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Ren J, Cheng S, Ren F, Gu H, Wu D, Yao X, Tan M, Huang A, Chen J. Epigenetic regulation and its therapeutic potential in hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA. Genes Dis 2025; 12:101215. [PMID: 39534573 PMCID: PMC11555349 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2024.101215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of acute and chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the application of prophylactic vaccination programs has successfully prevented the trend of increasing HBV infection prevalence, the number of HBV-infected people remains very high. Approved therapeutic management efficiently suppresses viral replication; however, HBV infection is rarely completely resolved. The major reason for therapeutic failure is the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which forms viral minichromosomes by combining with histone and nonhistone proteins in the nucleus. Increasing evidence indicates that chromatin-modifying enzymes, viral proteins, and noncoding RNAs are essential for modulating the function of cccDNA. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanism underlying cccDNA transcription will contribute to the development of a cure for chronic hepatitis B. This review summarizes the current knowledge of cccDNA biology, the regulatory mechanisms underlying cccDNA transcription, and novel anti-HBV approaches for eliminating cccDNA transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihua Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Shengtao Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Fang Ren
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Co-construction for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Huiying Gu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Daiqing Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Xinyan Yao
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Ming Tan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Ailong Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Juan Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
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Hu K, Zai W, Xu M, Wang H, Song X, Huang C, Liu J, Chen J, Deng Q, Yuan Z, Chen J. Augmented epigenetic repression of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA by interferon-α and small-interfering RNA synergy. mBio 2024; 15:e0241524. [PMID: 39570046 PMCID: PMC11633095 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02415-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 10/24/2024] [Indexed: 11/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a key obstacle for HBV cure. This study aims to comprehensively assess the effect of interferon (IFN) and small-interfering RNA (siRNA) combination on the cccDNA minichromosome. Utilizing both cell and mouse cccDNA models, we compared the inhibitory effects of IFNα, siRNA, and their combination on cccDNA activity and assessed its epigenetic state. IFNα2 treatment alone reduced HBV RNAs, HBeAg, and HBsAg levels by approximately 50%, accompanied by a low-level reconstitution of SMC5/6-a chromatin modulator that restricts cccDNA transcription. HBx-targeting siRNA (siHBx) achieved significant suppression of viral antigens and reconstitution of SMC5/6, but this effect could be reversed by the deacetylase inhibitor Belinostat. The combination of IFN with siHBx resulted in over 95% suppression of virological markers, reduction in epigenetic activation modifications (H3Ac and H4Ac) on cccDNA, and further reduced cccDNA accessibility, with the effect not reversible by Belinostat. In an extracellular humanized IFNAR C57BL/6 mouse model harboring recombinant cccDNA, the effect of combination of clinically used pegylated IFNα2 and GalNac-siHBx was further clarified, indicating a higher and more durable suppression of cccDNA activity compared to either therapy alone. In conclusion, the combination of IFNα and siRNA achieves a more potent and durable epigenetic inhibition of cccDNA activity in cell and mouse models, compared to monotherapy. These findings deepen the understanding of cccDNA modulation and strengthen the scientific basis for the potential of combination therapy. IMPORTANCE Since there are currently no approved drugs targeting and silencing covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), achieving a "functional cure" remains difficult. This study aims to comprehensively compare the effects of IFNα, small-interfering RNA targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV), and their combination on the activity, accessibility, and epigenetic modifications of cccDNA minichromosomes in cell models. A more durable and stable inhibition of HBV RNAs and antigens expression by IFNα and HBx-targeting siRNA (siHBx) synergy was observed, associated with augmented epigenetic repression of the cccDNA minichromosome. Besides, in an extracellular humanized IFNAR mouse model harboring recombinant cccDNA with an intact response to human IFNα, the synergistic effect of clinically used pegylated IFNα2 and in-house-developed GalNac-siHBx was further clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kongying Hu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjing Zai
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingzhu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinluo Song
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangxia Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases (MOE), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenghong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai, China
| | - Jieliang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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3
