate drug for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Yutong Dou
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Minghui Liang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Yong Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development (NO. 2015DQ780357), Sunshine Lake Pharma Co., Ltd, Dongguan 523871, P. R. China
| | - Peng Xue
- School of Public Health, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Linyue Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Chuanju Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Yuanze Wang
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Feiyan Tao
- School of Public Health, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, P. R. China
- The Research Center of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Systems Biomedicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, P. R. China
| | - Huili Hu
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, P. R. China
- The Research Center of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Systems Biomedicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, P. R. China
| | - Kairui Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Zhuanchang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Yunfu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development (NO. 2015DQ780357), Sunshine Lake Pharma Co., Ltd, Dongguan 523871, P. R. China
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Haiyong Jia
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, P. R. China
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15
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Cole AG, Kultgen SG, Mani N, Quintero JG, Yi Fan K, Ardzinski A, Stever K, Dorsey BD, Phelps JR, Lee ACH, Thi EP, Chiu T, Tang S, Horanyi PS, Mayclin SJ, Harasym TO, Sofia MJ. Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship of a bicyclic HBV capsid assembly modulator chemotype leading to the identification of clinical candidate AB-506. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 94:129456. [PMID: 37633618 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Disruption of the HBV capsid assembly process through small-molecule interaction with HBV core protein is a validated target for the suppression of hepatitis B viral replication and the development of new antivirals. Through combination of key structural features associated with two distinct series of capsid assembly modulators, a novel aminochroman-based chemotype was identified. Optimization of anti-HBV potency through generation of SAR in addition to further core modifications provided a series of related functionalized aminoindanes. Key compounds demonstrated excellent cellular potency in addition to favorable ADME and pharmacokinetic profiles and were shown to be highly efficacious in a mouse model of HBV replication. Aminoindane derivative AB-506 was subsequently advanced into clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Cole
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA.
| | - Steven G Kultgen
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Nagraj Mani
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Jorge G Quintero
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Kristi Yi Fan
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Andrzej Ardzinski
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Kim Stever
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Bruce D Dorsey
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Janet R Phelps
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Amy C H Lee
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Emily P Thi
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Tim Chiu
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Sunny Tang
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Peter S Horanyi
- UCB Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
| | | | - Troy O Harasym
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
| | - Michael J Sofia
- Arbutus Biopharma, Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA 18974, USA
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16
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Elizalde MM, Giadans CG, Campos RH, Flichman DM. Impact of core protein naturally selected mutants associated with HBeAg-negative status in HBV biosynthesis. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29195. [PMID: 37881005 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss represents a late stage of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection associated with a drastic decrease in HBV-DNA, a lower risk of disease progression, and the occurrence of several mutations in the preCore/core region. However, the underlying mechanisms supporting the downregulation of viral replication have yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the analysis of the frequency of subgenotype D1 core protein (HBc) mutations associated with HBeAg status revealed a higher mutation rate in HBeAg-negative sequences compared to HBeAg-positive ones. Particularly, 22 amino acids exhibited a higher frequency of mutation in HBeAg-negative sequences, while the remaining residues showed a high degree of conservation. Subsequently, the assessment of HBc mutants derived from HBeAg-negative patients in viral structure and replicative capacity revealed that HBc mutations have the ability to modulate the subcellular localization of the protein (either when the protein was expressed alone or in the context of viral replication), capsid assembly, and, depending on specific mutation patterns, alter covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) recycling and up- or downregulate viral replication. In conclusion, HBc mutations associated with HBeAg-negative status impact on various stages of the HBV life cycle modulating viral replication during the HBeAg-negative stage of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Mercedes Elizalde
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Graciela Giadans
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo Héctor Campos
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Cátedra de Virología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Martín Flichman
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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17
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McFadden WM, Sarafianos SG. Biology of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core and capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cure. Glob Health Med 2023; 5:199-207. [PMID: 37655181 PMCID: PMC10461335 DOI: 10.35772/ghm.2023.01065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepadnavirus, a small DNA virus that infects liver tissue, with some unusual replication steps that share similarities to retroviruses. HBV infection can lead to chronic hepatitis B (CHB), a life-long infection associated with significant risks of liver disease, especially if untreated. HBV is a significant global health problem, with hundreds of millions currently living with CHB. Currently approved strategies to prevent or inhibit HBV are highly effective, however, a cure for CHB has remained elusive. To achieve a cure, elimination of the functionally integrated HBV covalently closed chromosomal DNA (cccDNA) genome is required. The capsid core is an essential component of HBV replication, serving roles when establishing infection and in creating new virions. Over the last two and a half decades, significant efforts have been made to find and characterize antivirals that target the capsid, specifically the HBV core protein (Cp). The antivirals that interfere with the kinetics and morphology of the capsid, termed capsid assembly modulators (CAMs), are extremely potent, and clinical investigations indicate they are well tolerated and highly effective. Several CAMs offer the potential to cure CHB by decreasing the cccDNA pools. Here, we review the biology of the HBV capsid, focused on Cp, and the development of inhibitors that target it.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M. McFadden
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stefan G. Sarafianos
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
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18
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Basit L, Amblard F, Patel DJ, Biteau N, Chen Z, Kasthuri M, Zhou S, Schinazi RF. The premise of capsid assembly modulators towards eliminating HBV persistence. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:1031-1041. [PMID: 37477111 PMCID: PMC10530454 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2239701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The burden of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) results in almost a million deaths per year. The most common treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection is long-term nucleoside analogs (NUC) or one-year interferon-alpha (pegylated or non-pegylated) therapy before or after NUC therapy. Unfortunately, these therapies rarely result in HBV functional cure because they do not eradicate HBV from the nucleus of the hepatocytes, where the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is formed and/or where the integrated HBV DNA persists in the host genome. Hence, the search continues for novel antiviral therapies that target different steps of the HBV replication cycle to cure chronically infected HBV individuals and eliminate HBV from the liver reservoirs. AREAS COVERED The authors focus on capsid assembly modulators (CAMs). These molecules are unique because they impact not only one but several steps of HBV viral replication, including capsid assembly, capsid trafficking into the nucleus, reverse transcription, pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA), and polymerase protein co-packaging. EXPERT OPINION Mono- or combination therapy, including CAMs with other HBV drugs, may potentially eliminate hepatitis B infections. Nevertheless, more data on their potential effect on HBV elimination is needed, especially when used daily for 6-12 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leda Basit
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical
Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322,
USA
| | - Franck Amblard
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical
Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322,
USA
| | - Dharmeshkumar J. Patel
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical
Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322,
USA
| | - Nicolas Biteau
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical
Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322,
USA
| | - Zhe Chen
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical
Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322,
USA
| | - Mahesh Kasthuri
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical
Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322,
USA
| | - Shaoman Zhou
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical
Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322,
USA
| | - Raymond F. Schinazi
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical
Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322,
USA
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19
