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Lee J, Gil D, Park H, Lee Y, Mun SJ, Shin Y, Jo E, Windisch MP, Kim JH, Son MJ. A multicellular liver organoid model for investigating hepatitis C virus infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease progression. Hepatology 2024; 80:186-201. [PMID: 37976400 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HCV infection can be successfully managed with antiviral therapies; however, progression to chronic liver disease states, including NAFLD, is common. There is currently no reliable in vitro model for investigating host-viral interactions underlying the link between HCV and NAFLD; although liver organoids (LOs) show promise, they currently lack nonparenchymal cells, which are key to modeling disease progression. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we present a novel, multicellular LO model using a coculture system of macrophages and LOs differentiated from the same human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). The cocultured macrophages shifted toward a Kupffer-like cell type, the liver-resident macrophages present in vivo , providing a suitable model for investigating NAFLD pathogenesis. With this multicellular Kupffer-like cell-containing LO model, we found that HCV infection led to lipid accumulation in LOs by upregulating host lipogenesis, which was more marked with macrophage coculture. Reciprocally, long-term treatment of LOs with fatty acids upregulated HCV amplification and promoted inflammation and fibrosis. Notably, in our Kupffer-like cell-containing LO model, the effects of 3 drugs for NASH that have reached phase 3 clinical trials exhibited consistent results with the clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, we introduced a multicellular LO model consisting of hepatocytes, Kupffer-like cells, and HSCs, which recapitulated host-virus intercommunication and intercellular interactions. With this novel model, we present a physiologically relevant system for the investigation of NAFLD progression in patients with HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeseo Lee
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dayeon Gil
- Korea National Stem Cell Bank, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chronic Diseases Convergence Research, Division of Intractable Diseases Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeyeon Park
- Korea National Stem Cell Bank, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chronic Diseases Convergence Research, Division of Intractable Diseases Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsun Lee
- Korea National Stem Cell Bank, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chronic Diseases Convergence Research, Division of Intractable Diseases Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon Ju Mun
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongbo Shin
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, Korea University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunji Jo
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institute Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Marc P Windisch
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institute Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hyun Kim
- Korea National Stem Cell Bank, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chronic Diseases Convergence Research, Division of Intractable Diseases Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Jin Son
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, Korea University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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Kumari S, Kessel A, Singhal D, Kaur G, Bern D, Lemay-St-Denis C, Singh J, Jain S. Computational identification of a multi-peptide vaccine candidate in E2 glycoprotein against diverse Hepatitis C virus genotypes. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:11044-11061. [PMID: 37194293 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2212777] [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: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is estimated to affect nearly 180 million people worldwide, culminating in ∼0.7 million yearly casualties. However, a safe vaccine against HCV is not yet available. This study endeavored to identify a multi-genotypic, multi-epitopic, safe, and globally competent HCV vaccine candidate. We employed a consensus epitope prediction strategy to identify multi-epitopic peptides in all known envelope glycoprotein (E2) sequences, belonging to diverse HCV genotypes. The obtained peptides were screened for toxicity, allergenicity, autoimmunity and antigenicity, resulting in two favorable peptides viz., P2 (VYCFTPSPVVVG) and P3 (YRLWHYPCTV). Evolutionary conservation analysis indicated that P2 and P3 are highly conserved, supporting their use as part of a designed multi-genotypic vaccine. Population coverage analysis revealed that P2 and P3 are likely to be presented by >89% Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules from six geographical regions. Indeed, molecular docking predicted the physical binding of P2 and P3 to various representative HLAs. We designed a vaccine construct using these peptides and assessed its binding to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) by molecular docking and simulation. Subsequent analysis by energy-based and machine learning tools predicted high binding affinity and pinpointed the key binding residues (i.e. hotspots) in P2 and P3. Also, a favorable immunogenic profile of the construct was predicted by immune simulations. We encourage the scientific community to validate our vaccine construct in vitro and in vivo.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Kumari
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Amit Kessel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Divya Singhal
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Gurpreet Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, Punjab, India
| | - David Bern
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Claudèle Lemay-St-Denis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- PROTEO, The Québec Network for Research on Protein, Function, Engineering and Applications, Québec, QC, Canada
- CGCC, Center in Green Chemistry and Catalysis, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jasdeep Singh
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Sahil Jain
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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3
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Ameya G, Birri DJ. The molecular mechanisms of virus-induced human cancers. Microb Pathog 2023; 183:106292. [PMID: 37557930 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a serious public health problem globally. Many human cancers are induced by viruses. Understanding of the mechanisms by which oncogenic (tumorigenic) viruses induce cancer is essential in the prevention and control of cancer. This review covers comprehensive characteristics and molecular mechanisms of the main virus-attributed cancers caused by human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus type 8, human T-cell lymphotropic virus, human polyomaviruses, Merkel cell polyomavirus, and HIV. Oncogenic viruses employ biological processes to replicate and avoid detection by host cell immune systems. Tumorigenic infectious agents activate oncogenes in a variety of ways, allowing the pathogen to block host tumour suppressor proteins, inhibit apoptosis, enhance cell proliferation, and promote invasion of host cells. Furthermore, this review assesses many pathways of viruses linked to cancer, including host cellular communication perturbation, DNA damage mechanisms, immunity, and microRNA targets that promote the beginning and progression of cancer. The current cancer prevention is primarily focused on non-communicable diseases, but infection-attributable cancer also needs attention to significantly reduce the rising cancer burden and related deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemechu Ameya
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kotebe Metropolitan University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dagim Jirata Birri
- Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Augmentation of 3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24 Reductase (DHCR24) Expression Induced by Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Infection Facilitates Viral Replication via Promoting Cholesterol Synthesis. J Virol 2022; 96:e0149222. [PMID: 36468862 PMCID: PMC9769396 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01492-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is the etiologic agent of bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease, one of the most important viral diseases of cattle, leading to numerous losses to the cattle rearing industry worldwide. The pathogenicity of BVDV is extremely complex, and many underlying mechanisms involved in BVDV-host interactions are poorly understood, especially how BVDV utilizes host metabolism pathway for efficient viral replication and spread. In our previous study, using an integrative analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics, we found that DHCR24 (3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24 reductase), a key enzyme in regulating cholesterol synthesis, was significantly upregulated at both gene and protein levels in the BVDV-infected bovine cells, indicating that cholesterol is important for BVDV replication. In the present study, the effects of DHCR24-mediated cholesterol synthesis on BVDV replication was explored. Our results showed that overexpression of the DHCR24 effectively promoted cholesterol synthesis, as well as BVDV replication, while acute cholesterol depletion in the bovine cells by treating cells with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) obviously inhibited BVDV replication. In addition, knockdown of DHCR24 (gene silencing with siRNA targeting DHCR24, siDHCR24) or chemical inhibition (treating bovine cells with U18666A, an inhibitor of DHCR24 activity and cholesterol synthesis) significantly suppressed BVDV replication, whereas supplementation with exogenous cholesterol to the siDHCR24-transfected or U18666A-treated bovine cells remarkably restored viral replication. We further confirmed that BVDV nonstructural protein NS5A contributed to the augmentation of DHCR24 expression. Conclusively, augmentation of the DHCR24 induced by BVDV infection plays an important role in BVDV replication via promoting cholesterol production. IMPORTANCE Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), an important pathogen of cattle, is the causative agent of bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease, which causes extensive economic losses in both cow- and beef-rearing industry worldwide. The molecular interactions between BVDV and its host are extremely complex. In our previous study, we found that an essential host factor 3β-hydroxysteroid-δ24 reductase (DHCR24), a key enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, was significantly upregulated at both gene and protein levels in BVDV-infected bovine cells. Here, we experimentally explored the function of the DHCR24-mediated cholesterol synthesis in regulating BVDV replication. We elucidated that the augmentation of the DHCR24 induced by BVDV infection played a significant role in viral replication via promoting cholesterol synthesis. Our data provide evidence that BVDV utilizes a host metabolism pathway to facilitate its replication and spread.
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Maligłówka M, Kosowski M, Hachuła M, Cyrnek M, Bułdak Ł, Basiak M, Bołdys A, Machnik G, Bułdak RJ, Okopień B. Insight into the Evolving Role of PCSK9. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12030256. [PMID: 35323699 PMCID: PMC8951079 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12030256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is the last discovered member of the family of proprotein convertases (PCs), mainly synthetized in hepatic cells. This serine protease plays a pivotal role in the reduction of the number of low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs) on the surface of hepatocytes, which leads to an increase in the level of cholesterol in the blood. This mechanism and the fact that gain of function (GOF) mutations in PCSK9 are responsible for causing familial hypercholesterolemia whereas loss-of-function (LOF) mutations are associated with hypocholesterolemia, prompted the invention of drugs that block PCSK9 action. The high efficiency of PCSK9 inhibitors (e.g., alirocumab, evolocumab) in decreasing cardiovascular risk, pleiotropic effects of other lipid-lowering drugs (e.g., statins) and the multifunctional character of other proprotein convertases, were the cause for proceeding studies on functions of PCSK9 beyond cholesterol metabolism. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge on the roles that PCSK9 plays in different tissues and perspectives for its clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Maligłówka
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Michał Kosowski
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
| | - Marcin Hachuła
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
| | - Marcin Cyrnek
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
| | - Łukasz Bułdak
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
| | - Marcin Basiak
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
| | - Aleksandra Bołdys
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
| | - Grzegorz Machnik
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
| | - Rafał Jakub Bułdak
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, 45-040 Opole, Poland;
| | - Bogusław Okopień
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (M.K.); (M.H.); (M.C.); (Ł.B.); (M.B.); (A.B.); (G.M.); (B.O.)
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Molecular cloning and characterization of NPC1L1 in the Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis). Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:7975-7984. [PMID: 34716864 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06829-5] [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: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 protein, a multi-transmembrane domain molecule, is critical for intestinal cholesterol absorption, and is the entry factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV). The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is closer to primates in terms of genetic evolution than rodents. Previous studies indicated that the tree shrew was suitable for HCV research; however, little is known about tree shrew NPC1L1. METHODS AND RESULTS TsNPC1L1 cDNA was amplified by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technology. The cDNA sequence, its encoded protein structure, and expression profile were analyzed. Results indicated that the tsNPC1L1 mRNA is 4948 bp in length and encodes a 1326 amino acid protein. TsNPC1L1 possesses 84.97% identity in homology to human NPC1L1 which is higher than both mouse (80.37%) and rat (81.80%). The protein structure was also similar to human with 13 conserved transmembrane helices, and a sterol-sensing domain (SSD). Like human NPC1L1, the tsNPC1L1 mRNA transcript is highly expressed in small intestine, but it was also well-expressed in the lung and pancreas of the tree shrew. CONCLUSION The homology of tree shrew NPC1L1 was closer to human than that of rodent NPC1L1. The expression of tsNPC1L1 was the highest in small intestine, and was detectable in lung and pancreas. These results may be useful in the study of tsNPC1L1 function in cholesterol absorption and HCV infection.