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Zhang Y, Cao W, Wang S, Zhang L, Li X, Zhang Z, Xie Y, Li M. Epigenetic modification of hepatitis B virus infection and related hepatocellular carcinoma. Virulence 2024; 15:2421231. [PMID: 39460469 PMCID: PMC11583590 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2024.2421231] [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: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 09/18/2024] [Accepted: 10/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a challenge to global public health. Persistent liver infection with HBV is associated with an increased risk of developing severe liver disease. The complex interaction between the virus and the host is the reason for the persistent presence of HBV and the risk of tumor development. Chronic liver inflammation, integration of viral genome with host genome, expression of HBx protein, and viral genotype are all key participants in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epigenetic regulation in HBV-associated HCC involves complex interactions of molecular mechanisms that control gene expression and function without altering the underlying DNA sequence. These epigenetic modifications can significantly affect the onset and progression of HCC. This review summarizes recent research on the epigenetic regulation of HBV persistent infection and HBV-HCC development, including DNA methylation, histone modification, RNA modification, non-coding RNA, etc. Enhanced knowledge of these mechanisms will offer fresh perspectives and potential targets for intervention tactics in HBV-HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqin Zhang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Weihua Cao
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyu Wang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyu Zhang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Xie
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Minghui Li
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China
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4
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Nguyen L, Nguyen TT, Kim JY, Jeong JH. Advanced siRNA delivery in combating hepatitis B virus: mechanistic insights and recent updates. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:745. [PMID: 39616384 PMCID: PMC11608496 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-03004-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 11/09/2024] [Indexed: 12/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem, causing thousands of deaths each year worldwide. Although current medications can often inhibit viral replication and reduce the risk of liver carcinoma, several obstacles still hinder their effectiveness. These include viral resistance, prolonged treatment duration, and low efficacy in clearing viral antigens. To address these challenges in current HBV treatment, numerous approaches have been developed with remarkable success. Among these strategies, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) stands out as one of the most promising therapies for hepatitis B. However, naked siRNAs are vulnerable to enzymatic digestion, easily eliminated by renal filtration, and unable to cross the cell membrane due to their large, anionic structure. Therefore, effective delivery systems are required to protect siRNAs and maintain their functionality. In this review, we have discussed the promises of siRNA therapy in treating HBV, milestones in their delivery systems, and products that have entered clinical trials. Finally, we have outlined the future perspectives of siRNA-based therapy for HBV treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linh Nguyen
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Tiep Tien Nguyen
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ju-Yeon Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jee-Heon Jeong
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Li R, Wang C, Xu K, Zhan Z, He S, Ren J, Li F, Tao N, Li Z, Yang Z, Yu H. Asiatic acid inhibits HBV cccDNA transcription by promoting HBx degradation. Virol J 2024; 21:268. [PMID: 39468627 PMCID: PMC11520515 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02535-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 10/13/2024] [Indexed: 10/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a persistent global public health problem, and curing for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) through the application of existing antiviral drugs is beset by numerous challenges. The viral protein HBx is a critical regulatory factor in the life cycle of HBV. Targeting HBx is a promising possibility for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. METHODS The Nano-Glo® HiBiT Lysis Detection System was used to screen the herbal monomer compound library for compounds that inhibit HBx expression. Western blotting was used to examine proteins expression. Southern blotting or Northern blotting were used to detect HBV DNA or HBV RNA. ELISA was performed to detect the HBsAg level. The effect of asiatic acid on HBV in vivo was investigated by using recombinant cccDNA mouse model. RESULTS Asiatic acid, an extract of Centella asiatica, significantly reduced the HBx level. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that asiatic acid may promote the degradation of HBx in an autophagy pathway-dependent manner. Subsequently, asiatic acid was found to reduce the amount of HBx bound to covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) microchromosomes, and repressive chromatin modifications then occurred, ultimately inhibiting cccDNA transcriptional activity. Moreover, in HBV-infected cells and a mouse model of persistent HBV infection, asiatic acid exhibited potent anti-HBV activity, as evidenced by decreased levels of HBV RNAs, HBV DNA and HBsAg. CONCLUSIONS Asiatic acid was identified as a compound that targets HBx, revealing its potential for application as an anti-HBV agent.