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Hofmann S, Plank V, Groitl P, Skvorc N, Hofmann K, Luther J, Ko C, Zimmerman P, Bruss V, Stadler D, Carpentier A, Rezk S, Nassal M, Protzer U, Schreiner S. SUMO Modification of Hepatitis B Virus Core Mediates Nuclear Entry, Promyelocytic Leukemia Nuclear Body Association, and Efficient Formation of Covalently Closed Circular DNA. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0044623. [PMID: 37199632 PMCID: PMC10269885 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00446-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is due to a nuclear covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), generated from the virion-borne relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA) genome in a process likely involving numerous cell factors from the host DNA damage response (DDR). The HBV core protein mediates rcDNA transport to the nucleus and likely affects stability and transcriptional activity of cccDNA. Our study aimed at investigating the role of HBV core protein and its posttranslational modification (PTM) with SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifiers) during the establishment of cccDNA. HBV core protein SUMO PTM was analyzed in His-SUMO-overexpressing cell lines. The impact of HBV core SUMOylation on association with cellular interaction partners and on the HBV life cycle was determined using SUMOylation-deficient mutants of the HBV core protein. Here, we show that the HBV core protein is posttranslationally modified by the addition of SUMO and that this modification impacts nuclear import of rcDNA. By using SUMOylation-deficient HBV core mutants, we show that SUMO modification is a prerequisite for the association with specific promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) and regulates the conversion of rcDNA to cccDNA. By in vitro SUMOylation of HBV core, we obtained evidence that SUMOylation triggers nucleocapsid disassembly, providing novel insights into the nuclear import process of rcDNA. HBV core protein SUMOylation and subsequent association with PML bodies in the nucleus constitute a key step in the conversion of HBV rcDNA to cccDNA and therefore a promising target for inhibiting formation of the HBV persistence reservoir. IMPORTANCE HBV cccDNA is formed from the incomplete rcDNA involving several host DDR proteins. The exact process and the site of cccDNA formation are poorly understood. Here, we show that HBV core protein SUMO modification is a novel PTM regulating the function of HBV core. A minor specific fraction of the HBV core protein resides with PML-NBs in the nuclear matrix. SUMO modification of HBV core protein mediates its recruitment to specific PML-NBs within the host cell. Within HBV nucleocapsids, SUMOylation of HBV core induces HBV capsid disassembly and is a prerequisite for nuclear entry of HBV core. SUMO HBV core protein association with PML-NBs is crucial for efficient conversion of rcDNA to cccDNA and for the establishment of the viral persistence reservoir. HBV core protein SUMO modification and the subsequent association with PML-NBs might constitute a potential novel target in the development of drugs targeting the cccDNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Hofmann
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Verena Plank
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Groitl
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Nathalie Skvorc
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Hofmann
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Julius Luther
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Chunkyu Ko
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Zimmerman
- Department of Internal Medicine II/Molecular Biology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Volker Bruss
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniela Stadler
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Shahinda Rezk
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Medical Research Institute, Department of Molecular and Diagnostic Microbiology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Michael Nassal
- Department of Internal Medicine II/Molecular Biology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabrina Schreiner
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (Resolving Infection Susceptibility; EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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20
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Zheng Y, Yang L, Yu L, Zhu Y, Wu Y, Zhang Z, Xia T, Deng Q. Canocapavir Is a Novel Capsid Assembly Modulator Inducing a Conformational Change of the Linker Region of HBV Core Protein. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051195. [PMID: 37243280 DOI: 10.3390/v15051195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Canocapavir is a novel antiviral agent with characteristics of core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs) that is currently in a phase II clinical trial for treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Herein, we show that Canocapavir prevented the encapsidation of HBV pregenomic RNA and increased the accumulation of cytoplasmic empty capsids, presumably by targeting the hydrophobic pocket at the dimer-dimer interface of HBV core protein (HBc). Canocapavir treatment markedly reduced the egress of naked capsids, which could be reversed by Alix overexpression through a mechanism other than direct association of Alix with HBc. Moreover, Canocapavir interfered with the interaction between HBc and HBV large surface protein, resulting in diminished production of empty virions. Of particular note, Canocapavir induced a conformational change of capsids, with the C-terminus of HBc linker region fully exposed on the exterior of capsids. We posit that the allosteric effect may have great importance in the anti-HBV activity of Canocapavir, given the emerging virological significance of HBc linker region. In support of this notion, the mutation at HBc V124W typically recapitulated the conformational change of the empty capsid with aberrant cytoplasmic accumulation. Collectively, our results indicate Canocapavir as a mechanistically distinct type of CpAMs against HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Le Yang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuanfei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- Shanghai Zhimeng Biopharma, Inc., 1976 Gaoke Middle Road, Suite A-302, Pudong District, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Tian Xia
- Shanghai Zhimeng Biopharma, Inc., 1976 Gaoke Middle Road, Suite A-302, Pudong District, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qiang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai 200032, China
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21
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Zheng K, Ren Z, Wang Y. Serine-arginine protein kinases and their targets in viral infection and their inhibition. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:153. [PMID: 37198350 PMCID: PMC10191411 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04808-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has consolidated the interaction between viral infection and host alternative splicing. Serine-arginine (SR) proteins are a class of highly conserved splicing factors critical for the spliceosome maturation, alternative splicing and RNA metabolism. Serine-arginine protein kinases (SRPKs) are important kinases that specifically phosphorylate SR proteins to regulate their distribution and activities in the central pre-mRNA splicing and other cellular processes. In addition to the predominant SR proteins, other cytoplasmic proteins containing a serine-arginine repeat domain, including viral proteins, have been identified as substrates of SRPKs. Viral infection triggers a myriad of cellular events in the host and it is therefore not surprising that viruses explore SRPKs-mediated phosphorylation as an important regulatory node in virus-host interactions. In this review, we briefly summarize the regulation and biological function of SRPKs, highlighting their involvement in the infection process of several viruses, such as viral replication, transcription and capsid assembly. In addition, we review the structure-function relationships of currently available inhibitors of SRPKs and discuss their putative use as antivirals against well-characterized viruses or newly emerging viruses. We also highlight the viral proteins and cellular substrates targeted by SRPKs as potential antiviral therapeutic candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Zhe Ren
- Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Key Laboratory of Innovative Technology Research On Natural Products and Cosmetics Raw Materials, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Key Laboratory of Innovative Technology Research On Natural Products and Cosmetics Raw Materials, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
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22
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Zhao S, Zhang X, da Silva-Júnior EF, Zhan P, Liu X. Computer-aided drug design in seeking viral capsid modulators. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103581. [PMID: 37030533 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Approved or licensed antiviral drugs have limited applications because of their drug resistance and severe adverse effects. By contrast, by stabilizing or destroying the viral capsid, compounds known as capsid modulators prevent viral replication by acting on new targets and, therefore, overcoming the problem of clinical drug resistance. For example. computer-aided drug design (CADD) methods, using strategies based on structures of biological targets (structure-based drug design; SBDD), such as docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and virtual screening (VS), have provided opportunities for fast and effective development of viral capsid modulators. In this review, we summarize the application of CADD in the discovery, optimization, and mechanism prediction of capsid-targeting small molecules, providing new insights into antiviral drug discovery modalities. Teaser: Computer-aided drug design will accelerate the development of viral capsid regulators, which brings new hope for the treatment of refractory viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujie Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Xujie Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Edeildo Ferreira da Silva-Júnior
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, 57072-970 Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
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23
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Medicinal chemistry strategies in the discovery and optimization of HBV core protein allosteric modulators (2018–2022 update). CHINESE CHEM LETT 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
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24
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Zhu S, Wen H, Wang W, Chen Y, Han F, Cai W. Anti-hepatitis B virus activity of lithospermic acid, a polyphenol from Salvia miltiorrhiza, in vitro and in vivo by autophagy regulation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 302:115896. [PMID: 36334815 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Salvia miltiorrhiza (the roots of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge, Danshen in Chinese), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used to prevent and treat various diseases, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and hepatitis B, in China and some other Asian countries. Lithospermic acid (LA), a polyphenol derived from S. miltiorrhiza, has been reported to exhibit multiple pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, and anti-carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury activities. However, little is known about the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity of LA. AIM OF THE STUDY The study was projected to investigate the anti-HBV activity of LA in vitro (HepG2.2.15 and pHBV1.3-transfected HepG2 cells) and in vivo (pAAV-HBV1.2 hydrodynamic injection [HBV-HDI] mice) and explore the potential mechanism as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) contents were detected by ELISA kits. HBV DNA and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) levels were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry assay, respectively. The proteins in autophagy process, lysosomal acidic function, and autophagy-related signaling pathways were examined by Western blot. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Confocal microscopy was applied to analyze the autophagic flux and lysosomal acidification, using mCherry-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-microtubule-associated protein light chain (LC)3 and lysosomal probes, respectively. RESULTS LA exhibited anti-HBV activity by inhibiting HBV DNA replication in HepG2.2.15 and pHBV-transfected HepG2 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners and hampering HBsAg and HBeAg levels in HepG2.2.15 cells to a certain extent. LA reduced HBV DNA, HBsAg/HBeAg, and HBcAg levels in the serum/liver tissues of HBV-HDI C57BL/6 mice during the 3-week treatment and suppressed the withdrawal rebound of HBV DNA and HBsAg in the mice serum. LA increased LC3-II protein expression and the number of autolysosomes/autophagosomes and promoted the degradation of sequestosome 1(p62) protein in vitro and in vivo. LA enhanced the co-localization of LC3 protein with autolysosomes, further confirming the ability of LA to induce a complete autophagy. Knockdown of autophagy-related gene (Atg) 7 or 5 in vitro and administration of 3-methyladenine (an autophagic inhibitor) in vivo disabled the inhibitory efficacy of LA on HBV DNA replication, suggesting that the anti-HBV efficacy of LA depended on its ability of inducing autophagy. LA could enhance lysosomal acidification and improve the function of lysosomes by promoting the protein expression of lysosomal-associated membrane protein (LAMP)-1, LAMP-2, and mature cathepsin D, which may contribute to the autophagic induction of LA. LA inhibited the activation of AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) induced by HBV, which was reversed by IGF-1 (an agonist of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway), indicating that LA elicited autophagy through hampering the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. CONCLUSION We revealed the anti-HBV activity and mechanism of LA in vitro and in vivo. This study facilitates a new understanding of the anti-HBV potent components of S. miltiorrhiza and sheds light on LA for further development as an active constituent or candidate used in the therapy against HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Zhu