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Pasharawipas T. Different Aspects Concerning Viral Infection and the Role of MHC Molecules in Viral Prevention. Open Microbiol J 2021. [DOI: 10.2174/1874285802115010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules play a crucial role in inducing an adaptive immune response. T-cell epitopes require compatible MHC molecules to form MHC-peptide Complexes (pMHC) that activate the T-cell Receptors (TCR) of T-lymphocyte clones. MHCs are polymorphic molecules with wide varieties of gene alleles. There are two classes of MHC molecules, class I and II. Both classes have three classical loci HLA-A, -B, and –C are present in class I and HLA-DP, -DQ, and -DR in class II. To induce a compatible T-lymphocyte clone, the T-cell epitope requires the association of the compatible MHC molecule to form pMHC. Each MHC variant possesses a different groove that is capable of binding a different range of antigenic epitopes. Without the compatible MHC molecule, a T cell clone cannot be activated by a particular viral epitope. With the aim of preventing viral transmission, the efficiency of a viral vaccine is related to the existence of specific MHC alleles in the individual. This article proposes the roles of the MHC molecule to prevent viral infection. In addition, the association of the viral receptor molecule with the viral infection will also be discussed.
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Magnasco L, Sepulcri C, Antonello RM, Di Bella S, Labate L, Luzzati R, Giacobbe DR, Bassetti M. The role of PCSK9 in infectious diseases. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:1000-1015. [PMID: 34269657 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210714160343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, many aspects of the physiological role of PCSK9 have been elucidated, particularly regarding its role in lipid metabolism, cardiovascular risk, and its role in innate immunity. Increasing evidence is available about the involvement of PCSK9 in the pathogenesis of viral infections, mainly HCV, and the regulation of host response to bacterial infections, primarily sepsis and septic shock. Moreover, the action of PCSK9 has been investigated as a crucial step in the pathogenesis of malaria infection and disease severity. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to review the available published literature on the role of PCSK9 in a wide array of infectious diseases. CONCLUSION Besides the ongoing investigation on PCSK9 inhibition among HIV-infected patients to treat HIV- and ART-related hyperlipidemia, preclinical studies indicate how PCSK9 is involved in reducing the replication of HCV. Interestingly, high plasmatic PCSK9 levels have been described in patients with sepsis. Moreover, a protective role of PCSK9 inhibition has also been proposed against dengue and SARS-CoV-2 viral infections. Finally, a loss of function in the PCSK9-encoding gene has been reported to reduce malaria infection mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Magnasco
- Infectious Diseases Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital - IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Chiara Sepulcri
- Infectious Diseases Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital - IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Laura Labate
- Infectious Diseases Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital - IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberto Luzzati
- Clinical Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Bassetti
- Infectious Diseases Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital - IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
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9
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Elpek GO. Molecular pathways in viral hepatitis-associated liver carcinogenesis: An update. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9:4890-4917. [PMID: 34307543 PMCID: PMC8283590 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i19.4890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of cancer among primary malignant tumors of the liver and is a consequential cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In recent years, uncovering the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and behavior of this tumor has led to the identification of multiple potential treatment targets. Despite the vast amount of data on this topic, HCC remains a challenging tumor to treat due to its aggressive behavior and complex molecular profile. Therefore, the number of studies aiming to elucidate the mechanisms involved in both carcinogenesis and tumor progression in HCC continues to increase. In this context, the close association of HCC with viral hepatitis has led to numerous studies focusing on the direct or indirect involvement of viruses in the mechanisms contributing to tumor development and behavior. In line with these efforts, this review was undertaken to highlight the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) participate in oncogenesis and tumor progression in HCC and summarize new findings. Cumulative evidence indicates that HBV DNA integration promotes genomic instability, resulting in the overexpression of genes related to cancer development, metastasis, and angiogenesis or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. In addition, genetic variations in HBV itself, especially preS2 deletions, may play a role in malignant transformation. Epigenetic dysregulation caused by both viruses might also contribute to tumor formation and metastasis by modifying the methylation of DNA and histones or altering the expression of microRNAs. Similarly, viral proteins of both HBV and HCV can affect pathways that are important anticancer targets. The effects of these two viruses on the Hippo-Yap-Taz pathway in HCC development and behavior need to be investigated. Additional, comprehensive studies are also needed to determine these viruses' interaction with integrins, farnesoid X, and the apelin system in malignant transformation and tumor progression. Although the relationship of persistent inflammation caused by HBV and HCV hepatitis with carcinogenesis is well defined, further studies are warranted to decipher the relationship among inflammasomes and viruses in carcinogenesis and elucidate the role of virus-microbiota interactions in HCC development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulsum Ozlem Elpek
- Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University Medical School, Antalya 07070, Turkey
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Beaudoin CA, Jamasb AR, Alsulami AF, Copoiu L, van Tonder AJ, Hala S, Bannerman BP, Thomas SE, Vedithi SC, Torres PH, Blundell TL. Predicted structural mimicry of spike receptor-binding motifs from highly pathogenic human coronaviruses. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3938-3953. [PMID: 34234921 PMCID: PMC8249111 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.06.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Potential coronavirus spike protein mimicry revealed by structural comparison. Human and non-human protein potential interactions with virus identified. Predicted structural mimicry corroborated by protein–protein docking. Epitope-based alignments may help guide vaccine efforts.
Viruses often encode proteins that mimic host proteins in order to facilitate infection. Little work has been done to understand the potential mimicry of the SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV spike proteins, particularly the receptor-binding motifs, which could be important in determining tropism and druggability of the virus. Peptide and epitope motifs have been detected on coronavirus spike proteins using sequence homology approaches; however, comparing the three-dimensional shape of the protein has been shown as more informative in predicting mimicry than sequence-based comparisons. Here, we use structural bioinformatics software to characterize potential mimicry of the three coronavirus spike protein receptor-binding motifs. We utilize sequence-independent alignment tools to compare structurally known protein models with the receptor-binding motifs and verify potential mimicked interactions with protein docking simulations. Both human and non-human proteins were returned for all three receptor-binding motifs. For example, all three were similar to several proteins containing EGF-like domains: some of which are endogenous to humans, such as thrombomodulin, and others exogenous, such as Plasmodium falciparum MSP-1. Similarity to human proteins may reveal which pathways the spike protein is co-opting, while analogous non-human proteins may indicate shared host interaction partners and overlapping antibody cross-reactivity. These findings can help guide experimental efforts to further understand potential interactions between human and coronavirus proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Beaudoin
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Corresponding authors.
| | - Arian R. Jamasb
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Department of Computer Science & Technology, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge CB3 0FD, United Kingdom
| | - Ali F. Alsulami
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Liviu Copoiu
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Andries J. van Tonder
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - Sharif Hala
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre – Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bridget P. Bannerman
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Sherine E. Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Sundeep Chaitanya Vedithi
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro H.M. Torres
- Laboratório de Modelagem e Dinâmica Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tom L. Blundell
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Corresponding authors.
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D'souza S, Lau KCK, Coffin CS, Patel TR. Molecular mechanisms of viral hepatitis induced hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2020; 26:5759-5783. [PMID: 33132633 PMCID: PMC7579760 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i38.5759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection with viral hepatitis affects half a billion individuals worldwide and can lead to cirrhosis, cancer, and liver failure. Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-associated mortality, of which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. Solid tumors like HCC are complex and have heterogeneous tumor genomic profiles contributing to complexity in diagnosis and management. Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the greatest etiological risk factors for HCC. Due to the significant role of chronic viral infection in HCC development, it is important to investigate direct (viral associated) and indirect (immune-associated) mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HCC. Common mechanisms used by HBV, HCV, and HDV that drive hepatocarcinogenesis include persistent liver inflammation with an impaired antiviral immune response, immune and viral protein-mediated oxidative stress, and deregulation of cellular signaling pathways by viral proteins. DNA integration to promote genome instability is a feature of HBV infection, and metabolic reprogramming leading to steatosis is driven by HCV infection. The current review aims to provide a brief overview of HBV, HCV and HDV molecular biology, and highlight specific viral-associated oncogenic mechanisms and common molecular pathways deregulated in HCC, and current as well as emerging treatments for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simmone D'souza
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, AB, Canada
| | - Keith CK Lau
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, AB, Canada
| | - Carla S Coffin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, AB, Canada
| | - Trushar R Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, AB, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge T1K3M4, AB, Canada
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12
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Proteomic study of hypothalamus in pigs exposed to heat stress. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:286. [PMID: 32787853 PMCID: PMC7424663 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02505-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With evidence of warming climates, it is important to understand the effects of heat stress in farm animals in order to minimize production losses. Studying the changes in the brain proteome induced by heat stress may aid in understanding how heat stress affects brain function. The hypothalamus is a critical region in the brain that controls the pituitary gland, which is responsible for the secretion of several important hormones. In this study, we examined the hypothalamic protein profile of 10 pigs (15 ± 1 kg body weight), with five subjected to heat stress (35 ± 1 °C; relative humidity = 90%) and five acting as controls (28 ± 3 °C; RH = 90%). Result The isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) analysis of the hypothalamus identified 1710 peptides corresponding to 360 proteins, including 295 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), 148 of which were up-regulated and 147 down-regulated, in heat-stressed animals. The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software predicted 30 canonical pathways, four functional groups, and four regulatory networks of interest. The DEPs were mainly concentrated in the cytoskeleton of the pig hypothalamus during heat stress. Conclusions In this study, heat stress significantly increased the body temperature and reduced daily gain of body weight in pigs. Furthermore, we identified 295 differentially expressed proteins, 147 of which were down-regulated and 148 up-regulated in hypothalamus of heat stressed pigs. The IPA showed that the DEPs identified in the study are involved in cell death and survival, cellular assembly and organization, and cellular function and maintenance, in relation to neurological disease, metabolic disease, immunological disease, inflammatory disease, and inflammatory response. We hypothesize that a malfunction of the hypothalamus may destroy the host physical and immune function, resulting in decreased growth performance and immunosuppression in heat stressed pigs.