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Grants
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82372996 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0864, CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0170, cstc2021jcyj-bshX0179, CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480 the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- KJQN202100429, KJQN202300483 Sci-ence and Technology Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commis-sion
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
- W0040 Future Medical Youth Innovation Team of Chongqing Medical University
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chunduo Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kexin Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zongzhu Zhan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Siyi He
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jihua Ren
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Nana Tao
- Department Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Co-construction for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Chongqing, China.
- , Seventh Floor, Building A, 1 North District Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400013, China.
| | - Zhihong Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- , Seventh Floor, Building A, 1 North District Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400013, China.
| | - Zhen Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Af-filiated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, Gusu District, 215006, China.
| | - Haibo Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- , Seventh Floor, Building A, 1 North District Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400013, China.
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6
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Bächer J, Allweiss L, Dandri M. SMC5/6-Mediated Transcriptional Regulation of Hepatitis B Virus and Its Therapeutic Potential. Viruses 2024; 16:1667. [PMID: 39599784 PMCID: PMC11598903 DOI: 10.3390/v16111667] [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: 09/09/2024] [Revised: 10/16/2024] [Accepted: 10/23/2024] [Indexed: 11/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Cells have developed various mechanisms to counteract viral infections. In an evolutionary arms race, cells mobilize cellular restriction factors to fight off viruses, targeted by viral factors to facilitate their own replication. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small dsDNA virus that causes acute and chronic infections of the liver. Its genome persists in the nuclei of infected hepatocytes as a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosome, thus building up an episomal persistence reservoir. The chromosomal maintenance complex SMC5/6 acts as a restriction factor hindering cccDNA transcription, whereas the viral regulatory protein HBx targets SMC5/6 for proteasomal degradation, thus relieving transcriptional suppression of the HBV minichromosome. To date, no curative therapies are available for chronic HBV carriers. Knowledge of the factors regulating the cccDNA and the development of therapies involving silencing the minichromosome or specifically interfering with the HBx-SMC5/6 axis holds promise in achieving sustained viral control. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the mechanism of SMC5/6-mediated HBV restriction. We also give an overview of SMC5/6 cellular functions and how this compares to the restriction of other DNA viruses. We further discuss the therapeutic potential of available and investigational drugs interfering with the HBx-SMC5/6 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Bächer
- I. Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (J.B.); (L.A.)
| | - Lena Allweiss
- I. Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (J.B.); (L.A.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems Site, Germany
| | - Maura Dandri
- I. Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (J.B.); (L.A.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems Site, Germany
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7
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Pastor F, Charles E, Di Vona C, Chapelle M, Rivoire M, Passot G, Chabot B, de la Luna S, Lucifora J, Durantel D, Salvetti A. The dual-specificity kinase DYRK1A interacts with the Hepatitis B virus genome and regulates the production of viral RNA. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0311655. [PMID: 39405283 PMCID: PMC11478819 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The genome of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persists in infected hepatocytes as a nuclear episome (cccDNA) that is responsible for the transcription of viral genes and viral rebound, following antiviral treatment arrest in chronically infected patients. There is currently no clinically approved therapeutic strategy able to efficiently target cccDNA (Lucifora J 2016). The development of alternative strategies aiming at permanently abrogating HBV RNA production requires a thorough understanding of cccDNA transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. In a previous study, we discovered that 1C8, a compound that inhibits the phosphorylation of some cellular RNA-binding proteins, could decrease the level of HBV RNAs. Here, we aimed at identifying kinases responsible for this effect. Among the kinases targeted by 1C8, we focused on DYRK1A, a dual-specificity kinase that controls the transcription of cellular genes by phosphorylating transcription factors, histones, chromatin regulators as well as RNA polymerase II. The results of a combination of genetic and chemical approaches using HBV-infected hepatocytes, indicated that DYRK1A positively regulates the production of HBV RNAs. In addition, we found that DYRK1A associates with cccDNA, and stimulates the production of HBV nascent RNAs. Finally, reporter gene assays showed that DYRK1A up-regulates the activity of the HBV enhancer 1/X promoter in a sequence-dependent manner. Altogether, these results indicate that DYRK1A is a proviral factor that may participate in the HBV life cycle by stimulating the production of HBx, a viral factor absolutely required to trigger the complete cccDNA transcriptional program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin Pastor
- International Center for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Emilie Charles
- International Center for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Chiara Di Vona
- Genome Biology Program, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), and CIBER of Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maëlys Chapelle