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Haimei Wen
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Wenling Wang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Fengmei Han
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
| | - Wentao Cai
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
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25
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Xie C, Wang S, Zhang H, Zhu Y, Jiang P, Shi S, Si Y, Chen J. Lnc-AIFM2-1 promotes HBV immune escape by acting as a ceRNA for miR-330-3p to regulate CD244 expression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1121795. [PMID: 36845111 PMCID: PMC9946971 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1121795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection is a major risk factor for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) immune escape is regulated by the exhaustion of virus-specific CD8+ T cells, which is associated with abnormal expression of negative regulatory molecule CD244. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. To investigate the important roles of non-coding RNAs play in CD244 regulating HBV immune escape, we performed microarray analysis to determine the differential expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs in patients with CHB and patients with spontaneous clearance of HBV. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) was analyzed by bioinformatics methods and confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, gene silencing and overexpression experiments were used to further identify the roles of lncRNA and miRNA in HBV immune escape through CD244 regulation. The results showed that the expression of CD244 on the surface of CD8+ T cells was significantly increased in CHB patients and in the co-culture system of T cells and HBV-infected HepAD38 cells, which was accompanied by the reduction of miR-330-3p and the elevation of lnc-AIFM2-1. The down-regulated miR-330-3p induced the apoptosis of T cells by lifting the inhibition of CD244, which was reversed by miR-330-3p mimic or CD244-siRNA. Lnc-AIFM2-1 promotes the accumulation of CD244, which is mediated by decreased miR-330-3p, and then reduced the clearance ability of CD8+ T cells to HBV through regulated CD244 expression. And the injury in the ability of CD8+ T cells to clear HBV can be reversed by lnc-AIFM2-1-siRNA, miR-330-3p mimic, or CD244-siRNA. Collectively, our findings indicate that lnc-AIFM2-1 on CD244 by acting as a ceRNA of miR-330-3p contributes to HBV immune escape, which may provide novel insights into the roles of interaction networks among lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA in HBV immune escape, highlighting potential applications of lnc-AIFM2-1 and CD244 for diagnosis and treatment in CHB.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jie Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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26
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Durantel D. Therapies against chronic hepatitis B infections: The times they are a-changin', but the changing is slow! Antiviral Res 2023; 210:105515. [PMID: 36603773 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
PREAMBULAR NOTA BENE As a tribute to Dr Mike Bray, the following review of literature willbe mainly based on published data andconcepts, but will also contain my personal views, and in this respect could be more considered as a bioassay. Even though a cost-effective and excellent prophylactic vaccine exists since many years to protect against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, academic-researcher/drug-developers/stakeholders are still busy with the R&D of novel therapies that could eventually have an impact on its worldwide incidence. The Taiwanese experience have univocally demonstrated the effectiveness of constrained national HBV prophylactic vaccination programs to prevent the most dramatic HBV-induced end-stage liver disease, which is hepatocellular carcinoma; but yet the number of individuals chronically infected with the virus, for whom the existing prophylactic vaccine is no longer useful, remains high, with around 300 million individuals around the globe. In this review/bioassay, recent findings and novel concepts on prospective therapies against HBV infections will be discussed; yet it does not have the pretention to be exhaustive, as "pure immunotherapeutic concepts" will be mainly let aside (or referred to other reviews) due to a lack of expertise of this writer, but also due to the lack of, or incremental, positive results in clinical trials as-off today with these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Durantel
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), INSERM U1111, UMR_5308 CNRS-Université de Lyon (UCBL1), ENS de Lyon, Lyon, 69007, France.
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27
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Molecular elucidation of drug-induced abnormal assemblies of the hepatitis B virus capsid protein by solid-state NMR. Nat Commun 2023; 14:471. [PMID: 36709212 PMCID: PMC9884277 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36219-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) represent a recent class of anti-HBV antivirals. CAMs disturb proper nucleocapsid assembly, by inducing formation of either aberrant assemblies (CAM-A) or of apparently normal but genome-less empty capsids (CAM-E). Classical structural approaches have revealed the CAM binding sites on the capsid protein (Cp), but conformational information on the CAM-induced off-path aberrant assemblies is lacking. Here we show that solid-state NMR can provide such information, including for wild-type full-length Cp183, and we find that in these assemblies, the asymmetric unit comprises a single Cp molecule rather than the four quasi-equivalent conformers typical for the icosahedral T = 4 symmetry of the normal HBV capsids. Furthermore, while in contrast to truncated Cp149, full-length Cp183 assemblies appear, on the mesoscopic level, unaffected by CAM-A, NMR reveals that on the molecular level, Cp183 assemblies are equally aberrant. Finally, we use a eukaryotic cell-free system to reveal how CAMs modulate capsid-RNA interactions and capsid phosphorylation. Our results establish a structural view on assembly modulation of the HBV capsid, and they provide a rationale for recently observed differences between in-cell versus in vitro capsid assembly modulation.
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28
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Identification of the Interaction between Minichromosome Maintenance Proteins and the Core Protein of Hepatitis B Virus. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:752-764. [PMID: 36661536 PMCID: PMC9857746 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic HBV infection is a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Finding host factors involved in the viral life cycle and elucidating their mechanisms is essential for developing innovative strategies for treating HBV. The HBV core protein has pleiotropic roles in HBV replication; thus, finding the interactions between the core protein and host factors is important in clarifying the mechanism of viral infection and proliferation. Recent studies have revealed that core proteins are involved in cccDNA formation, transcriptional regulation, and RNA metabolism, in addition to their primary functions of capsid formation and pgRNA packaging. Here, we report the interaction of the core protein with MCMs, which have an essential role in host DNA replication. The knockdown of MCM2 led to increased viral replication during infection, suggesting that MCM2 serves as a restriction factor for HBV proliferation. This study opens the possibility of elucidating the relationship between core proteins and host factors and their function in viral proliferation.
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29
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Pregenomic RNA Launch Hepatitis B Virus Replication System Facilitates the Mechanistic Study of Antiviral Agents and Drug-Resistant Variants on Covalently Closed Circular DNA Synthesis. J Virol 2022; 96:e0115022. [PMID: 36448800 PMCID: PMC9769369 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01150-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates its genomic DNA by reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate, termed pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), within nucleocapsid. It had been shown that transfection of in vitro-transcribed pgRNA initiated viral replication in human hepatoma cells. We demonstrated here that viral capsids, single-stranded DNA, relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA) and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) became detectable sequentially at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h post-pgRNA transfection into Huh7.5 cells. The levels of viral DNA replication intermediates and cccDNA peaked at 24 and 48 h post-pgRNA transfection, respectively. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) became detectable in culture medium at day 4 posttransfection. Interestingly, the early robust viral DNA replication and cccDNA synthesis did not depend on the expression of HBV X protein (HBx), whereas HBsAg production was strictly dependent on viral DNA replication and expression of HBx, consistent with the essential role of HBx in the transcriptional activation of cccDNA minichromosomes. While the robust and synchronized HBV replication within 48 h post-pgRNA transfection is particularly suitable for the precise mapping of the HBV replication steps, from capsid assembly to cccDNA formation, targeted by distinct antiviral agents, the treatment of cells starting at 48 h post-pgRNA transfection allows the assessment of antiviral agents on mature nucleocapsid uncoating, cccDNA synthesis, and transcription, as well as viral RNA stability. Moreover, the pgRNA launch system could be used to readily assess the impacts of drug-resistant variants on cccDNA formation and other replication steps in the viral life cycle. IMPORTANCE Hepadnaviral pgRNA not only serves as a template for reverse transcriptional replication of viral DNA but also expresses core protein and DNA polymerase to support viral genome replication and cccDNA synthesis. Not surprisingly, cytoplasmic expression of duck hepatitis B virus pgRNA initiated viral replication leading to infectious virion secretion. However, HBV replication and antiviral mechanism were studied primarily in human hepatoma cells transiently or stably transfected with plasmid-based HBV replicons. The presence of large amounts of transfected HBV DNA or transgenes in cellular chromosomes hampered the robust analyses of HBV replication and cccDNA function. As demonstrated here, the pgRNA launch HBV replication system permits the accurate mapping of antiviral target and investigation of cccDNA biosynthesis and transcription using secreted HBsAg as a convenient quantitative marker. The effect of drug-resistant variants on viral capsid assembly, genome replication, and cccDNA biosynthesis and function can also be assessed using this system.