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13
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Fleischmann D, Maslanka Figueroa S, Beck S, Abstiens K, Witzgall R, Schweda F, Tauber P, Goepferich A. Adenovirus-Mimetic Nanoparticles: Sequential Ligand-Receptor Interplay as a Universal Tool for Enhanced In Vitro/ In Vivo Cell Identification. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:34689-34702. [PMID: 32639709 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c10057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Viral infection patterns often rely on precisely coordinated sequences of distinct ligand-receptor interactions, leading in many cases to an outstanding target cell specificity. A successful mimicry of viral targeting strategies to create more site-specific nanoparticles (NPs) would therefore require particle-cell interactions to also be adequately controllable. In the present study, hetero-multivalent block-copolymer NPs present their attached ligands in a sterically controlled manner to create a sequential NP-cell interaction similar to the cell infiltration strategy of human adenovirus type 2. Targeting renal mesangial cells, particles therefore initially bind angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1r) on the cell surface via a structurally flexible AT1r antagonist. After a mandatory spatial approach, particle endocytosis is realized via binding of immobile αVβ3 integrins with a previously concealed secondary ligand, thereby creating a stepwise particle-cell interplay of primary NP attachment and subsequent uptake. Manufactured adenovirus-mimetic NPs show great avidity for both target motifs in vitro, leading to a substantial binding as well as subsequent cell uptake into target mesangial cells. Additionally, steric shielding of secondary ligand visibility leads to a highly controllable, sequential ligand-receptor interaction, whereby hetero-functional NPs activate mesangial cell surface integrins only after a successful prior binding to the AT1r. This stepwise cell identification significantly enhances mesangial cell specificity in co-culture assays with different off-target cells. Additionally, described NPs display excellent in vivo robustness by efficiently accumulating in the mesangium upon injection, thereby opening new paths for possible drug delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fleischmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sara Maslanka Figueroa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Beck
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Abstiens
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Witzgall
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Frank Schweda
- Department of Physiology II, Institute for Physiology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Tauber
- Department of Physiology II, Institute for Physiology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Achim Goepferich
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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14
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Heterogeneity and coexistence of oncogenic mechanisms involved in HCV-associated B-cell lymphomas. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019; 138:156-171. [PMID: 31092372 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The association of HCV-infection with B-lymphomas is supported by the regression of most indolent/low-grade lymphomas following anti-viral therapy. Studies on direct and indirect oncogenic mechanisms have elucidated the pathogenesis of HCV-associated B-lymphoma subtypes. These include B-lymphocyte proliferation and sustained clonal expansion by HCV-envelope protein stimulation of B-cell receptors, and prolonged HCV-infected B-cell growth by overexpression of an anti-apoptotic BCL-2 oncogene caused by the increased frequency of t(14;18) chromosomal translocations in follicular lymphomas. HCV has been implicated in lymphomagenesis by a "hit-and-run" mechanism, inducing enhanced mutation rate in immunoglobulins and anti-oncogenes favoring immune escape, due to permanent genetic damage by double-strand DNA-breaks. More direct oncogenic mechanisms have been identified in cytokines and chemokines in relation to NS3 and Core expression, particularly in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. By reviewing genetic alterations and disrupted signaling pathways, we intend to highlight how mutually non-contrasting mechanisms cooperate with environmental factors toward progression of HCV-lymphoma.
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15
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Vieyres G, Pietschmann T. HCV Pit Stop at the Lipid Droplet: Refuel Lipids and Put on a Lipoprotein Coat before Exit. Cells 2019; 8:cells8030233. [PMID: 30871009 PMCID: PMC6468556 DOI: 10.3390/cells8030233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The replication cycle of the liver-tropic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is tightly connected to the host lipid metabolism, during the virus entry, replication, assembly and egress stages, but also while the virus circulates in the bloodstream. This interplay coins viral particle properties, governs viral cell tropism, and facilitates immune evasion. This review summarizes our knowledge of these interactions focusing on the late steps of the virus replication cycle. It builds on our understanding of the cell biology of lipid droplets and the biosynthesis of liver lipoproteins and attempts to explain how HCV hijacks these organelles and pathways to assemble its lipo-viro-particles. In particular, this review describes (i) the mechanisms of viral protein translocation to and from the lipid droplet surface and the orchestration of an interface between replication and assembly complexes, (ii) the importance of the triglyceride mobilization from the lipid droplets for HCV assembly, (iii) the interplay between HCV and the lipoprotein synthesis pathway including the role played by apolipoproteins in virion assembly, and finally (iv) the consequences of these complex virus–host interactions on the virion composition and its biophysical properties. The wealth of data accumulated in the past years on the role of the lipid metabolism in HCV assembly and its imprint on the virion properties will guide vaccine design efforts and reinforce our understanding of the hepatic lipid metabolism in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Vieyres
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 30625 Hannover, Germany.
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
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16
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Zając M, Muszalska I, Sobczak A, Dadej A, Tomczak S, Jelińska A. Hepatitis C - New drugs and treatment prospects. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 165:225-249. [PMID: 30685524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approx. 3% of the world's population and accounts for ca 300 000 deaths per year. 80% of individuals with HCV develop chronic symptoms which, when untreated, may cause cirrhosis (27%) or hepatocellular carcinoma (25%). The hepatitis C virus is a (+)ssRNA enveloped virus of the family Flaviviridae. Seven major HCV genotypes and their subtypes (a, b) have been identified. In the 1990s, interferons alpha-2 were used in the treatment of HCV and in the next decade HCV therapy was based on pegylated interferon alpha-2 in combination with ribavirin. Since 2011, interferons alpha, DNA and RNA polymerase inhibitors, NS3/4A RNA protease inhibitors, NS5 RNA serine protease inhibitors, NS5B RNA polymerase inhibitors have been approved for clinical use. Monotherapy is avoided in medication due to rapidly developing viral resistance. A total of 113 papers were included comprising original publications and reviews. The paper reviews the molecular targets and chemical structures of drugs used in HCV treatment. Indications and contraindications for anti-HCV drugs are also discussed together with application regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Zając
- Poznan University of Medicinal Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Grunwaldzka Str. 6, 60-780, Poznań, Poland
| | - Izabela Muszalska
- Poznan University of Medicinal Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Grunwaldzka Str. 6, 60-780, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Sobczak
- Poznan University of Medicinal Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Grunwaldzka Str. 6, 60-780, Poznań, Poland
| | - Adrianna Dadej
- Poznan University of Medicinal Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Grunwaldzka Str. 6, 60-780, Poznań, Poland
| | - Szymon Tomczak
- Poznan University of Medicinal Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Grunwaldzka Str. 6, 60-780, Poznań, Poland
| | - Anna Jelińska
- Poznan University of Medicinal Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Grunwaldzka Str. 6, 60-780, Poznań, Poland
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17
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Langlois AC, Marinach C, Manzoni G, Silvie O. Plasmodium sporozoites can invade hepatocytic cells independently of the Ephrin receptor A2. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200032. [PMID: 29975762 PMCID: PMC6033427 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporozoite forms of the malaria parasite Plasmodium are transmitted by mosquitoes and first infect the liver for an initial round of replication before parasite proliferation in the blood. The molecular mechanisms involved during sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes remain poorly understood. In previous studies, two receptors of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the tetraspanin CD81 and the Scavenger Receptor BI (SR-BI), were shown to play an important role during entry of Plasmodium sporozoites into hepatocytic cells. In contrast to HCV entry, which requires both CD81 and SR-BI together with additional host factors, CD81 and SR-BI operate independently during malaria liver infection, as sporozoites can use CD81 and/or SR-BI, depending on the Plasmodium species, to invade hepatocytes. However, the molecular function of CD81 and SR-BI during parasite entry remains unknown. Another HCV entry factor, the Ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2), was recently reported to play a key role as a host cell entry factor during malaria liver infection. Here, we investigated the contribution of EphA2 during CD81-dependent and SR-BI-dependent sporozoite infection. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antibodies against EphA2, combined with direct detection of parasites by flow cytometry or microscopy, we show that blocking EphA2 has no significant impact on P. yoelii or P. berghei host cell infection, irrespective of the entry route. Thus, our findings argue against an important role of EphA2 during malaria liver infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Claire Langlois
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Carine Marinach
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Giulia Manzoni
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
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18
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Abstract
Current evidence supports a protective role for virus-neutralizing antibodies in immunity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Many cross-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies have been identified. These antibodies have been shown to provide protection or to clear infection in animal models. Previous clinical trials have shown that a gpE1/gpE2 vaccine can induce antibodies that neutralize the in vitro infectivity of all the major cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc) genotypes around the world. However, cross-neutralization appeared to favor certain genotypes, with significant but lower neutralization against others. HCV may employ epitope masking to avoid antibody-mediated neutralization. Hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) at the amino terminus of glycoprotein E2 has been shown to restrict access to many neutralizing antibodies. Consistent with this, other groups have reported that recombinant viruses lacking HVR1 are hypersensitive to neutralization. It has been proposed that gpE1/gpE2 lacking this domain could be a better vaccine antigen to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies. In this study, we examined the immunogenicity of recombinant gpE1/gpE2 lacking HVR1 (ΔHVR1). Our results indicate that wild-type (WT) and ΔHVR1 gpE1/gpE2 antigens induced antibodies targeting many well-characterized cross-genotype-neutralizing epitopes. However, while the WT gpE1/gpE2 vaccine can induce cross-genotype protection against various genotypes of HCVcc and/or HCV-pseudotyped virus (HCVpp), antisera from ΔHVR1 gpE1/gpE2-immunized animals exhibited either reduced homologous neutralization activity compared to that of the WT or heterologous neutralization activity similar to that of the WT. These data suggest that ΔHVR1 gpE1/gpE2 is not a superior vaccine antigen. Based on previously reported chimpanzee protection data using WT gpE1/gpE2 and our current findings, we are preparing a combination vaccine including wild-type recombinant gpE1/gpE2 for clinical testing in the future. IMPORTANCE An HCV vaccine is an unmet medical need. Current evidence suggests that neutralizing antibodies play an important role in virus clearance, along with cellular immune responses. Previous clinical data showed that gpE1/gpE2 can effectively induce cross-neutralizing antibodies, although they favor certain genotypes. HCV employs HVR1 within gpE2 to evade host immune control. It has been hypothesized that the removal of this domain would improve the production of cross-neutralizing antibodies. In this study, we compared the immunogenicities of WT and ΔHVR1 gpE1/gpE2 antigens as vaccine candidates. Our results indicate that the ΔHVR1 gpE1/gpE2 antigen confers no advantages in the neutralization of HCV compared with the WT antigen. Previously, we showed that this WT antigen remains the only vaccine candidate to protect chimpanzees from chronic infection, contains multiple cross-neutralizing epitopes, and is well tolerated and immunogenic in humans. The current data support the further clinical development of this vaccine antigen component.