- International Center for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Guillaume Passot
- Service de Chirurgie Générale et Oncologique, Hôpital Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon Et CICLY, EA3738, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Benoit Chabot
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Susana de la Luna
- Genome Biology Program, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), and CIBER of Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julie Lucifora
- International Center for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - David Durantel
- International Center for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Anna Salvetti
- International Center for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
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8
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Kumar A, Combe E, Mougené L, Zoulim F, Testoni B. Applications of CRISPR/Cas as a Toolbox for Hepatitis B Virus Detection and Therapeutics. Viruses 2024; 16:1565. [PMID: 39459899 PMCID: PMC11512240 DOI: 10.3390/v16101565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/27/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global health challenge, leading to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and integrated HBV DNA are pivotal in maintaining viral persistence. Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas technology offer innovative strategies to inhibit HBV by directly targeting both cccDNA and integrated HBV DNA or indirectly by degrading HBV RNAs or targeting host proteins. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in using CRISPR/Cas to inhibit HBV, with a special highlight on newer non-double-strand (non-DSB) break approaches. Beyond the canonical use of CRISPR/Cas for target inhibition, we discuss additional applications, including HBV diagnosis and developing models to understand cccDNA biology, highlighting the diverse use of this technology in the HBV field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuj Kumar
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.K.); (E.C.); (L.M.); (F.Z.)
- The Lyon Hepatology Institute EVEREST, 69003 Lyon, France
| | - Emmanuel Combe
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.K.); (E.C.); (L.M.); (F.Z.)
- The Lyon Hepatology Institute EVEREST, 69003 Lyon, France
| | - Léa Mougené
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.K.); (E.C.); (L.M.); (F.Z.)
- The Lyon Hepatology Institute EVEREST, 69003 Lyon, France
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.K.); (E.C.); (L.M.); (F.Z.)
- The Lyon Hepatology Institute EVEREST, 69003 Lyon, France
- Hepatology Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), Croix-Rousse Hospital, 69004 Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, UMR_S1052, UCBL, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Barbara Testoni
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, 69008 Lyon, France; (A.K.); (E.C.); (L.M.); (F.Z.)
- The Lyon Hepatology Institute EVEREST, 69003 Lyon, France
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9
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Li D, Hamadalnil Y, Tu T. Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis. Viruses 2024; 16:1361. [PMID: 39339838 PMCID: PMC11437454 DOI: 10.3390/v16091361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health concern worldwide, with approximately 296 million individuals chronically infected. The HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) is a regulatory protein of 17 kDa, reportedly responsible for a broad range of functions, including viral replication and oncogenic processes. In this review, we summarize the state of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying HBx functions in viral replication, the antiviral effect of therapeutics directed against HBx, and the role of HBx in liver cancer development (including a hypothetical model of hepatocarcinogenesis). We conclude by highlighting major unanswered questions in the field and the implications of their answers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Li
- The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia;
| | | | - Thomas Tu
- The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia;
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
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10
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Tyagi P, Singh A, Kumar J, Ahmad B, Bahuguna A, Vivekanandan P, Sarin SK, Kumar V. Furanocoumarins promote proteasomal degradation of viral HBx protein and down-regulate cccDNA transcription and replication of hepatitis B virus. Virology 2024; 595:110065. [PMID: 38569227 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Nucleot(s)ide analogues, the current antiviral treatments against chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, are non-curative due to their inability to eliminate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) from the infected hepatocytes. Preclinical studies have shown that coumarin derivatives can effectively reduce the HBV DNA replication. We evaluated the antiviral efficacy of thirty new coumarin derivatives in cell culture models for studying HBV. Furanocoumarins Fc-20 and Fc-31 suppressed the levels of pre-genomic RNA as well as cccDNA, and reduced the secretion of virions, HBsAg and HBeAg. The antiviral efficacies of Fc-20 and Fc31 improved further when used in combination with the hepatitis B antiviral drug Entecavir. There was a marked reduction in the intracellular HBx level in the presence of these furanocoumarins due to proteasomal degradation resulting in the down-regulation of HBx-dependent viral genes. Importantly, both Fc-20 and Fc-31 were non-cytotoxic to cells even at high concentrations. Further, our molecular docking studies confirmed a moderate to high affinity interaction between furanocoumarins and viral HBx via residues Ala3, Arg26 and Lys140. These data suggest that furanocoumarins could be developed as a new therapeutic for CHB infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purnima Tyagi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankita Singh
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Jitendra Kumar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Belal Ahmad
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Aparna Bahuguna
- Elsevier/ RELX India Pvt Ltd., DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon, 122002, India
| | - Perumal Vivekanandan
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Shiv Kumar Sarin
- Department of Hepatology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India.