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Wang S, Ren Y, Li Q, Wang Y, Jiang X, Xu S, Zhang X, Zhao S, Bradley DP, Woodson ME, Zhao F, Wu S, Li Y, Tian Y, Liu X, Tavis JE, Zhan P. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel sulfamoylbenzamide derivatives as HBV capsid assembly modulators. Bioorg Chem 2022; 129:106192. [PMID: 36265355 PMCID: PMC10591450 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) represent a novel class of antiviral agents targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid to disrupt the assembly process. NVR 3-778 is the first CAM to demonstrate antiviral activity in patients infected with HBV. However, the relatively low aqueous solubility and moderate activity in the human body halted further development of NVR 3-778. To improve the anti-HBV activity and the drug-like properties of NVR 3-778, we designed and synthesized a series of NVR 3-778 derivatives. Notably, phenylboronic acid-bearing compound 7b (EC50 = 0.83 ± 0.33 µM, CC50 = 19.4 ± 5.0 µM) displayed comparable anti-HBV activity to NVR 3-778 (EC50 = 0.73 ± 0.20 µM, CC50 = 23.4 ± 7.0 µM). Besides, 7b showed improved water solubility (328.8 µg/mL, pH 7) compared to NVR 3-778 (35.8 µg/mL, pH 7). Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and quantification of encapsidated viral RNA were used to demonstrate that 7b behaves as a class II CAM similar to NVR 3-778. Moreover, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted to rationalize the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of these novel derivatives and to understand their key interactions with the binding pocket, which provide useful indications for guiding the further rational design of more effective anti-HBV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Yujie Ren
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Qilan Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100, S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Ya Wang
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100050 Beijing, PR China
| | - Xiangyi Jiang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Shujing Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Xujie Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Shujie Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Daniel P Bradley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100, S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Molly E Woodson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100, S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Fabao Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Shuo Wu
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100050 Beijing, PR China
| | - Yuhuan Li
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100050 Beijing, PR China
| | - Ye Tian
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100, S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44, West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
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Unsal Tan O, Moncol J, Durantel D. Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 4‐(4‐Chlorobenzyl)‐6‐methylpyridazin‐3(2
H
)‐one Derivatives as Hepatitis B Virus Inhibitors. ChemistrySelect 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202203164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oya Unsal Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Faculty of Pharmacy Hacettepe University Ankara Turkey
| | - Jan Moncol
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology Slovak University of Technology Bratislava Slovakia
| | - David Durantel
- INSERM U1052 Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) University of Lyon (UCBL1) CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard 69008 Lyon France
- INSERM U1111 International Center for Infectiology Research (CIRI) CNRS UMR_5308 University of Lyon (UCBL1) Lyon France
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Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein Is Not Required for Covalently Closed Circular DNA Transcriptional Regulation. J Virol 2022; 96:e0136222. [PMID: 36226986 PMCID: PMC9645219 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01362-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health burden worldwide, and currently there is no cure. The persistence of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is the major obstacle for antiviral trement. HBV core protein (HBc) has emerged as a promising antiviral target, as it plays important roles in critical steps of the viral life cycle. However, whether HBc could regulate HBV cccDNA transcription remains under debate. In this study, different approaches were used to address this question. In synthesized HBV cccDNA and HBVcircle transfection assays, lack of HBc showed no effect on transcription of HBV RNA as well as HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) production in a hepatoma cell line and primary human hepatocytes. Reconstitution of HBc did not alter the expression of cccDNA-derived HBV markers. Similar results were obtained from an in vivo mouse model harboring cccDNA. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) or ChIP sequencing assays revealed transcription regulation of HBc-deficient cccDNA chromatin similar to that of wild-type cccDNA. Furthermore, treatment with capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) dramatically reduced extracellular HBV DNA but could not alter viral RNA and HBsAg. Our results demonstrate that HBc neither affects histone modifications and transcription factor binding of cccDNA nor directly influences cccDNA transcription. Although CAMs could reduce HBc binding to cccDNA, they do not suppress cccDNA transcriptional activity. Thus, therapeutics targeting capsid or HBc should not be expected to sufficiently reduce cccDNA transcription. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) has emerged as a promising antiviral target. However, whether HBc can regulate HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) transcription remains elusive. This study illustrated that HBc has no effect on epigenetic regulation of cccDNA, and it does not participate in cccDNA transcription. Given that HBc is dispensable for cccDNA transcription, novel cccDNA-targeting therapeutics are needed for an HBV cure.
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Mohajerani F, Tyukodi B, Schlicksup CJ, Hadden-Perilla JA, Zlotnick A, Hagan MF. Multiscale Modeling of Hepatitis B Virus Capsid Assembly and Its Dimorphism. ACS NANO 2022; 16:13845-13859. [PMID: 36054910 PMCID: PMC10273259 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an endemic, chronic virus that leads to 800000 deaths per year. Central to the HBV lifecycle, the viral core has a protein capsid assembled from many copies of a single protein. The capsid protein adopts different (quasi-equivalent) conformations to form icosahedral capsids containing 180 or 240 proteins: T = 3 or T = 4, respectively, in Caspar-Klug nomenclature. HBV capsid assembly has become an important target for recently developed antivirals; nonetheless, the assembly pathways and mechanisms that control HBV dimorphism remain unclear. We describe computer simulations of the HBV assembly, using a coarse-grained model that has parameters learned from all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of a complete HBV capsid and yet is computationally tractable. Dynamical simulations with the resulting model reproduce experimental observations of HBV assembly pathways and products. By constructing Markov state models and employing transition path theory, we identify pathways leading to T = 3, T = 4, and other experimentally observed capsid morphologies. The analysis shows that capsid polymorphism is promoted by the low HBV capsid bending modulus, where the key factors controlling polymorphism are the conformational energy landscape and protein-protein binding affinities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Mohajerani
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts02453, United States
| | - Botond Tyukodi
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts02453, United States
- Department of Physics, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400084Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Christopher J Schlicksup
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana47405, United States
| | - Jodi A Hadden-Perilla
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware19716, United States
| | - Adam Zlotnick
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana47405, United States
| | - Michael F Hagan
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts02453, United States
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Zang J, Liu M, Liu H, Ding L. A molecular simulation study of hepatitis B virus core protein and the nuclear protein allosteric modulators of phthalazinone derivatives. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:23209-23225. [PMID: 36129214 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp02946d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus, causing hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer, poses a serious threat to human health, and the currently approved drugs still cannot eliminate the virus completely. HBV core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs) with a phthalazinone structure which targets the HBV core (HBc) protein have been seen as a new kind of drug because of their excellent antiviral effects. This study explores the structure-activity relationship and binding mechanism of phthalazinone molecules through three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR), molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and binding free energy calculation and decomposition studies. In addition, CoMFA and CoMSIA models revealed that the steric field, the hydrophobic field, and the hydrogen bond acceptor field may play important roles in the binding process. The molecular docking and dynamics disclosed the most likely binding pose of phthalazinone derivatives with the HBc protein. The binding free energy calculation and decomposition analysis indicated that the van der Waals force was the driving force and that ValE124, ThrD109, ThrE128, LeuD140, IleD105, PheD110, ThrD33, and TrpD102 were the key residues. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the design and optimization of phthalazinone compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieying Zang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Henan Province, Key Laboratory of Technology of Drug Preparation (Zhengzhou University), Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China.
| | - Min Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Henan Province, Key Laboratory of Technology of Drug Preparation (Zhengzhou University), Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China.
| | - Huan Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Henan Province, Key Laboratory of Technology of Drug Preparation (Zhengzhou University), Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China.
| | - Lina Ding
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Henan Province, Key Laboratory of Technology of Drug Preparation (Zhengzhou University), Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China.
