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Domovitz T, Ayoub S, Werbner M, Alter J, Izhaki Tavor L, Yahalom-Ronen Y, Tikhonov E, Meirson T, Maman Y, Paran N, Israely T, Dessau M, Gal-Tanamy M. HCV Infection Increases the Expression of ACE2 Receptor, Leading to Enhanced Entry of Both HCV and SARS-CoV-2 into Hepatocytes and a Coinfection State. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0115022. [PMID: 36314945 PMCID: PMC9769977 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01150-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest the enhancement of liver injury in COVID-19 patients infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatocytes express low levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor, raising the possibility of HCV-SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in the liver. This work aimed to explore whether HCV and SARS-CoV-2 coinfect hepatocytes and the interplay between these viruses. We demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 coinfects HCV-infected Huh7.5 (Huh7.5HCV) cells. Both viruses replicated efficiently in the coinfected cells, with HCV replication enhanced in coinfected compared to HCV-mono-infected cells. Strikingly, Huh7.5HCV cells were eight fold more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses than naive Huh7.5 cells, suggesting enhanced SARS-CoV-2 entry into HCV-preinfected hepatocytes. In addition, we observed increased binding of spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein to Huh7.5HCV cells, as well as enhanced cell-to-cell fusion of Huh7.5HCV cells with spike-expressing Huh7.5 cells. We explored the mechanism of enhanced SARS-CoV-2 entry and identified an increased ACE2 mRNA and protein levels in Huh7.5HCV cells, primary hepatocytes, and in data from infected liver biopsies obtained from database. Importantly, higher expression of ACE2 increased HCV infection by enhancing its binding to the host cell, underscoring its role in the HCV life cycle as well. Transcriptome analysis revealed that shared host signaling pathways were induced in HCV-SARS-CoV-2 coinfection. This study revealed complex interactions between HCV and SARS-CoV-2 infections in hepatocytes, which may lead to the increased liver damage recently reported in HCV-positive COVID-19 patients. IMPORTANCE Here, we provide the first experimental evidence for the coexistence of SARS-CoV-2 infection with HCV, and the interplay between them. The study revealed a complex relationship of enhancement between the two viruses, where HCV infection increased the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2, thus facilitating SARS-CoV-2 entry, and potentially, also HCV entry. Thereafter, SARS-CoV-2 infection enhanced HCV replication in hepatocytes. This study may explain the aggravation of liver damage that was recently reported in COVID-19 patients with HCV coinfection and suggests preinfection with HCV as a risk factor for severe COVID-19. Moreover, it highlights the possible importance of HCV treatment for coinfected patients. In a broader view, these findings emphasize the importance of identifying coinfecting pathogens that increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and that may accelerate COVID-19-related co-morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Domovitz
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Samer Ayoub
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Michal Werbner
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Joel Alter
- The Laboratory of Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Lee Izhaki Tavor
- The Laboratory of Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Yfat Yahalom-Ronen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Evgeny Tikhonov
- The Lab of Genomic Instability and Cancer, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Tomer Meirson
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
- Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Yaakov Maman
- The Lab of Genomic Instability and Cancer, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Nir Paran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Tomer Israely
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Moshe Dessau
- The Laboratory of Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Meital Gal-Tanamy
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
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Effect of alcohol exposure on the efficacy and safety of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, a major medicine against human immunodeficiency virus. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 204:115224. [PMID: 36007574 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115224] [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: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major health concern. AIDS-related deaths (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) have decreased recently, but chronic liver disease is now a major cause of mortality among HIV patients. Widespread alcohol use is recognized to be a major contributing factor. Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), one of the most used HIV drugs, requires hydrolysis followed by phosphorylation to produce tenofovir diphosphate, the ultimate anti-HIV metabolite. Carboxylesterase-1 (CES1), established to hydrolyze TAF, is known to catalyze transesterification in the presence of ethanol. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that metabolism-based interactions between TAF and ethanol negatively impact both efficacy and safety of TAF. To test this hypothesis, the metabolism of TAF was determined in human primary hepatocytes and with a large number of human liver samples (S9 fractions) in the presence or absence of ethanol. The metabolism was monitored by LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry) and the level of CES1 or CES2 was determined by Western blotting. Consistent with the hypothesis, TAF underwent transesterification in the presence of ethanol accompanied by decreased hydrolysis. The formation of tenofovir diphosphate (the therapeutically active metabolite) was significantly decreased. In addition, TAF but not its hydrolytic metabolite, was found to increase intracellular lipid retention, and the increase was enhanced by ethanol. These findings conclude that alcohol consumption, beyond commonly accepted poor adherence to HIV medications, directly impacts the efficacy and safety of TAF.
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Abarca JC, Huerta L, Fierro NA. Antiretroviral Therapies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Liver Disease: Challenges and opportunities. Ann Hepatol 2021; 19:121-122. [PMID: 32138869 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The post antiretroviral therapy (ART) era for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection resulted in a dramatically increased proportion of deaths attributed to liver-related causes in patients with HIV treated with ART. Additionally, as patients become older as a result of effective ART, liver-related conditions and application of safe therapies are now major concerns in the setting of HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio C Abarca
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
| | - Leonor Huerta
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
| | - Nora A Fierro
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico.
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