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11
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Yan W, Rao D, Fan F, Liang H, Zhang Z, Dong H. Hepatitis B virus X protein and TGF-β: partners in the carcinogenic journey of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1407434. [PMID: 38962270 PMCID: PMC11220127 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1407434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B infection is substantially associated with the development of liver cancer globally, with the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases exceeding 50%. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encodes the Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein, a pleiotropic regulatory protein necessary for the transcription of the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) microchromosome. In previous studies, HBV-associated HCC was revealed to be affected by HBx in multiple signaling pathways, resulting in genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In addition, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has dichotomous potentials at various phases of malignancy as it is a crucial signaling pathway that regulates multiple cellular and physiological processes. In early HCC, TGF-β has a significant antitumor effect, whereas in advanced HCC, it promotes malignant progression. TGF-β interacts with the HBx protein in HCC, regulating the pathogenesis of HCC. This review summarizes the respective and combined functions of HBx and TGB-β in HCC occurrence and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yan
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dean Rao
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Feimu Fan
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huifang Liang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education, National Health Commission (NHC), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zunyi Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hanhua Dong
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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12
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Giraud G, El Achi K, Zoulim F, Testoni B. Co-Transcriptional Regulation of HBV Replication: RNA Quality Also Matters. Viruses 2024; 16:615. [PMID: 38675956 PMCID: PMC11053573 DOI: 10.3390/v16040615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection is a major public health burden and the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the efficacy of current treatments, hepatitis B virus (HBV) cannot be fully eradicated due to the persistence of its minichromosome, or covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). The HBV community is investing large human and financial resources to develop new therapeutic strategies that either silence or ideally degrade cccDNA, to cure HBV completely or functionally. cccDNA transcription is considered to be the key step for HBV replication. Transcription not only influences the levels of viral RNA produced, but also directly impacts their quality, generating multiple variants. Growing evidence advocates for the role of the co-transcriptional regulation of HBV RNAs during CHB and viral replication, paving the way for the development of novel therapies targeting these processes. This review focuses on the mechanisms controlling the different co-transcriptional processes that HBV RNAs undergo, and their contribution to both viral replication and HBV-induced liver pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Giraud
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France (F.Z.)
- The Lyon Hepatology Institute EVEREST, 69003 Lyon, France
| | - Khadija El Achi
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France (F.Z.)
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France (F.Z.)
- The Lyon Hepatology Institute EVEREST, 69003 Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Croix Rousse, Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie, 69004 Lyon, France
| | - Barbara Testoni
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France (F.Z.)