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Liu Y, Park D, Cafiero TR, Bram Y, Chandar V, Tseng A, Gertje HP, Crossland NA, Su L, Schwartz RE, Ploss A. Molecular clones of genetically distinct hepatitis B virus genotypes reveal distinct host and drug treatment responses. JHEP Rep 2022; 4:100535. [PMID: 36035359 PMCID: PMC9403497 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims HBV exhibits wide genetic diversity with at least 9 genotypes (GTs), which differ in terms of prevalence, geographic distribution, natural history, disease progression, and treatment outcome. However, differences in HBV replicative capacity, gene expression, and infective capability across different GTs remain incompletely understood. Herein, we aimed to study these crucial aspects using newly constructed infectious clones covering the major HBV GTs. Methods The replicative capacity of infectious clones covering HBV GTs A-E was analyzed in cell lines, primary hepatocytes and humanized mice. Host responses and histopathology induced by the different HBV GTs were characterized in hydrodynamically injected mice. Differences in treatment responses to entecavir and various HBV capsid inhibitors were also quantified across the different genetically defined GTs. Results Patient-derived HBV infectious clones replicated robustly both in vitro and in vivo. GTs A and D induce more pronounced intrahepatic and proinflammatory cytokine responses which correlated with faster viral clearance. Notably, all 5 HBV clones robustly produced viral particles following transfection into HepG2 cells, and these particles were infectious in HepG2-NTCP cells, primary human hepatocytes and human chimeric mice. Notably, GT D virus exhibited higher infectivity than GTs A, B, C and E in vitro, although it was comparable to GT A and B in the human liver chimeric mice in vivo. HBV capsid inhibitors were more readily capable of suppressing HBV GTs A, B, D and E than C. Conclusions The infectious clones described here have broad utility as genetic tools that can mechanistically dissect intergenotypic differences in antiviral immunity and pathogenesis and aid in HBV drug development and screening. Lay summary The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major contributor to human morbidity and mortality. HBV can be categorized into a number of genotypes, based on their specific genetic make-up, of which 9 are well known. We isolated and cloned the genomes of 5 of these genotypes and used them to create valuable tools for future research on this clinically important virus.
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Key Words
- AAV, adeno-associated virus
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- BCP, basic core promoter
- CHB, chronic hepatitis B
- CpAM, core protein allosteric modulators
- DR, direct repeat
- ETV, entecavir
- En, enhancer
- GT(s), genotype(s)
- HBV, hepatitis B virus
- HBVcc, cell culture-derived HBV
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- HDI, hydrodynamic injection
- IFN, interferon
- IHC, immunohistochemistry
- IL, interleukin
- MOI, multiplicity of infection
- NA, nucleos(t)ide analogue
- NRG, NODRag1−/−IL2RγNULL
- PHH, primiary human hepatocyte
- SVR, sustained virologic response
- cccDNA, covalently closed circular DNA
- dpi, days post infection
- drug development
- genotypes
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis B virus
- host responses
- pgRNA, pre-genomic RNA
- reverse genetics
- viral hepatitis
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhen Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Debby Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Thomas R. Cafiero
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Yaron Bram
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vasuretha Chandar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Tseng
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hans P. Gertje
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Crossland
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lishan Su
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert E. Schwartz
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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Conserved Lysine Residues of Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein Are Not Required for Covalently Closed Circular DNA Formation. J Virol 2022; 96:e0071822. [PMID: 35867543 PMCID: PMC9364803 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00718-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc), the building block of the viral capsid, plays a critical role throughout the HBV life cycle. There are two highly conserved lysine residues, namely, K7 and K96, on HBc, which have been proposed to function at various stages of viral replication, potentially through lysine-specific posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Here, we substituted K7 and K96 with alanine or arginine, which would also block potential PTMs on these two lysine residues, and tested the effects of these substitutions on HBV replication and infection. We found that the two lysine residues were dispensable for all intracellular steps of HBV replication. In particular, all mutants were competent to form the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) via the intracellular amplification pathway, indicating that K7 and K96, or any PTMs of these residues, were not essential for nucleocapsid uncoating, a prerequisite for cccDNA formation. Furthermore, we found that K7A and K7R mutations did not affect de novo cccDNA formation and RNA transcription during infection, indicating that K7 or any PTMs of this residue were dispensable for HBV infection. In addition, we demonstrated that the HBc K7 coding sequence (AAA), as part of the HBV polyadenylation signal UAUAAA, was indispensable for viral RNA production, implicating this cis requirement at the RNA level, instead of any function of HBc-K7, likely constrains the identity of the 7th residue of HBc. In conclusion, our results provided novel insights regarding the roles of lysine residues on HBc, and their coding sequences, in the HBV life cycle. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a public health burden that affects 296 million individuals worldwide. HBV core protein (HBc) is involved in almost all steps in the HBV life cycle. There are two conserved lysine residues on HBc. Here, we found that neither of them is essential for HBV intracellular replication, including the formation of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the molecular basis for establishing and sustaining the HBV infection. However, K96 is critical for virion morphogenesis, while the K7 coding sequence, but not HBc-K7 itself, is indispensable, as part of the RNA polyadenylation signal, for HBV RNA production from cccDNA. Our results provide novel insights regarding the role of the conserved lysine residues on HBc, and their coding sequences, in viral replication, and should facilitate the development of antiviral drugs against the HBV capsid protein.