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19
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Wang Y, Wang J, Wu S, Zhu H. The unexpected structures of hepatitis C virus envelope proteins. Exp Ther Med 2017; 14:1859-1865. [PMID: 28962094 PMCID: PMC5609170 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2017.4745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins are essential not only for maintaining the viral life cycle, but also for evading the host's immune response and in clinical intervention. A thorough understanding of HCV envelope proteins depends on the availability of detailed structural information. Two crystal structures of the E2 core portion and of the E2 ectodomain, and one structure of the N-terminus of E1 ectodomain have shed new light on the complexity of HCV envelope proteins. In addition, the full-length E1-E2 complex has recently been modeled. The present review focuses on these advancements, introduces the recently solved structures and their biological implications and proposes novel ideas for studying the full-length E1-E2 complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| | - Haihong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
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20
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Khademi F, Momtazi-Borojeni AA, Reiner Ž, Banach M, Al-Rasadi KA, Sahebkar A. PCSK9 and infection: A potentially useful or dangerous association? J Cell Physiol 2017; 233:2920-2927. [PMID: 28574577 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration is the most important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a ubiquitously expressed serine proteinase which plays a key role in cholesterol metabolism, but has been found to be implicated in some other lipid-independent physiological processes. In this review, the role of PCSK9 was evaluated not only concerning lipid metabolism but also hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, bacterial infections/sepsis, and septic shock. Collected data from clinical trials revealed that treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors has beneficial effects in lowering LDL-C via inhibition of LDL-receptors (LDL-R), an antiviral effect on HCV infection via down-regulating the surface expression of LDL-R and CD81 on hepatic cells, and a positive association with increased inflammatory responses, as well as with septic shock by down-regulation of hepatocyte LDL-R. On the other hand, PCSK9 inhibition by therapeutic fully humanized antibodies has positive effects in reducing elevated LDL-C. However, their safety and tolerability is an important issue which has to be taken into consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Khademi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Amir Abbas Momtazi-Borojeni
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Željko Reiner
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maciej Banach
- Department of Hypertension, WAM University Hospital in Lodz, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.,Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute (PMMHRI), Lodz, Poland
| | - Khalid Al Al-Rasadi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
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21
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Zhang F, Sodroski C, Cha H, Li Q, Liang TJ. Infection of Hepatocytes With HCV Increases Cell Surface Levels of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans, Uptake of Cholesterol and Lipoprotein, and Virus Entry by Up-regulating SMAD6 and SMAD7. Gastroenterology 2017; 152:257-270.e7. [PMID: 27693511 PMCID: PMC5547743 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The signaling molecule and transcriptional regulator SMAD6, which inhibits the transforming growth factor β signaling pathway, is required for infection of hepatocytes by hepatitis C virus (HCV). We investigated the mechanisms by which SMAD6 and another inhibitory SMAD (SMAD7) promote HCV infection in human hepatoma cells and hepatocytes. METHODS We infected Huh7 and Huh7.5.1 cells and primary human hepatocytes with Japanese fulminant hepatitis-1 (JFH1) HCV cell culture system (HCVcc). We then measured HCV binding, intracellular levels of HCV RNA, and expression of target genes. We examined HCV entry in HepG2/microRNA (miR) 122/CD81 cells, which support entry and replication of HCV, were transfected these cells with small interfering RNAs targeting inhibitory SMADs to analyze gene expression profiles. Uptake of labeled low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol was measured. Cell surface proteins were quantified by flow cytometry. We obtained liver biopsy samples from 69 patients with chronic HCV infection and 19 uninfected individuals (controls) and measured levels of syndecan 1 (SDC1), SMAD7, and SMAD6 messenger RNAs (mRNAs). RESULTS Small interfering RNA knockdown of SMAD6 blocked the binding and infection of hepatoma cell lines and primary human hepatocytes by HCV, whereas SMAD6 overexpression increased HCV infection. We found levels of mRNAs encoding heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), particularly SDC1 mRNA, and cell surface levels of heparan sulfate to be reduced in cells after SMAD6 knockdown. SMAD6 knockdown also reduced transcription of genes encoding lipoprotein and cholesterol uptake receptors, including the LDL receptor (LDLR), the very LDLR, and the scavenger receptor class B member 1 in hepatocytes; knockdown of SMAD6 also inhibited cell uptake of cholesterol and lipoprotein. Overexpression of SMAD6 increased the expression of these genes. Similar effects were observed with knockdown and overexpression of SMAD7. In addition, HCV infection of cells increased the expression of SMAD6, which required the activity of nuclear factor-κB, but not transforming growth factor β. Liver tissues from patients with chronic HCV infection had significantly higher levels of SMAD6, SMAD7, and HSPG mRNAs than controls. CONCLUSIONS In studies of hepatoma cell lines and primary human hepatocytes, we found that infection with HCV leads to activation of nuclear factor-κB, resulting in increased expression of SMAD6 and SMAD7. Up-regulation of SMAD6 and SMAD7 induces the expression of HSPGs, such as SDC1, as well as LDLR, very LDLR, and the scavenger receptor class B member 1, which promote HCV entry and propagation, as well as cellular uptake of cholesterol and lipoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Catherine Sodroski
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Helen Cha
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Qisheng Li
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - T Jake Liang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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22
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Swann RE, Mandalou P, Robinson MW, Ow MM, Foung SKH, McLauchlan J, Patel AH, Cramp ME. Anti-envelope antibody responses in individuals at high risk of hepatitis C virus who resist infection. J Viral Hepat 2016; 23:873-880. [PMID: 27405885 PMCID: PMC5244678 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Injection drug users uninfected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) despite likely repeated exposure through high-risk behaviour are well documented. Factors preventing infection in these individuals are incompletely understood. Here, we looked for anti-HCV-envelope antibody responses in a cohort of repeatedly exposed but uninfected subjects. Forty-two hepatitis C diagnostic antibody- and RNA-negative injection drug users at high risk of exposure were studied and findings compared to healthy controls and cases with chronic HCV infection. Purified IgGs from sera were tested by ELISA for binding to genotype 1a and 3a envelope glycoproteins E1E2 with further testing for IgG and IgM reactivity against soluble E2. Virus-neutralizing activity was assessed using an HCV pseudoparticle system. Uninfected subjects demonstrated significantly greater IgG and IgM reactivities to envelope glycoproteins than healthy controls with IgG from 6 individuals additionally showing significant neutralization. This study is the first to describe humoral immunological responses targeting the HCV envelope, important for viral neutralization, in exposed uninfected individuals. A subset of these cases also had evidence of viral neutralization via anti-envelope antibodies. In addition to confirming viral exposure, the presence of specific anti-envelope antibodies may be a factor that helps these individuals resist HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. E. Swann
- MRC – University of Glasgow Centre for Virus ResearchUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - P. Mandalou
- Hepatology Research GroupPlymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and DentistryPlymouthUK,South West Liver UnitDerriford HospitalPlymouthUK
| | - M. W. Robinson
- MRC – University of Glasgow Centre for Virus ResearchUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK,School of Biochemistry and ImmunologyTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - M. M. Ow
- Hepatology Research GroupPlymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and DentistryPlymouthUK,South West Liver UnitDerriford HospitalPlymouthUK
| | - S. K. H. Foung
- Department of PathologyStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCAUSA
| | - J. McLauchlan
- MRC – University of Glasgow Centre for Virus ResearchUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - A. H. Patel
- MRC – University of Glasgow Centre for Virus ResearchUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - M. E. Cramp
- Hepatology Research GroupPlymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and DentistryPlymouthUK,South West Liver UnitDerriford HospitalPlymouthUK
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23
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Hepatitis C virus depends on E-cadherin as an entry factor and regulates its expression in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:7620-5. [PMID: 27298373 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1602701113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) enters the host cell through interactions with a cascade of cellular factors. Although significant progress has been made in understanding HCV entry, the precise mechanisms by which HCV exploits the receptor complex and host machinery to enter the cell remain unclear. This intricate process of viral entry likely depends on additional yet-to-be-defined cellular molecules. Recently, by applying integrative functional genomics approaches, we identified and interrogated distinct sets of host dependencies in the complete HCV life cycle. Viral entry assays using HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpps) of various genotypes uncovered multiple previously unappreciated host factors, including E-cadherin, that mediate HCV entry. E-cadherin silencing significantly inhibited HCV infection in Huh7.5.1 cells, HepG2/miR122/CD81 cells, and primary human hepatocytes at a postbinding entry step. Knockdown of E-cadherin, however, had no effect on HCV RNA replication or internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-mediated translation. In addition, an E-cadherin monoclonal antibody effectively blocked HCV entry and infection in hepatocytes. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that E-cadherin is closely associated with claudin-1 (CLDN1) and occludin (OCLN) on the cell membrane. Depletion of E-cadherin drastically diminished the cell-surface distribution of these two tight junction proteins in various hepatic cell lines, indicating that E-cadherin plays an important regulatory role in CLDN1/OCLN localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, loss of E-cadherin expression in hepatocytes is associated with HCV-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), providing an important link between HCV infection and liver cancer. Our data indicate that a dynamic interplay among E-cadherin, tight junctions, and EMT exists and mediates an important function in HCV entry.