- The Lyon Hepatology Institute EVEREST, 69003 Lyon, France
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13
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Hou L, Zhao J, Cai L, Jin L, Liu B, Li S, Yang J, Ji T, Li S, Shi L, Shen B, Yu H, Wang Y, Cai X. HBV PreC interacts with SUV39H1 to induce viral replication by blocking the proteasomal degradation of viral polymerase. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29607. [PMID: 38628076 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seropositivity during the natural history of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is known to coincide with significant increases in serum and intrahepatic HBV DNA levels. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we found that PreC (HBeAg precursor) genetic ablation leads to reduced viral replication both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, PreC impedes the proteasomal degradation of HBV polymerase, promoting viral replication. We discovered that PreC interacts with SUV39H1, a histone methyltransferase, resulting in a reduction in the expression of Cdt2, an adaptor protein of CRL4 E3 ligase targeting HBV polymerase. SUV39H1 induces H3K9 trimethylation of the Cdt2 promoter in a PreC-induced manner. CRISPR-mediated knockout of endogenous SUV39H1 or pharmaceutical inhibition of SUV39H1 decreases HBV loads in the mouse liver. Additionally, genetic depletion of Cdt2 in the mouse liver abrogates PreC-related HBV replication. Interestingly, a negative correlation of intrahepatic Cdt2 with serum HBeAg and HBV DNA load was observed in CHB patient samples. Our study thus sheds light on the mechanistic role of PreC in inducing HBV replication and identifies potential therapeutic targets for HBV treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidan Hou
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liuxin Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ling Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
| | - Boqiang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shijie Li
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jin Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tong Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
| | - Songyi Li
- Animal Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liang Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bo Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yifan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiujun Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Province Medical Research Center of Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, China
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14
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Zhang X, Li Y, Huan C, Hou Y, Liu R, Shi H, Zhang P, Zheng B, Wang Y, Wang H, Zhang W. LncRNA NKILA inhibits HBV replication by repressing NF-κB signalling activation. Virol Sin 2024; 39:44-55. [PMID: 37832719 PMCID: PMC10877346 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2023.10.002] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection results in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBx/nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway plays a role in HBV replication. However, whether NF-κB-interacting long noncoding RNA (NKILA), a suppressor of NF-κB activation, regulates HBV replication remains largely unknown. In this study, gain-and-loss experiments showed that NKILA inhibited HBV replication by inhibiting NF-κB activity. In turn, HBV infection down-regulated NKILA expression. In addition, expression levels of NKILA were lower in the peripheral blood-derived monocytes (PBMCs) of HBV-positive patients than in healthy individuals, which were correlated with HBV viral loads. And a negative correlation between NKILA expression level and HBV viral loads was observed in blood serum from HBV-positive patients. Lower levels of endogenous NKILA were also observed in HepG2 cells expressing a 1.3-fold HBV genome, HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells, stable HBV-producing HepG2.2.15 and HepAD38 cells, compared to those HBV-negative cells. Furthermore, HBx was required for NKILA-mediated inhibition on HBV replication. NKILA decreased HBx-induced NF-κB activation by interrupting the interaction between HBx and p65, whereas NKILA mutants lack of essential domains for NF-ĸB inhibition, lost the ability to inhibit HBV replication. Together, our data demonstrate that NKILA may serve as a suppressor of HBV replication via NF-ĸB signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Chen Huan
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yubao Hou
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Rujia Liu
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Hongyun Shi
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Baisong Zheng
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yingchao Wang
- Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Wenyan Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
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15
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Wang Z, Liu N, Yang Y, Tu Z. The novel mechanism facilitating chronic hepatitis B infection: immunometabolism and epigenetic modification reprogramming. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1349867. [PMID: 38288308 PMCID: PMC10822934 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1349867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections pose a global public health challenge. Despite extensive research on this disease, the intricate mechanisms underlying persistent HBV infection require further in-depth elucidation. Recent studies have revealed the pivotal roles of immunometabolism and epigenetic reprogramming in chronic HBV infection. Immunometabolism have identified as the process, which link cell metabolic status with innate immunity functions in response to HBV infection, ultimately contributing to the immune system's inability to resolve Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB). Within hepatocytes, HBV replication leads to a stable viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosome located in the nucleus, and epigenetic modifications in cccDNA enable persistence of infection. Additionally, the accumulation or depletion of metabolites not only directly affects the function and homeostasis of immune cells but also serves as a substrate for regulating epigenetic modifications, subsequently influencing the expression of antiviral immune genes and facilitating the occurrence of sustained HBV infection. The interaction between immunometabolism and epigenetic modifications has led to a new research field, known as metabolic epigenomics, which may form a mutually reinforcing relationship with CHB. Herein, we review the recent studies on immunometabolism and epigenetic reprogramming in CHB infection and discuss the potential mechanisms of persistent HBV infection. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms will offer novel insights and targets for intervention strategies against chronic HBV infection, thereby providing new hope for the treatment of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengmin Wang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Nan Liu
- Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhengkun Tu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Institute of Liver Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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16
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Wen X, Li D, Chen P, Tan M, Zhang H, Liu Y, Ren J, Cheng S. Gambogic acid inhibits HBx-mediated hepatitis B virus replication by targeting the DTX1-Notch signaling pathway. Virus Res 2024; 339:199273. [PMID: 38029800 PMCID: PMC10714370 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Current antiviral drugs, including nucleoside analogs and interferon, fail to eliminate the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which serves as a transcript template in infected hepatocytes. Silencing the HBV X protein, which plays a crucial role in cccDNA transcription, is a promising approach to inhibit HBV replication. Therefore, the identification of novel compounds that can inhibit HBx-mediated cccDNA transcription is critical. METHODS Initially, a compound library consisting of 715 monomers derived from traditional Chinese medicines known for their liver-protecting properties was established. Then, MTT assays were used to determine the cytotoxicity of each compound. The effect of candidates on Flag-HBx expression was examined by real-time PCR and western blotting in Flag-HBx transfected HepG2-NTCP cells. Ultimately, the antiviral effect of gambogic acid (GA) on HBV was observed in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells. Mechanistically, the functional role of DTX1 in GA-induced HBV inhibition was examined using RNA-seq. Finally, the antiviral effect of GA was estimated in vivo. RESULTS Gambogic acid (GA), a natural bioactive compound with a myriad of biological activities, markedly reduced Flag-HBx expression. Potent and dose-dependent reductions in extracellular HBV RNAs, HBV DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg and HBc protein were discovered three days after GA treatment in HBV-infected cells, accompanied by the absence of significant cytotoxicity. Furthermore, our research revealed that GA exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of HBx expression, which is a pleiotropic protein required for HBV infection in vivo. We explored the mechanisms underlying GA-mediated inhibition of HBV and confirmed that this inhibition is accomplished by upregulating the expression of the DTX1 gene and boosting the Notch signaling pathway. Finally, the inhibitory effect of GA on HBV replication was tested in vivo using a mouse model of hepatitis B virus recombinant cccDNA. CONCLUSIONS Herein, we discovered GA, which is a natural bioactive compound that targets HBx to inhibit hepatitis B virus replication by activating the DTX1-Notch signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Dian Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ming Tan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuting Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jihua Ren
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shengtao Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Ming T, Yuting L, Meiling D, Shengtao C, Jihua R, Hui Z, Wanjin C, Dian L, Tingting G, Juan C, Zhenzhen Z. Chromatin binding protein HMGN1 promotes HBV cccDNA transcription and replication by regulating the phosphorylation of histone 3. Antiviral Res 2024; 221:105796. [PMID: 38181856 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Direct elimination of cccDNA remains a formidable obstacle due to the persistent and stable presence of cccDNA in hepatocyte nuclei. The silencing of cccDNA transcription enduringly is one of alternative strategies in the treatment of hepatitis B. Protein binding to cccDNA plays an important role in its transcriptional regulation; thus, the identification of key factors involved in this process is of great importance. APPROACHES AND RESULTS In the present study, high mobility group nucleosome binding domain 1 (HMGN1) was screened out based on our biotin-avidin enrichment system. First, chromatin immunoprecipitation and fluorescent in situ hybridization assays confirmed the binding of HMGN1 with cccDNA in the nucleus. Second, functional experiments in HBV-infected cells showed that the promoting effect of HMGN1 on HBV transcription and replication depended on the functional region of the nucleosomal binding domain, while transfection of the HMGN1 mutant showed no influence on HBV compared with the vector. Third, further mechanistic exploration revealed that the silencing of HMGN1 increased the level of phosphorylase CLK2 and promoted H3 phosphorylation causing the reduced accessibility of cccDNA. Moreover, silenced HMGN1 was mimicked in HBV (r) cccDNA mouse model of HBV infection in vivo. The results showed that silencing HMGN1 inhibited HBV replication in vivo. CONCLUSIONS In summary, our study identified that a host protein can bind to cccDNA and promote its transcription, providing a candidate strategy for anti-HBV targeting to interfere with the transcriptional activity of cccDNA microchromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tan Ming
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical University Chongqing, China; The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liu Yuting
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dong Meiling
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Cheng Shengtao
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ren Jihua
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhang Hui
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chen Wanjin
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Dian
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gao Tingting
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chen Juan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Zhang Zhenzhen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical University Chongqing, China.