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Hong X, Menne S, Hu J. Constrained evolution of overlapping genes in viral host adaptation: Acquisition of glycosylation motifs in hepadnaviral precore/core genes. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010739. [PMID: 35901192 PMCID: PMC9362955 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepadnaviruses use extensively overlapping genes to expand their coding capacity, especially the precore/core genes encode the precore and core proteins with mostly identical sequences but distinct functions. The precore protein of the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) is N-glycosylated, in contrast to the precore of the human hepatitis B virus (HBV) that lacks N-glycosylation. To explore the roles of the N-linked glycosylation sites in precore and core functions, we substituted T77 and T92 in the WHV precore/core N-glycosylation motifs (75NIT77 and 90NDT92) with the corresponding HBV residues (E77 and N92) to eliminate the sequons. Conversely, these N-glycosylation sequons were introduced into the HBV precore/core gene by E77T and N92T substitutions. We found that N-glycosylation increased the levels of secreted precore gene products from both HBV and WHV. However, the HBV core (HBc) protein carrying the E77T substitution was defective in supporting virion secretion, and during infection, the HBc E77T and N92T substitutions impaired the formation of the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the critical viral DNA molecule responsible for establishing and maintaining infection. In cross-species complementation assays, both HBc and WHV core (WHc) proteins supported all steps of intracellular replication of the heterologous virus while WHc, with or without the N-glycosylation sequons, failed to interact with HBV envelope proteins for virion secretion. Interestingly, WHc supported more efficiently intracellular cccDNA amplification than HBc in the context of either HBV or WHV. These findings reveal novel determinants of precore secretion and core functions and illustrate strong constraints during viral host adaptation resulting from their compact genome and extensive use of overlapping genes. Hepadnaviruses infect a wide range of hosts. The human hepatitis B virus (HBV) and woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) are two closely related hepadnaviruses. In contrast to the WHV precore protein, which is N-glycosylated, the HBV precore protein lacks N-glycosylation. As precore and core proteins expressed from the overlapping precore/core genes share most of their sequences but have distinct functions, we investigated the roles of the N-linked glycosylation sequons in HBV and WHV precore/core genes. Our results revealed an important role of the N-linked glycosylation sequons in enhancing precore secretion levels and regulating core protein functions in virion secretion and infection. Furthermore, cross-species complementation assays using HBV and WHV core proteins and HBV or WHV genomes defective in core protein expression indicated that both HBV and WHV core proteins could support intracellular viral replication but not virion secretion of the heterologous virus. These results provide novel insights into the evolution of overlapping genes during host adaptation of hepadnaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xupeng Hong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Stephan Menne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Jianming Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Roossinck MJ. The Ups and Downs of an Out-of-the-Box Scientist with a Curious Mind. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:19-38. [PMID: 35512631 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-100520-013446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
My early life was challenging, and not conducive to the study of science, but my first introduction to viruses was an epiphany for me. I spent the whole of my career dedicated to understanding viruses, driven largely by curiosity. This led me down many different avenues of study, and to work with many wonderful colleagues, most of whom remain friends. Some highlights of my career include the discovery of a mutualistic three-way symbiosis involving a virus, a fungus, and a plant; genetic mapping of a pathogenicity gene in tomato; uncovering a virus in 1,000-year-old corncobs; exploring virus biodiversity in wild plants; and establishing a system to use a fungal virus to understand the epidemiology of its host. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Virology, Volume 9 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn J Roossinck
- Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA;
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Xi J, Cui X, Liu K, Liu H, Wang J, Hu J. Region-Specific Hepatitis B Virus Genome Exposure from Nucleocapsid Modulated by Capsid Linker Sequence and Inhibitor: Implications for Uncoating. J Virol 2022; 96:e0039922. [PMID: 35389266 PMCID: PMC9044944 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00399-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) contains a partially double-stranded, relaxed circular (RC) DNA genome synthesized within a nucleocapsid (NC) in the host cell cytoplasm. The release of RC DNA from the NC, in an ill-defined process called uncoating, to the nucleus is required for its conversion to the covalently closed circular (CCC) DNA, the viral episome serving as the transcriptional template for all viral RNAs necessary for replication and, thus, essential for establishing and sustaining viral infection. In efforts to better understand uncoating, we analyzed HBV core (HBc) mutants that show various levels of nuclear CCC DNA but little to no cytoplasmic RC DNA. We found that RC DNA could be synthesized by these mutants outside the cell, but in contrast to the wild type (wt), the mutant NCs were unable to protect RC DNA from digestion by the endogenous nuclease(s) in cellular lysates or exogenous DNase. Subcellular fractionation suggested that the major RC DNA-degrading activity was membrane associated. Digestion with sequence-specific and nonspecific DNases revealed the exposure of specific regions of RC DNA from the mutant NC. Similarly, treatment of wt NCs with a core inhibitor known to increase CCC DNA by affecting uncoating also led to region-specific exposure of RC DNA. Furthermore, a subpopulation of untreated wild type (wt) mature NCs showed site-specific exposure of RC DNA as well. Competition between RC DNA degradation and its conversion to CCC DNA during NC uncoating thus likely plays an important role in the establishment and persistence of HBV infection and has implications for the development of capsid-targeted antivirals. IMPORTANCE Disassembly of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleocapsid (NC) to release its genomic DNA, in an ill-understood process called uncoating, is required to form the viral nuclear episome in the host cell nucleus, a viral DNA essential for establishing and sustaining HBV infection. The elimination of the HBV nuclear episome remains the holy grail for the development of an HBV cure. We report here that the HBV genomic DNA is exposed in a region-specific manner during uncoating, which is enhanced by mutations of the capsid protein and a capsid-targeted antiviral compound. The exposure of the viral genome can result in its rapid degradation or, alternatively, can enhance the formation of the nuclear episome, thus having a major impact on HBV infection and persistence. These results are thus important for understanding fundamental mechanisms of HBV replication and persistence and for the ongoing pursuit of an HBV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Xi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xiuji Cui
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kuancheng Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Haitao Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jianming Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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Hwang N, Ban H, Wu S, McGuire K, Hernandez E, Chen J, Zhao Q, Suresh M, Blass B, Viswanathan U, Kulp J, Chang J, Clement J, Menne S, Guo JT, Du Y. 4-Oxooctahydroquinoline-1(2H)-carboxamides as hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid core protein assembly modulators. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 58:128518. [PMID: 34979256 PMCID: PMC8792325 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein, the building block of the HBV capsid, plays multiple roles in viral replication, and is an attractive target for development of antiviral agents with a new mechanism of action. In addition to the heteroaryldihydropyrimidines (HAPs), sulfamoylbenzamides (SBAs), dibenzothiazepine derivatives (DBTs), and sulfamoylpyrrolamides (SPAs) that inhibit HBV replication by modulation of viral capsid assembly and are currently under clinical trials for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), other chemical structures with activity to modulate HBV capsid assembly have also been explored. Here we describe our continued optimization of a benzamide originating from our high throughput screening. A new bicyclic carboxamide lead featuring an electron deficient non-planar core structure was discovered. Evaluations of its ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles demonstrate improved metabolic stability and good bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Hwang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA, Contribute equally
| | - Haiqun Ban
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1630 Dongfang Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 200127, China, Contribute equally
| | - Shuo Wu
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA, Contribute equally
| | - Kelly McGuire
- Temple University, 1801 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 191222
| | - Ellen Hernandez
- Delaware Valley university, 700 E Butler Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901
| | - Junjun Chen
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Qiong Zhao
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Manasa Suresh
- Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Benjamin Blass
- Temple University School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences 3307 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Usha Viswanathan
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - John Kulp
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Jinhong Chang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Jason Clement
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Stephan Menne
- Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Ju-Tao Guo
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA.
| | - Yanming Du
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA.
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Yang Y, Yan Y, Yin J, Hu J, Cai X, Hu J, Xia J, Wang K, Tang N, Huang L. Structure-Based Discovery of N-Sulfonylpiperidine-3-carboxamides as Novel Capsid Assembly Modulators for Potent Inhibition of HBV Replication. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020348. [PMID: 35215939 PMCID: PMC8876525 DOI: 10.3390/v14020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
As a key element during HBV replication, a nucleocapsid is considered a promising target for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. The present study aimed to identify small molecules as novel capsid assembly modulators with antiviral activity. Structure-based virtual screening of an integrated compound library led to the identification of several types of HBV inhibitors. Among these inhibitors, N-sulfonylpiperidine-3-carboxamides (SPCs) potently reduced the amount of secreted HBV DNA. Through structure–activity relationship studies, we identified an SPC derivative, namely, C-39, which exhibited the highest antiviral activity without causing cytotoxicity. Mechanism studies showed that C-39 dose-dependently inhibited the formation of HBV capsid, synthesis of cccDNA, e antigen (HBeAg), viral pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), and HBV DNA levels, thereby restraining HBV replication. In summary, SPCs represent a new class of capsid assembly modulators. Further optimization of SPCs is expected to obtain new antiviral drugs against HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ni Tang
- Correspondence: (N.T.); (L.H.)
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Targeting the Virus Capsid as a Tool to Fight RNA Viruses. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020174. [PMID: 35215767 PMCID: PMC8879806 DOI: 10.3390/v14020174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Several strategies have been developed to fight viral infections, not only in humans but also in animals and plants. Some of them are based on the development of efficient vaccines, to target the virus by developed antibodies, others focus on finding antiviral compounds with activities that inhibit selected virus replication steps. Currently, there is an increasing number of antiviral drugs on the market; however, some have unpleasant side effects, are toxic to cells, or the viruses quickly develop resistance to them. As the current situation shows, the combination of multiple antiviral strategies or the combination of the use of various compounds within one strategy is very important. The most desirable are combinations of drugs that inhibit different steps in the virus life cycle. This is an important issue especially for RNA viruses, which replicate their genomes using error-prone RNA polymerases and rapidly develop mutants resistant to applied antiviral compounds. Here, we focus on compounds targeting viral structural capsid proteins, thereby inhibiting virus assembly or disassembly, virus binding to cellular receptors, or acting by inhibiting other virus replication mechanisms. This review is an update of existing papers on a similar topic, by focusing on the most recent advances in the rapidly evolving research of compounds targeting capsid proteins of RNA viruses.