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Yamamoto S, Fukuhara T, Ono C, Uemura K, Kawachi Y, Shiokawa M, Mori H, Wada M, Shima R, Okamoto T, Hiraga N, Suzuki R, Chayama K, Wakita T, Matsuura Y. Lipoprotein Receptors Redundantly Participate in Entry of Hepatitis C Virus. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005610. [PMID: 27152966 PMCID: PMC4859476 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) are known to be involved in entry of hepatitis C virus (HCV), but their precise roles and their interplay are not fully understood. In this study, deficiency of both SR-B1 and LDLR in Huh7 cells was shown to impair the entry of HCV more strongly than deficiency of either SR-B1 or LDLR alone. In addition, exogenous expression of not only SR-B1 and LDLR but also very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) rescued HCV entry in the SR-B1 and LDLR double-knockout cells, suggesting that VLDLR has similar roles in HCV entry. VLDLR is a lipoprotein receptor, but the level of its hepatic expression was lower than those of SR-B1 and LDLR. Moreover, expression of mutant lipoprotein receptors incapable of binding to or uptake of lipid resulted in no or slight enhancement of HCV entry in the double-knockout cells, suggesting that binding and/or uptake activities of lipid by lipoprotein receptors are essential for HCV entry. In addition, rescue of infectivity in the double-knockout cells by the expression of the lipoprotein receptors was not observed following infection with pseudotype particles bearing HCV envelope proteins produced in non-hepatic cells, suggesting that lipoproteins associated with HCV particles participate in the entry through their interaction with lipoprotein receptors. Buoyant density gradient analysis revealed that HCV utilizes these lipoprotein receptors in a manner dependent on the lipoproteins associated with HCV particles. Collectively, these results suggest that lipoprotein receptors redundantly participate in the entry of HCV. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) utilizes several receptors to enter hepatocytes, including scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) receptor and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). HCV particles interact with lipoprotein and apolipoproteins to form complexes termed lipoviroparticles. Several reports have shown that SR-B1 and LDLR participate in the entry of lipoviroparticles through interaction with lipoproteins. However, the precise roles of SR-B1 and LDLR in HCV entry have not been fully clarified. In this study, we showed that SR-B1 and LDLR have a redundant role in HCV entry. In addition, we showed that very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) played a role in HCV entry similar to the roles of SR-B1 and LDLR. Interestingly, VLDLR expression was low in the liver in contrast to the abundant expressions of SR-B1 and LDLR, but high in several extrahepatic tissues. Our data suggest that lipoprotein receptors participate in the entry of HCV particles associated with various lipoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takasuke Fukuhara
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chikako Ono
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kentaro Uemura
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukako Kawachi
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mai Shiokawa
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mori
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masami Wada
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Shima
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toru Okamoto
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Hiraga
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Suzuki
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takaji Wakita
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Matsuura
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Alirocumab, a Therapeutic Human Antibody to PCSK9, Does Not Affect CD81 Levels or Hepatitis C Virus Entry and Replication into Hepatocytes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154498. [PMID: 27115873 PMCID: PMC4845998 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PSCK9) is secreted mainly from the liver and binds to the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), reducing LDLR availability and thus resulting in an increase in LDL-cholesterol. While the LDLR has been implicated in the cell entry process of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), overexpression of an artificial non-secreted, cell membrane-bound form of PCSK9 has also been shown to reduce surface expression of CD81, a major component of the HCV entry complex, leading to concerns that pharmacological inhibition of PCSK9 may increase susceptibility to HCV infection by increasing either CD81 or LDLR availability. Here, we evaluated effects of PCSK9 and PCSK9 blockade on CD81 levels and HCV entry with a physiologically relevant model using native secreted PCSK9 and a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9, alirocumab. METHODS AND RESULTS Flow cytometry and Western blotting of human hepatocyte Huh-7 cells showed that, although LDLR levels were reduced when cells were exposed to increasing PCSK9 concentrations, there was no correlation between total or surface CD81 levels and the presence and amount of soluble PCSK9. Moreover, inhibiting PCSK9 with the monoclonal antibody alirocumab did not affect expression levels of CD81. In an in vitro model of HCV entry, addition of soluble PCSK9 or treatment with alirocumab had no effect on the ability of either lentiviral particles bearing the HCV glycoproteins or JFH-1 based cell culture virus to enter hepatocytes. Consistent with these in vitro findings, no differences were observed in hepatic CD81 levels using in vivo mouse models, including Pcsk9-/- mice compared with wild-type controls and hyperlipidemic mice homozygous for human Pcsk9 and heterozygous for Ldlr deletion, treated with either alirocumab or isotype control antibody. CONCLUSION These results suggest that inhibition of PCSK9 with alirocumab has no effect on CD81 and does not result in increased susceptibility to HCV entry.
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Broad Anti-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Antibody Responses Are Associated with Improved Clinical Disease Parameters in Chronic HCV Infection. J Virol 2016; 90:4530-4543. [PMID: 26912610 PMCID: PMC4836347 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02669-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED During hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) responses targeting E1E2 envelope glycoproteins are generated in many individuals. It is unclear if these antibodies play a protective or a pathogenic role during chronic infection. In this study, we investigated whether bNAb responses in individuals with chronic infection were associated with differences in clinical presentation. Patient-derived purified serum IgG was used to assess the breadth of HCV E1E2 binding and the neutralization activity of HCV pseudoparticles. The binding and neutralization activity results for two panels bearing viral envelope proteins representing either an intergenotype or an intragenotype 1 group were compared. We found that the HCV load was negatively associated with strong cross-genotypic E1E2 binding (P= 0.03). Overall, we observed only a modest correlation between total E1E2 binding and neutralization ability. The breadth of intergenotype neutralization did not correlate with any clinical parameters; however, analysis of individuals with genotype 1 (gt1) HCV infection (n= 20), using an intragenotype pseudoparticle panel, found a strong association between neutralization breadth and reduced liver fibrosis (P= 0.006). A broad bNAb response in our cohort with chronic infection was associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in theHLA-DQB1 gene (P= 0.038), as previously reported in a cohort with acute disease. Furthermore, the bNAbs in these individuals targeted more than one region of E2-neutralizing epitopes, as assessed through cross-competition of patient bNAbs with well-characterized E2 antibodies. We conclude that the bNAb responses in patients with chronic gt1 infection are associated with lower rates of fibrosis and host genetics may play a role in the ability to raise such responses. IMPORTANCE Globally, there are 130 million to 150 million people with chronic HCV infection. Typically, the disease is progressive and is a major cause of severe liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. While it is known that neutralizing antibodies have a role in spontaneous clearance during acute infection, little is known about their role in chronic infection. In the present work, we investigated the antibody response in a cohort of chronically infected individuals and found that a broadly neutralizing antibody response is protective and is associated with reduced levels of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. We also found an association between SNPs in class II HLA genes and the presence of a broadly neutralizing response, indicating that antigen presentation may be important for the production of HCV-neutralizing antibodies.
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Fukuhara T, Ono C, Puig-Basagoiti F, Matsuura Y. Roles of Lipoproteins and Apolipoproteins in Particle Formation of Hepatitis C Virus. Trends Microbiol 2016; 23:618-629. [PMID: 26433694 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
More than 160 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma induced by HCV infection are life-threatening diseases. HCV takes advantage of many aspects of lipid metabolism for an efficient propagation in hepatocytes. Due to the morphological and physiological similarities of HCV particles to lipoproteins, lipid-associated HCV particles are named lipoviroparticles. Recent analyses have revealed that exchangeable apolipoproteins directly interact with the viral membrane to generate infectious HCV particles. In this review, we summarize the roles of lipid metabolism in the life cycle of HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takasuke Fukuhara
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chikako Ono
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Francesc Puig-Basagoiti
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Matsuura
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
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28
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Winer BY, Ding Q, Gaska JM, Ploss A. In vivo models of hepatitis B and C virus infection. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:1987-99. [PMID: 27009462 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Globally, more than 500 million individuals are chronically infected with hepatitis B (HBV), delta (HDV), and/or C (HCV) viruses, which can result in severe liver disease. Mechanistic studies of viral persistence and pathogenesis have been hampered by the scarcity of animal models. The limited species and cellular host range of HBV, HDV, and HCV, which robustly infect only humans and chimpanzees, have posed challenges for creating such animal models. In this review, we will discuss the barriers to interspecies transmission and the progress that has been made in our understanding of the HBV, HDV, and HCV life cycles. Additionally, we will highlight a variety of approaches that overcome these barriers and thus facilitate in vivo studies of these hepatotropic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qiang Ding
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ, USA
| | - Jenna M Gaska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ, USA
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ, USA
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29
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Hopcraft SE, Evans MJ. Liver capsule: Hepatitis C virus host cell entry. Hepatology 2016; 63:1013. [PMID: 26534890 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon E Hopcraft
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew J Evans
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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30
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Bertino G, Ardiri A, Proiti M, Rigano G, Frazzetto E, Demma S, Ruggeri MI, Scuderi L, Malaguarnera G, Bertino N, Rapisarda V, Di Carlo I, Toro A, Salomone F, Malaguarnera M, Bertino E, Malaguarnera M. Chronic hepatitis C: This and the new era of treatment. World J Hepatol 2016; 8:92-106. [PMID: 26807205 PMCID: PMC4716531 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v8.i2.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last years it has started a real revolution in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. This occurred for the availability of direct-acting antiviral agents that allow to reach sustained virologic response in approximately 90% of cases. In the near future further progress will be achieved with the use of pan-genotypic drugs with high efficacy but without side effects.