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Briday M, Hallé F, Lecoq L, Radix S, Martin J, Montserret R, Dujardin M, Fogeron ML, Nassal M, Meier BH, Lomberget T, Böckmann A. Pharmacomodulation of a ligand targeting the HBV capsid hydrophobic pocket. Chem Sci 2022; 13:8840-8847. [PMID: 36042894 PMCID: PMC9358932 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc02420a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small enveloped retrotranscribing DNA virus and an important human pathogen. Its capsid-forming core protein (Cp) features a hydrophobic pocket proposed to be central notably in capsid envelopment. Indeed, mutations in and around this pocket can profoundly modulate, and even abolish, secretion of enveloped virions. We have recently shown that Triton X-100, a detergent used during Cp purification, binds to the hydrophobic pocket with micromolar affinity. We here performed pharmacomodulation of pocket binders through systematic modifications of the three distinct chemical moieties composing the Triton X-100 molecule. Using NMR and ITC, we found that the flat aromatic moiety is essential for binding, while the number of atoms of the aliphatic chain modulates binding affinity. The hydrophilic tail, in contrast, is highly tolerant to changes in both length and type. Our data provide essential information for designing a new class of HBV antivirals targeting capsid–envelope interactions. Small-molecule binding to the Hepatitis B virus core protein hydrophobic pocket, a possible strategy for targeting viral particle assembly.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Briday
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB) UMR 5086 CNRS/Université de Lyon, Labex Ecofect, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - François Hallé
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5246 Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS), Faculté de Pharmacie-ISPB, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, FR-69373 Lyon Cedex 08, France
| | - Lauriane Lecoq
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB) UMR 5086 CNRS/Université de Lyon, Labex Ecofect, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Sylvie Radix
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5246 Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS), Faculté de Pharmacie-ISPB, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, FR-69373 Lyon Cedex 08, France
| | - Juliette Martin
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB) UMR 5086 CNRS/Université de Lyon, Labex Ecofect, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Roland Montserret
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB) UMR 5086 CNRS/Université de Lyon, Labex Ecofect, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Marie Dujardin
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB) UMR 5086 CNRS/Université de Lyon, Labex Ecofect, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Marie-Laure Fogeron
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB) UMR 5086 CNRS/Université de Lyon, Labex Ecofect, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Michael Nassal
- Department of Medicine II/Molecular Biology, University Hospital Freiburg, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Beat H. Meier
- Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Lomberget
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5246 Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS), Faculté de Pharmacie-ISPB, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, FR-69373 Lyon Cedex 08, France
| | - Anja Böckmann
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB) UMR 5086 CNRS/Université de Lyon, Labex Ecofect, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
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Lin J, Yin L, Xu XZ, Sun HC, Huang ZH, Ni XY, Chen Y, Lin X. Bay41-4109-induced aberrant polymers of hepatitis b capsid proteins are removed via STUB1-promoted p62-mediated macroautophagy. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010204. [PMID: 35030230 PMCID: PMC8824320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) functions in multiple steps of the viral life cycle. Heteroaryldihydropyrimidine compounds (HAPs) such as Bay41-4109 are capsid protein allosteric modulators that accelerate HBc degradation and inhibit the virion secretion of HBV, specifically by misleading HBc assembly into aberrant non-capsid polymers. However, the subsequent cellular fates of these HAP-induced aberrant non-capsid polymers are not well understood. Here, we discovered that that the chaperone-binding E3 ubiquitin ligase protein STUB1 is required for the removal of Bay41-4109-induced aberrant non-capsid polymers from HepAD38 cells. Specifically, STUB1 recruits BAG3 to transport Bay41-4109-induced aberrant non-capsid polymers to the perinuclear region of cells, thereby initiating p62-mediated macroautophagy and lysosomal degradation. We also demonstrate that elevating the STUB1 level enhances the inhibitory effect of Bay41-4109 on the production of HBeAg and HBV virions in HepAD38 cells, in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells, and in HBV transgenic mice. STUB1 overexpression also facilitates the inhibition of Bay41-4109 on the cccDNA formation in de novo infection of HBV. Understanding these molecular details paves the way for applying HAPs as a potentially curative regimen (or a component of a combination treatment) for eradicating HBV from hepatocytes of chronic infection patients. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects more than 250 million people worldwide chronically. It is a major pathogen causing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma now. The HBV capsid protein (HBc) plays multiple roles in the viral life cycle, and many antivirals targeting HBc such as Heteroaryldihydropyrimidine compounds (HAPs) are under clinical trial recently. This study aimed to investigate how a HAP compound Bay41-4109 induces the degradation of HBc protein. Bay41-4109 induces aberrant non-capsid polymers, which form in complex with the chaperone-binding E3 ubiquitin ligase protein STUB1 and co-chaperone BAG3 and are transported to the perinuclear compartment. Subsequently, Bay41-4109-induced aberrant non-capsid polymers are removed by p62-mediated macroautophagy and lysosomal degradation. STUB1 overexpression accelerates Bay41-4109-induced degradation of HBc protein, and thus enhances the effect of Bay41-4109 on inhibiting secretion of HBeAg and HBV virions. When Bay41-4109 are enforced during HBV infection, de novo cccDNA formation were also negatively regulated by STUB1 overexpression. Altogether, this study provides novel mechanistic insights into developing more potent and safe HAP-based antiviral treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Limin Yin
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xia-Zhen Xu
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
| | - He-Chen Sun
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Hua Huang
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xue-Yun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xu Lin
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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45
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Hepatitis B virus small envelope protein promotes HCC angiogenesis via ER stress signaling to upregulate VEGFA expression. J Virol 2021; 96:e0197521. [PMID: 34910612 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01975-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular tumor and accumulating evidence has indicated that stimulation of angiogenesis by HBV may contribute to HCC malignancy. The small protein of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), SHBs, is the most abundant HBV viral protein and has a close clinical association with HCC, however, whether SHBs contributes to HCC angiogenesis remains unknown. This study reports that forced expression of SHBs in HCC cells promoted xenograft tumor growth and increased the microvessel density (MVD) within the tumors. Consistently, HBsAg was also positively correlated with MVD count in HCC patients' specimens. The conditioned media from the SHBs-transfected HCC cells increased the capillary tube formation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Intriguingly, overexpression of SHBs increased VEGFA expression at both mRNA and protein levels. A higher VEGFA expression level was also observed in the xenograft tumors transplanted with SHBs-expressing HCC cells and in HBsAg-positive HCC tumor tissues as compared to their negative controls. As expected, in the culture supernatants, the secretion of VEGFA was also significantly enhanced from HCC cells expressing SHBs, which promoted HUVECs migration and vessel formation. Furthermore, all the three unfolded protein response (UPR) sensors IRE1α, PERK and ATF6 associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were found activated in the SHBs-expressing cells and correlated with VEGFA protein expression and secretion. Taken together, these results suggest an important role of SHBs in HCC angiogenesis and may highlight a potential target for preventive and therapeutic intervention of HBV-related HCC and its malignant progression. IMPORTANCE Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is one of the important risk factors for the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is characteristic of hypervascularization even at early phases of the disease due to overexpression of angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA). However, a detailed mechanism in the HBV-induced angiogenesis remains to be established. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that the most abundant HBV viral protein, i.e. small surface antigens (SHBs) can enhance the angiogenic capacity of HCC cells by upregulation of VEGFA expression both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SHBs induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress which consequently activated unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling to increase VEGFA expression and secretion. This study suggests that SHBs plays an important pro-angiogenic role in HBV-associated HCC and may represent a potential target for anti-angiogenic therapy in the HCC.
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46
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Kim H, Ko C, Lee JY, Kim M. Current Progress in the Development of Hepatitis B Virus Capsid Assembly Modulators: Chemical Structure, Mode-of-Action and Efficacy. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26247420. [PMID: 34946502 PMCID: PMC8705634 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major causative agent of human hepatitis. Its viral genome comprises partially double-stranded DNA, which is complexed with viral polymerase within an icosahedral capsid consisting of a dimeric core protein. Here, we describe the effects of capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) on the geometric or kinetic disruption of capsid construction and the virus life cycle. We highlight classical, early-generation CAMs such as heteroaryldihydropyrimidines, phenylpropenamides or sulfamoylbenzamides, and focus on the chemical structure and antiviral efficacy of recently identified non-classical CAMs, which consist of carboxamides, aryl ureas, bithiazoles, hydrazones, benzylpyridazinones, pyrimidines, quinolines, dyes, and antimicrobial compounds. We summarize the therapeutic efficacy of four representative classical compounds with data from clinical phase 1 studies in chronic HBV patients. Most of these compounds are in phase 2 trials, either as monotherapy or in combination with approved nucleos(t)ides drugs or other immunostimulatory molecules. As followers of the early CAMs, the therapeutic efficacy of several non-classical CAMs has been evaluated in humanized mouse models of HBV infection. It is expected that these next-generation HBV CAMs will be promising candidates for a series of extended human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyejin Kim
- Correspondence: (H.K.); (M.K.); Tel.: +82-42-860-7130 (H.K.); +82-42-860-7540 (M.K.)
| | | | | | - Meehyein Kim
- Correspondence: (H.K.); (M.K.); Tel.: +82-42-860-7130 (H.K.); +82-42-860-7540 (M.K.)