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31
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Lozano-Sepulveda S, Bryan-Marrugo O, Merino-Mascorro J, Rivas-Estilla AM. Approachability to the new anti-HCV direct acting antiviral agents in the Latin American context. Future Virol 2016. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.15.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Teimourpour R, Tajani AS, Askari VR, Rostami S, Meshkat Z. Designing and Development of a DNA Vaccine Based On Structural Proteins of Hepatitis C Virus. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2016; 11:222-230. [PMID: 27799971 PMCID: PMC5079455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases responsible for high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therefore, designing new and effective therapeutics is of great importance. The aim of the current study was to construct a DNA vaccine containing structural proteins of HCV and evaluation of its expression in a eukaryotic system. METHODS Structural proteins of HCV (core, E1, and E2) were isolated and amplified from JFH strain of HCV genotype 2a using PCR method. The PCR product was cloned into pCDNA3.1 (+) vector and finally were confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis and sequencing methods. The eukaryotic expression of the vector was confirmed by RT-PCR. RESULTS A recombinant vector containing 2241bp fragment of HCV structural genes was constructed. The desired plasmid was sequenced and corresponded to 100% identity with the submitted sequences in GenBank. RT-PCR results indicated that the recombinant plasmid could be expressed efficiently in the eukaryotic expression system. CONCLUSION Successful cloning of structural viral genes in pCDNA3.1 (+) vector and their expression in the eukaryotic expression system facilitates the development of new DNA vaccines against HCV. A DNA vaccine encoding core-E1-E2 antigens was designed. The desired expression vector can be used for further attempts in the development of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayeh Teimourpour
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | | | - Vahid Reza Askari
- Pharmacy School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sina Rostami
- The Influenza Centre, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Zahra Meshkat
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Lozano-Sepulveda SA, Bryan-Marrugo OL, Cordova-Fletes C, Gutierrez-Ruiz MC, Rivas-Estilla AM. Oxidative stress modulation in hepatitis C virus infected cells. World J Hepatol 2015; 7:2880-2889. [PMID: 26692473 PMCID: PMC4678374 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i29.2880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 09/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum, where the virus can induce cellular stress. Oxidative cell damage plays an important role in HCV physiopathology. Oxidative stress is triggered when the concentration of oxygen species in the extracellular or intracellular environment exceeds antioxidant defenses. Cells are protected and modulate oxidative stress through the interplay of intracellular antioxidant agents, mainly glutathione system (GSH) and thioredoxin; and antioxidant enzyme systems such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, GSH peroxidase, and heme oxygenase-1. Also, the use of natural and synthetic antioxidants (vitamin C and E, N-acetylcysteine, glycyrrhizin, polyenylphosphatidyl choline, mitoquinone, quercetin, S-adenosylmethionine and silymarin) has already shown promising results as co-adjuvants in HCV therapy. Despite all the available information, it is not known how different agents with antiviral activity can interfere with the modulation of the cell redox state induced by HCV and decrease viral replication. This review describes an evidence-based consensus on molecular mechanisms involved in HCV replication and their relationship with cell damage induced by oxidative stress generated by the virus itself and cell antiviral machinery. It also describes some molecules that modify the levels of oxidative stress in HCV-infected cells.
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Pan-genotypic Hepatitis C Virus Inhibition by Natural Products Derived from the Wild Egyptian Artichoke. J Virol 2015; 90:1918-30. [PMID: 26656684 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02030-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of chronic liver diseases. Water extracts of the leaves of the wild Egyptian artichoke (WEA) [Cynara cardunculus L. var. sylvestris (Lam.) Fiori] have been used for centuries in the Sinai Peninsula to treat hepatitis symptoms. Here we isolated and characterized six compounds from the water extracts of WEA and evaluated their HCV inhibition capacities in vitro. Importantly, two of these compounds, grosheimol and cynaropicrin, inhibited HCV with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50s) in the low micromolar range. They inhibited HCV entry into target cells and were active against both cell-free infection as well as cell-cell transmission. Furthermore, the antiviral activity of both compounds was pan-genotypic as HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, and 7a were inhibited. Thus, grosheimol and cynaropicrin are promising candidates for the development of new pan-genotypic entry inhibitors of HCV infection. IMPORTANCE Because there is no preventive HCV vaccine available today, the discovery of novel anti-HCV cell entry inhibitors could help develop preventive measures against infection. The present study describes two compounds isolated from the wild Egyptian artichoke (WEA) with respect to their structural elucidation, absolute configuration, and quantitative determination. Importantly, both compounds inhibited HCV infection in vitro. The first compound was an unknown molecule, and it was designated "grosheimol," while the second compound is the known molecule cynaropicrin. Both compounds belong to the group of sesquiterpene lactones. The mode of action of these compounds occurred during the early steps of the HCV life cycle, including cell-free and cell-cell infection inhibition. These natural compounds present promising candidates for further development into anti-HCV therapeutics.
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Specialization of Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoproteins for B Lymphocytes in Chronically Infected Patients. J Virol 2015; 90:992-1008. [PMID: 26537674 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02516-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatitis C virus (HCV) productively infects hepatocytes. Virion surface glycoproteins E1 and E2 play a major role in this restricted cell tropism by mediating virus entry into particular cell types. However, several pieces of evidence have suggested the ability of patient-derived HCV particles to infect peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The viral determinants and mechanisms mediating such events remain poorly understood. Here, we aimed at isolating viral determinants of HCV entry into B lymphocytes. For this purpose, we constructed a library of full E1E2 sequences isolated from serum and B lymphocytes of four chronically infected patients. We observed a strong phylogenetic compartmentalization of E1E2 sequences isolated from B lymphocytes in one patient, indicating that E1E2 glycoproteins can represent important mediators of the strong segregation of two specialized populations in some patients. Most of the E1E2 envelope glycoproteins were functional and allowed transduction of hepatocyte cell lines using HCV-derived pseudoparticles. Strikingly, introduction of envelope glycoproteins isolated from B lymphocytes into the HCV JFH-1 replicating virus switched the entry tropism of this nonlymphotropic virus from hepatotropism to lymphotropism. Significant detection of viral RNA and viral proteins within B cells was restricted to infections with JFH-1 harboring E1E2 from lymphocytes and depended on an endocytic, pH-dependent entry pathway. Here, we achieved for the first time the isolation of HCV viral proteins carrying entry-related lymphotropism determinants. The identification of genetic determinants within E1E2 represents a first step for a better understanding of the complex relationship between HCV infection, viral persistence, and extrahepatic disorders. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) mainly replicates within the liver. However, it has been shown that patient-derived HCV particles can slightly infect lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the existence of lymphotropism determinants within HCV viral proteins. We isolated HCV envelope glycoproteins from patient B lymphocytes that conferred to a nonlymphotropic HCV the ability to enter B cells, thus providing a platform for characterization of HCV entry into lymphocytes. This unusual tropism was accompanied by a loss of entry function into hepatocytes, suggesting that HCV lymphotropic variants likely constitute a distinct but parallel source for viral persistence and immune escape within chronically infected patients. Moreover, the level of genetic divergence of B-cell-derived envelopes correlated with their degree of lymphotropism, underlining a long-term specialization of some viral populations for B-lymphocytes. Consequently, the clearance of both hepatotropic and nonhepatotropic HCV populations may be important for effective treatment of chronically infected patients.
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Hopcraft SE, Evans MJ. Selection of a hepatitis C virus with altered entry factor requirements reveals a genetic interaction between the E1 glycoprotein and claudins. Hepatology 2015; 62:1059-69. [PMID: 25820616 PMCID: PMC4587996 DOI: 10.1002/hep.27815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell entry is a complex, multistep process requiring numerous host cell factors, including the tight junction protein claudin-1 (CLDN1). It is not known whether CLDN1 and the HCV glycoproteins physically interact. Therefore, the focus of this work was to study genetic interactions between CLDN1 and HCV. We used CRISPR technology to generate CLDN1 knockout (KO) Huh-7.5 cells, which could not be infected by genotype 2a Jc1 HCV unless CLDN1 expression was restored. Passage of Jc1-transfected CLDN1 KO cells resulted in the selection of a virus that could infect these cells. This virus encoded a single mutation, H316N (numbered relative to the HCV polyprotein), in the E1 glycoprotein. Whereas Jc1 H316N efficiently infected cells lacking CLDN1, such infection was blocked by an antibody targeting CLDN6, another member of the claudin family that is expressed in these cells. Furthermore, HuH6 cells, which express CLDN6, but not CLDN1, were infectable only with the mutant virus. Thus, this mutant virus adapted to the loss of CLDN1 by developing the capacity to utilize other CLDNs. Indeed, CLDN1/CLDN6 double-KO Huh-7.5 cells supported infection by the mutant virus only when CLDN1, CLDN6, or CLDN9 was expressed. Finally, this phenotype was not genotype dependent, given that the H316N mutation rendered a Japanese fulminant hepatitis 1 chimeric HCV genome encoding the genotype 5a glycoproteins able to utilize CLDN6 for host cell entry. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate plasticity of HCV virus-host interactions, where a previously CLDN1-dependent virus was capable of evolving to use CLDN6. They also reveal a role for E1 in determining entry factor usage and imply a direct, physical interaction between E1 and CLDNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon E Hopcraft
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Matthew J Evans
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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37
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Apolipoprotein E, but Not Apolipoprotein B, Is Essential for Efficient Cell-to-Cell Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus. J Virol 2015. [PMID: 26202245 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00577-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects hepatocytes through two different routes: (i) cell-free particle diffusion followed by engagement with specific cellular receptors and (ii) cell-to-cell direct transmission mediated by mechanisms not well defined yet. HCV exits host cells in association with very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) components. VLDL particles contain apolipoproteins B (ApoB) and E (ApoE), which are required for viral assembly and/or infectivity. Based on these precedents, we decided to study whether these VLDL components participate in HCV cell-to-cell transmission in vitro. We observed that cell-to-cell viral spread was compromised after ApoE interference in donor but not in acceptor cells. In contrast, ApoB knockdown in either donor or acceptor cells did not impair cell-to-cell viral transmission. Interestingly, ApoB participated in the assembly of cell-free infective virions, suggesting a differential regulation of cell-to-cell and cell-free HCV infection. This study identifies host-specific factors involved in these distinct routes of infection that may unveil new therapeutic targets and advance our understanding of HCV pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE This work demonstrates that cell-to-cell transmission of HCV depends on ApoE but not ApoB. The data also indicate that ApoB is required for the assembly of cell-free infective particles, strongly suggesting the existence of mechanisms involving VLDL components that differentially regulate cell-free and cell-to-cell HCV transmission. These data clarify some of the questions regarding the role of VLDL in HCV pathogenesis and the transmission of the virus cell to cell as a possible mechanism of immune evasion and open the door to therapeutic intervention.
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Simon TG, Butt AA. Lipid dysregulation in hepatitis C virus, and impact of statin therapy upon clinical outcomes. World J Gastroenterol 2015; 21:8293-8303. [PMID: 26217081 PMCID: PMC4507099 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i27.8293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease and the leading indication for liver transplantation worldwide. Every aspect of the HCV life cycle is closely tied to human lipid metabolism. The virus circulates as a lipid-rich particle, utilizing lipoprotein cell receptors to gain entry into the hepatocyte. It has also been shown to upregulate lipid biosynthesis and impair lipid degradation, resulting in significant intracellular lipid accumulation and circulating hypocholesterolemia. Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are at increased risk of hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, and cardiovascular disease including accelerated atherosclerosis. HMG CoA Reductase inhibitors, or statins, have been shown to play an important role in the modulation of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, and recent attention has focused upon their potential therapeutic role in CHC. This article reviews the hepatitis C viral life cycle as it impacts host lipoproteins and lipid metabolism. It then describes the pathogenesis of HCV-related hepatic steatosis, hypocholesterolemia and atherosclerosis, and finally describes the promising anti-viral and anti-fibrotic effects of statins, for the treatment of CHC.
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Abstract
Viruses have evolved intricate mechanisms to gain entry into the host cell. Identification of host proteins that serve as viral receptors has enabled insights into virus particle internalization, host and tissue tropism, and viral pathogenesis. In this review we discuss the most commonly employed methods for virus receptor discovery, specifically highlighting the use of forward genetic screens in human haploid cells. The ability to generate true knockout alleles at high saturation provides a sensitive means to study virus-host interactions. To illustrate the power of such haploid genetic screens, we highlight the discovery of the lysosomal proteins NPC1 and LAMP1 as intracellular receptors for Ebola virus and Lassa virus, respectively. From these studies emerges the notion that receptor usage by these viruses is highly dynamic, involving a programmed switch from cell surface receptor to intracellular receptor. Broad application of genetic knockout approaches will chart functional landscapes of receptors and endocytic pathways hijacked by viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirika Pillay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305; ,
| | - Jan E Carette
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305; ,
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Scheel TKH, Simmonds P, Kapoor A. Surveying the global virome: identification and characterization of HCV-related animal hepaciviruses. Antiviral Res 2015; 115:83-93. [PMID: 25545071 PMCID: PMC5081135 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2014.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Revised: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in sequencing technologies have greatly enhanced our abilities to identify novel microbial sequences. Thus, our understanding of the global virome and the virome of specific host species in particular is rapidly expanding. Identification of animal viruses is important for understanding animal disease, the origin and evolution of human viruses, as well as zoonotic reservoirs for emerging infections. Although the human hepacivirus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), was identified 25years ago, its origin has remained elusive. In 2011, the first HCV homolog was reported in dogs but subsequent studies showed the virus to be widely distributed in horses. This indicated a wider hepacivirus host range and paved the way for identification of rodent, bat and non-human primate hepaciviruses. The equine non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV) remains the closest relative of HCV and is so far the best characterized. Identification and characterization of novel hepaciviruses may in addition lead to development of tractable animal models to study HCV persistence, immune responses and pathogenesis. This could be particular important, given the current shortage of immunocompetent models for robust HCV infection. Much remains to be learned on the novel hepaciviruses, including their association with disease, and thereby how relevant they will become as HCV model systems and for studies of animal disease. This review discusses how virome analysis led to identification of novel hepaci- and pegiviruses, their genetic relationship and characterization and the potential use of animal hepaciviruses as models to study hepaciviral infection, immunity and pathogenesis. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "Hepatitis C: Next steps toward global eradication."
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Affiliation(s)
- Troels K H Scheel
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States; Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Research Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Simmonds
- Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Amit Kapoor
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
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Wilson GK, Farquhar MJ, Meredith L, Dhawan A, Mitry R, Balfe P, McKeating JA. Permissivity of primary hepatocytes and hepatoma cell lines to support hepatitis C virus infection. J Gen Virol 2015; 96:1369-1373. [PMID: 25667327 PMCID: PMC4635487 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.000085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The major cell type supporting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the hepatocyte; however, most reports studying viral entry and replication utilize transformed hepatoma cell lines. We demonstrate that HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) infect primary hepatocytes with comparable rates to hepatoma cells, demonstrating the limited variability in donor hepatocytes to support HCV receptor-glycoprotein-dependent entry. In contrast, we observed a 2-log range in viral replication between the same donor hepatocytes. We noted that cell proliferation augments pseudoparticle reporter activity and arresting hepatoma cells yields comparable levels of infection to hepatocytes. This study demonstrates comparable rates of HCVpp entry into primary hepatocytes and hepatoma cells, validating the use of transformed cells as a model system to study HCV entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrick K Wilson
- Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Michelle J Farquhar
- Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Luke Meredith
- Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Anil Dhawan
- Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital and Kings College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Ragai Mitry
- Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital and Kings College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Peter Balfe
- Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Jane A McKeating
- Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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Luo K, Li S, Jiang L, Zuo T, Qing J, Shi X, Liu Y, Wu H, Chen X, Zhang L. Combinatorial library-based profiling of the antibody response against hepatitis C virus in humans. J Gen Virol 2014; 96:52-63. [PMID: 25274855 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.069278-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The antibody response plays a crucial role against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and our understanding of this intricate progress in vivo is far from complete. We previously reported a novel and robust technique based on a large combinatorial viral antigen library displayed on the surface of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, allowing comprehensive profiling of polyclonal antibody responses in vivo in both qualitative and quantitative terms. Here, we report the generation and application of a combinatorial library of HCV strain JFH1 envelope glycoprotein to profile the antibody response in four HCV chronically infected individuals. By systematic analysis of the location and frequency of antigenic fragments along the JFH1 envelope glycoprotein, we showed that the major binding antibody response was targeted to E2 (80.9-99.8 %), whilst that against E1 was relatively small (0.3-19.0 %). A total of five major antigenic domains (D1-D5) were identified: one was within E1 and an additional four within E2, despite substantial variability among the different individuals. However, serum absorption with the yeast clones containing the antigenic domain D1 resulted in more reduction in neutralizing antibody activity against pseudotyped HCV than those in E2, suggesting that E1 contains additional neutralizing epitopes. Our results have provided additional insights into the HCV-specific antibody response in humans and should assist in a better understanding of protective antibody immunity and in guiding the development of effective vaccines and therapeutics against HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kan Luo
- Comprehensive AIDS Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shu Li
- Comprehensive AIDS Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Liwei Jiang
- Comprehensive AIDS Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Teng Zuo
- Comprehensive AIDS Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jie Qing
- Comprehensive AIDS Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xuanling Shi
- Comprehensive AIDS Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yali Liu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Hao Wu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xinyue Chen
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Linqi Zhang
- Comprehensive AIDS Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
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Unexpected structural features of the hepatitis C virus envelope protein 2 ectodomain. J Virol 2014; 88:10280-8. [PMID: 24991010 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00874-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, is a leading cause of chronic liver disease and cancer. Recent advances in HCV therapeutics have resulted in improved cure rates, but an HCV vaccine is not available and is urgently needed to control the global pandemic. Vaccine development has been hampered by the lack of high-resolution structural information for the two HCV envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2. Recently, Kong and coworkers (Science 342:1090-1094, 2013, doi:10.1126/science.1243876) and Khan and coworkers (Nature 509[7500]:381-384, 2014, doi:10.1038/nature13117) independently determined the structure of the HCV E2 ectodomain core with some unexpected and informative results. The HCV E2 ectodomain core features a globular architecture with antiparallel β-sheets forming a central β sandwich. The residues comprising the epitopes of several neutralizing and nonneutralizing human monoclonal antibodies were also determined, which is an essential step toward obtaining a fine map of the human humoral response to HCV. Also clarified were the regions of E2 that directly bind CD81, an important HCV cellular receptor. While it has been widely assumed that HCV E2 is a class II viral fusion protein (VFP), the newly determined structure suggests that the HCV E2 ectodomain shares structural and functional similarities only with domain III of class II VFPs. The new structural determinations suggest that the HCV glycoproteins use a different mechanism than that used by class II fusion proteins for cell fusion.
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Cartier F, Marcq I, Douam F, Ossart C, Regnier A, Debuysscher V, Lavillette D, Bouhlal H. The expression of the hepatocyte SLAMF3 (CD229) receptor enhances the hepatitis C virus infection. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99601. [PMID: 24927415 PMCID: PMC4057114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer worldwide. We recently characterized for the first time the expression of Signaling Lymphocyte Activating Molecule 3 (SLAMF3) in human hepatocytes and here, we report that SLAMF3 interacts with the HCV viral protein E2 and is implicated in HCV entry process. We found a strong correlation between SLAMF3 expression level and hepatocyte susceptibility to HCV infection. The use of specific siRNAs to down-modulate SLAMF3 expression and SLAMF3-blocking antibodies both decreased the hepatocytes susceptibility to HCV infection. Moreover, SLAMF3 over-expression significantly increased susceptibility to HCV infection. Interestingly, experiments with peptides derived from each SLAMF3 domain showed that the first N-terminal extracellular domain is essential for interaction with HCV particles. Finally, we showed that recombinant HCV envelop protein E2 can bind SLAMF3 and that anti-SLAMF3 antibodies inhibited specifically this interaction. Overall, our results revealed that SLAMF3 plays a role during HCV entry, likely by enhancing entry of viral particle within hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Cartier
- EA 4666, UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
- INSERM U1053, Laboratoire de Physiologie du Cancer du Foie, Université Bordeaux Segalen, Bordeaux, France
| | - Ingrid Marcq
- EA 4666, UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Florian Douam
- UMR CNRS 5557 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Christèle Ossart
- EA 4666, UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
- Laboratoire de Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU Amiens Sud, Amiens, France
| | - Aline Regnier
- EA 4666, UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
- Laboratoire de Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU Amiens Sud, Amiens, France
| | - Véronique Debuysscher
- EA 4666, UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Dimitri Lavillette
- UMR CNRS 5557 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Hicham Bouhlal
- EA 4666, UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
- Laboratoire de Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU Amiens Sud, Amiens, France
- * E-mail:
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Mingorance L, Friesland M, Coto-Llerena M, Pérez-del-Pulgar S, Boix L, López-Oliva JM, Bruix J, Forns X, Gastaminza P. Selective inhibition of hepatitis C virus infection by hydroxyzine and benztropine. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:3451-60. [PMID: 24709263 PMCID: PMC4068423 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02619-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major biomedical problem worldwide as it causes severe liver disease in millions of humans around the world. Despite the recent approval of specific drugs targeting HCV replication to be used in combination with alpha interferon (IFN-α) and ribavirin, there is still an urgent need for pangenotypic, interferon-free therapies to fight this genetically diverse group of viruses. In this study, we used an unbiased screening cell culture assay to interrogate a chemical library of compounds approved for clinical use in humans. This system enables identifying nontoxic antiviral compounds targeting every aspect of the viral life cycle, be the target viral or cellular. The aim of this study was to identify drugs approved for other therapeutic applications in humans that could be effective components of combination therapies against HCV. As a result of this analysis, we identified 12 compounds with antiviral activity in cell culture, some of which had previously been identified as HCV inhibitors with antiviral activity in cell culture and had been shown to be effective in patients. We selected two novel HCV antivirals, hydroxyzine and benztropine, to characterize them by determining their specificity and genotype spectrum as well as by defining the step of the replication cycle targeted by these compounds. We found that both compounds effectively inhibited viral entry at a postbinding step of genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 without affecting entry of other viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Mingorance