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47
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Mani N, Cole AG, Phelps JR, Ardzinski A, Burns R, Chiu T, Cuconati A, Dorsey BD, Evangelista E, Fan K, Guo F, Harasym TO, Kadhim S, Kowalski R, Kultgen SG, Lee ACH, Li AH, Majeski SA, Miller A, Pasetka C, Reid SP, Rijnbrand R, Micolochick Steuer HM, Stever K, Tang S, Teng X, Wang X, Sofia MJ. Preclinical characterization of AB-506, an inhibitor of HBV replication targeting the viral core protein. Antiviral Res 2021; 197:105211. [PMID: 34826506 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AB-506, a small-molecule inhibitor targeting the HBV core protein, inhibits viral replication in vitro (HepAD38 cells: EC50 of 0.077 μM, CC50 > 25 μM) and in vivo (HBV mouse model: ∼3.0 log10 reductions in serum HBV DNA compared to the vehicle control). Binding of AB-506 to HBV core protein accelerates capsid assembly and inhibits HBV pgRNA encapsidation. Furthermore, AB-506 blocks cccDNA establishment in HBV-infected HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cells and primary human hepatocytes, leading to inhibition of viral RNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg production (EC50 from 0.64 μM to 1.92 μM). AB-506 demonstrated activity across HBV genotypes A-H and maintains antiviral activity against nucleos(t)ide analog-resistant variants in vitro. Evaluation of AB-506 against a panel of core variants showed that T33N/Q substitutions results in >200-fold increase in EC50 values, while L30F, L37Q, and I105T substitutions showed an 8 to 20-fold increase in EC50 values in comparison to the wild-type. In vitro combinations of AB-506 with NAs or an RNAi agent were additive to moderately synergistic. AB-506 exhibits good oral bioavailability, systemic exposure, and higher liver to plasma ratios in rodents, a pharmacokinetic profile supporting clinical development for chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagraj Mani
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA.
| | - Andrew G Cole
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Janet R Phelps
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Andrzej Ardzinski
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Robbin Burns
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Tim Chiu
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Andrea Cuconati
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Bruce D Dorsey
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Ellen Evangelista
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Kristi Fan
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Fang Guo
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Troy O Harasym
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Salam Kadhim
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Roseann Kowalski
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Steven G Kultgen
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Amy C H Lee
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Alice H Li
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Sara A Majeski
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Angela Miller
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Chris Pasetka
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Stephen P Reid
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Rene Rijnbrand
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | | | - Kim Stever
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Sunny Tang
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Xiaowei Teng
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Xiaohe Wang
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Michael J Sofia
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
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Liu H, Cheng J, Viswanathan U, Chang J, Lu F, Guo JT. Amino acid residues at core protein dimer-dimer interface modulate multiple steps of hepatitis B virus replication and HBeAg biogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010057. [PMID: 34752483 PMCID: PMC8604296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The core protein (Cp) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) assembles pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) and viral DNA polymerase to form nucleocapsids where the reverse transcriptional viral DNA replication takes place. Core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs) inhibit HBV replication by binding to a hydrophobic "HAP" pocket at Cp dimer-dimer interfaces to misdirect the assembly of Cp dimers into aberrant or morphologically "normal" capsids devoid of pgRNA. We report herein that a panel of CpAM-resistant Cp with single amino acid substitution of residues at the dimer-dimer interface not only disrupted pgRNA packaging, but also compromised nucleocapsid envelopment, virion infectivity and covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA biosynthesis. Interestingly, these mutations also significantly reduced the secretion of HBeAg. Biochemical analysis revealed that the CpAM-resistant mutations in the context of precore protein (p25) did not affect the levels of p22 produced by signal peptidase removal of N-terminal 19 amino acid residues, but significantly reduced p17, which is produced by furin cleavage of C-terminal arginine-rich domain of p22 and secreted as HBeAg. Interestingly, p22 existed as both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated forms. While the unphosphorylated p22 is in the membranous secretary organelles and the precursor of HBeAg, p22 in the cytosol and nuclei is hyperphosphorylated at the C-terminal arginine-rich domain and interacts with Cp to disrupt capsid assembly and viral DNA replication. The results thus indicate that in addition to nucleocapsid assembly, interaction of Cp at dimer-dimer interface also plays important roles in the production and infectivity of progeny virions through modulation of nucleocapsid envelopment and uncoating. Similar interaction at reduced p17 dimer-dimer interface appears to be important for its metabolic stability and sensitivity to CpAM suppression of HBeAg secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Junjun Cheng
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Usha Viswanathan
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jinhong Chang
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Fengmin Lu
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (FL); (J-TG)
| | - Ju-Tao Guo
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (FL); (J-TG)
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Delphin M, Desmares M, Schuehle S, Heikenwalder M, Durantel D, Faure-Dupuy S. How to get away with liver innate immunity? A viruses' tale. Liver Int 2021; 41:2547-2559. [PMID: 34520597 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In their never-ending quest towards persistence within their host, hepatitis viruses have developed numerous ways to counteract the liver innate immunity. This review highlights the different and common mechanisms employed by these viruses to (i) establish in the liver (passive entry or active evasion from immune recognition) and (ii) actively inhibit the innate immune response (ie modulation of pattern recognition receptor expression and/or signalling pathways, modulation of interferon response and modulation of immune cells count or phenotype).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Delphin
- International Center for Infectiology Research (CIRI), INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université de Lyon (UCBL1), Lyon, France
| | - Manon Desmares
- International Center for Infectiology Research (CIRI), INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université de Lyon (UCBL1), Lyon, France
| | - Svenja Schuehle
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Durantel
- International Center for Infectiology Research (CIRI), INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université de Lyon (UCBL1), Lyon, France.,DEVweCAN Laboratory of Excellence, Lyon, France
| | - Suzanne Faure-Dupuy
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Niklasch M, Zimmermann P, Nassal M. The Hepatitis B Virus Nucleocapsid-Dynamic Compartment for Infectious Virus Production and New Antiviral Target. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1577. [PMID: 34829806 PMCID: PMC8615760 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111577] [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: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small enveloped DNA virus which replicates its tiny 3.2 kb genome by reverse transcription inside an icosahedral nucleocapsid, formed by a single ~180 amino acid capsid, or core, protein (Cp). HBV causes chronic hepatitis B (CHB), a severe liver disease responsible for nearly a million deaths each year. Most of HBV's only seven primary gene products are multifunctional. Though less obvious than for the multi-domain polymerase, P protein, this is equally crucial for Cp with its multiple roles in the viral life-cycle. Cp provides a stable genome container during extracellular phases, allows for directed intracellular genome transport and timely release from the capsid, and subsequent assembly of new nucleocapsids around P protein and the pregenomic (pg) RNA, forming a distinct compartment for reverse transcription. These opposing features are enabled by dynamic post-transcriptional modifications of Cp which result in dynamic structural alterations. Their perturbation by capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) is a promising new antiviral concept. CAMs inappropriately accelerate assembly and/or distort the capsid shell. We summarize the functional, biochemical, and structural dynamics of Cp, and discuss the therapeutic potential of CAMs based on clinical data. Presently, CAMs appear as a valuable addition but not a substitute for existing therapies. However, as part of rational combination therapies CAMs may bring the ambitious goal of a cure for CHB closer to reality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael Nassal
- Internal Medicine II/Molecular Biology, University Hospital Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany; (M.N.); (P.Z.)
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