- Centro Nacional De Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Martina Friesland
- Centro Nacional De Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Loreto Boix
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel López-Oliva
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Bruix
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Forns
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Gastaminza
- Centro Nacional De Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Mathiesen CK, Jensen TB, Prentoe J, Krarup H, Nicosia A, Law M, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Production and characterization of high-titer serum-free cell culture grown hepatitis C virus particles of genotype 1-6. Virology 2014; 458-459:190-208. [PMID: 24928051 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Revised: 03/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Recently, cell culture systems producing hepatitis C virus particles (HCVcc) were developed. Establishment of serum-free culture conditions is expected to facilitate development of a whole-virus inactivated HCV vaccine. We describe generation of genotype 1-6 serum-free HCVcc (sf-HCVcc) from Huh7.5 hepatoma cells cultured in adenovirus expression medium. Compared to HCVcc, sf-HCVcc showed 0.6-2.1 log10 higher infectivity titers (4.7-6.2 log10 Focus Forming Units/mL), possibly due to increased release and specific infectivity of sf-HCVcc. In contrast to HCVcc, sf-HCVcc had a homogeneous single-peak density profile. Entry of sf-HCVcc depended on HCV co-receptors CD81, LDLr, and SR-BI, and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. HCVcc and sf-HCVcc were neutralized similarly by chronic-phase patient sera and by human monoclonal antibodies targeting conformational epitopes. Thus, we developed serum-free culture systems producing high-titer single-density sf-HCVcc, showing similar biological properties as HCVcc. This methodology has the potential to advance HCV vaccine development and to facilitate biophysical studies of HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian K Mathiesen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Research Centre, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Tanja B Jensen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Research Centre, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jannick Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Research Centre, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Henrik Krarup
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Section of Molecular Diagnostics, Aalborg University Hospital, Fredrik Bajers Vej 5, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Alfredo Nicosia
- CEINGE, Via Gaetano Salvatore, 486, 80145 Naples, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy; Okairos, viale Citta' d' Europa 279, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Research Centre, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Judith M Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Research Centre, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
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Li Q, Zhang YY, Chiu S, Hu Z, Lan KH, Cha H, Sodroski C, Zhang F, Hsu CS, Thomas E, Liang TJ. Integrative functional genomics of hepatitis C virus infection identifies host dependencies in complete viral replication cycle. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004163. [PMID: 24852294 PMCID: PMC4095987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent functional genomics studies including genome-wide small interfering RNA (siRNA) screens demonstrated that hepatitis C virus (HCV) exploits an extensive network of host factors for productive infection and propagation. How these co-opted host functions interact with various steps of HCV replication cycle and exert pro- or antiviral effects on HCV infection remains largely undefined. Here we present an unbiased and systematic strategy to functionally interrogate HCV host dependencies uncovered from our previous infectious HCV (HCVcc) siRNA screen. Applying functional genomics approaches and various in vitro HCV model systems, including HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp), single-cycle infectious particles (HCVsc), subgenomic replicons, and HCV cell culture systems (HCVcc), we identified and characterized novel host factors or pathways required for each individual step of the HCV replication cycle. Particularly, we uncovered multiple HCV entry factors, including E-cadherin, choline kinase α, NADPH oxidase CYBA, Rho GTPase RAC1 and SMAD family member 6. We also demonstrated that guanine nucleotide binding protein GNB2L1, E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2J1, and 39 other host factors are required for HCV RNA replication, while the deubiquitinating enzyme USP11 and multiple other cellular genes are specifically involved in HCV IRES-mediated translation. Families of antiviral factors that target HCV replication or translation were also identified. In addition, various virologic assays validated that 66 host factors are involved in HCV assembly or secretion. These genes included insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), a proviral factor, and N-Myc down regulated Gene 1 (NDRG1), an antiviral factor. Bioinformatics meta-analyses of our results integrated with literature mining of previously published HCV host factors allows the construction of an extensive roadmap of cellular networks and pathways involved in the complete HCV replication cycle. This comprehensive study of HCV host dependencies yields novel insights into viral infection, pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive strand RNA virus that belongs to the Flaviridae family. Chronic HCV infection is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the world. Our recent genome-wide siRNA screen has revealed that HCV depends extensively on host factors for efficient infection and propagation. Here we systematically and functionally catalogued these host dependencies to various stages of the HCV replication cycle. Applying systems virology and functional genomics approaches with various in vitro HCV model systems, we further defined multiple previously unrecognized host factors or pathways that are involved in either HCV entry, IRES-mediated translation, RNA replication, or assembly/secretion. By bioinformatics meta-analyses and literature mining of existing publications and databases, we constructed an extensive roadmap of the cellular networks and pathways requisite for the complete HCV replication cycle. Our study yields novel insights into viral infection, pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, this study serves as a valuable reference source for subsequent work on host pathways and virus-host interactions in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qisheng Li
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yong-Yuan Zhang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Stephan Chiu
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Zongyi Hu
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Keng-Hsin Lan
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Helen Cha
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Catherine Sodroski
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Fang Zhang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ching-Sheng Hsu
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Emmanuel Thomas
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - T. Jake Liang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zhu YZ, Qian XJ, Zhao P, Qi ZT. How hepatitis C virus invades hepatocytes: The mystery of viral entry. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:3457-3467. [PMID: 24707128 PMCID: PMC3974512 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i13.3457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2013] [Revised: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem, with an estimated 170 million people being chronically infected. HCV cell entry is a complex multi-step process, involving several cellular factors that trigger virus uptake into the hepatocytes. The high- density lipoprotein receptor scavenger receptor class B type I, tetraspanin CD81, tight junction protein claudin-1, and occludin are the main receptors that mediate the initial step of HCV infection. In addition, the virus uses cell receptor tyrosine kinases as entry regulators, such as epidermal growth factor receptor and ephrin receptor A2. This review summarizes the current understanding about how cell surface molecules are involved in HCV attachment, internalization, and membrane fusion, and how host cell kinases regulate virus entry. The advances of the potential antiviral agents targeting this process are introduced.
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Gehring G, Rohrmann K, Atenchong N, Mittler E, Becker S, Dahlmann F, Pöhlmann S, Vondran FWR, David S, Manns MP, Ciesek S, von Hahn T. The clinically approved drugs amiodarone, dronedarone and verapamil inhibit filovirus cell entry. J Antimicrob Chemother 2014; 69:2123-31. [PMID: 24710028 PMCID: PMC7110251 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dku091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Filoviruses such as Ebola virus and Marburg virus cause a severe haemorrhagic fever syndrome in humans for which there is no specific treatment. Since filoviruses use a complex route of cell entry that depends on numerous cellular factors, we hypothesized that there may be drugs already approved for human use for other indications that interfere with signal transduction or other cellular processes required for their entry and hence have anti-filoviral properties. Methods We used authentic filoviruses and lentiviral particles pseudotyped with filoviral glycoproteins to identify and characterize such compounds. Results We discovered that amiodarone, a multi-ion channel inhibitor and adrenoceptor antagonist, is a potent inhibitor of filovirus cell entry at concentrations that are routinely reached in human serum during anti-arrhythmic therapy. A similar effect was observed with the amiodarone-related agent dronedarone and the L-type calcium channel blocker verapamil. Inhibition by amiodarone was concentration dependent and similarly affected pseudoviruses as well as authentic filoviruses. Inhibition of filovirus entry was observed with most but not all cell types tested and was accentuated by the pre-treatment of cells, indicating a host cell-directed mechanism of action. The New World arenavirus Guanarito was also inhibited by amiodarone while the Old World arenavirus Lassa and members of the Rhabdoviridae (vesicular stomatitis virus) and Bunyaviridae (Hantaan) families were largely resistant. Conclusions The ion channel blockers amiodarone, dronedarone and verapamil inhibit filoviral cell entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerrit Gehring
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katrin Rohrmann
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nkacheh Atenchong
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eva Mittler
- Institute for Virology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Becker
- Institute for Virology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian W R Vondran
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sascha David
- Department of Nephrology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael P Manns
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sandra Ciesek
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas von Hahn
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Fletcher NF, Sutaria R, Jo J, Barnes A, Blahova M, Meredith LW, Cosset FL, Curbishley SM, Adams DH, Bertoletti A, McKeating JA. Activated macrophages promote hepatitis C virus entry in a tumor necrosis factor-dependent manner. Hepatology 2014; 59:1320-30. [PMID: 24259385 PMCID: PMC4255687 DOI: 10.1002/hep.26911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 10/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Macrophages are critical components of the innate immune response in the liver. Chronic hepatitis C is associated with immune infiltration and the infected liver shows a significant increase in total macrophage numbers; however, their role in the viral life cycle is poorly understood. Activation of blood-derived and intrahepatic macrophages with a panel of Toll-like receptor agonists induce soluble mediators that promote hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into polarized hepatoma cells. We identified tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) as the major cytokine involved in this process. Importantly, this effect was not limited to HCV; TNF-α increased the permissivity of hepatoma cells to infection by Lassa, measles and vesicular stomatitis pseudoviruses. TNF-α induced a relocalization of tight junction protein occludin and increased the lateral diffusion speed of HCV receptor tetraspanin CD81 in polarized HepG2 cells, providing a mechanism for their increased permissivity to support HCV entry. High concentrations of HCV particles could stimulate macrophages to express TNF-α, providing a direct mechanism for the virus to promote infection. CONCLUSION This study shows a new role for TNF-α to increase virus entry and highlights the potential for HCV to exploit existing innate immune responses in the liver to promote de novo infection events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola F Fletcher
- Hepatitis C Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of BirminghamBirmingham, UK
| | - Rupesh Sutaria
- NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, University of BirminghamBirmingham, UK
| | - Juandy Jo
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR)Singapore
| | - Amy Barnes
- Hepatitis C Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of BirminghamBirmingham, UK
| | - Miroslava Blahova
- NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, University of BirminghamBirmingham, UK
| | - Luke W Meredith
- Hepatitis C Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of BirminghamBirmingham, UK
| | | | | | - David H Adams
- NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, University of BirminghamBirmingham, UK
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR)Singapore
| | - Jane A McKeating
- Hepatitis C Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of BirminghamBirmingham, UK,NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, University of BirminghamBirmingham, UK
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