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18
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Wang F, Song H, Xu F, Xu J, Wang L, Yang F, Zhu Y, Tan G. Role of hepatitis B virus non-structural protein HBx on HBV replication, interferon signaling, and hepatocarcinogenesis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1322892. [PMID: 38188582 PMCID: PMC10767994 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1322892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B, a global health concern caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), infects nearly 2 billion individuals worldwide, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). HBV, a hepatotropic DNA virus, predominantly targets and replicates within hepatocytes. Those carrying the virus are at increased risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, resulting in nearly 900,000 fatalities annually. The HBV X protein (HBx), encoded by the virus's open reading frame x, plays a key role in its virulence. This protein is integral to viral replication, immune modulation, and liver cancer progression. Despite its significance, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying HBx remain elusive. This review investigates the HBx protein's roles in HBV replication, interferon signaling regulation, and hepatocellular carcinoma progression. By understanding the complex interactions between the virus and its host mediated by HBx, we aim to establish a solid foundation for future research and the development of HBx-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Department of Hepatology, Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Hongxiao Song
- Department of Hepatology, Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Fengchao Xu
- Department of Hepatology, Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Health Examination Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yujia Zhu
- Department of Hepatology, Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Guangyun Tan
- Department of Hepatology, Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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19
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Seeger C. A CRISPR-based system to investigate HBV cccDNA biology. J Virol 2023; 97:e0118523. [PMID: 37819132 PMCID: PMC10617570 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01185-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus cccDNA is the key target for the necessary development of antiviral therapies aimed at curing chronic hepatitis B. The CRISPR-based system to produce covalently closed circular (cccDNA)-like extrachromosomal DNAs described in this report enables large-scale screens of chemical libraries to identify drug candidates with the potential to permanently inactivate cccDNA. Moreover, this approach permits investigations on unresolved problems as described in this report concerning cccDNA biology including mechanisms of SMC5/6-dependent transcriptional silencing and the contributions of the SMC5/6 complex to cccDNA stability in resting and dividing hepatocytes.
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20
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Sanal MG, Gupta S, Saha R, Vats N, Sarin SK. Hepatitis B Virus x Protein Increases Cellular OCT3/4 and MYC and Facilitates Cellular Reprogramming. Cell Reprogram 2023; 25:224-237. [PMID: 37769039 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2023.0055] [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] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus x (HBx) is a multifunctional protein coded by the Hepatitis B virus that is involved in various cellular processes such as proliferation, cell survival/apoptosis, and histone methylation. HBx was reported to be associated with liver "cancer stem cells." The stemness inducing properties of HBx could also facilitate the generation of pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells. It is well established that somatic cells can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using a cocktail of transcription factors called Yamanaka's factors (YFs) (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and MYC). The reprogramming process proceeds step-by-step with reprogramming factor chromatin interactions, transcription, and chromatin states changing during transitions. HBx is a "broad spectrum trans-activator" and therefore could facilitate these transitions. We electroporated low passage and high passage (difficult to reprogram) fibroblasts using YFs with and without HBx and evaluated the reprogramming efficiency. We also investigated the tri-lineage and terminal differentiation potential of iPSC derived using HBx. We found that the addition of HBx to YF improves iPSC derivation, and it increases the efficiency of iPSC generation from "difficult or hard-to-reprogram samples" such as high passage/senescent fibroblasts. Further, we show that HBx can substitute the key transcription factor MYC in the YF cocktail to generate iPSC. The cellular levels of OCT3/4 and MYC were increased in HBx expressing cells. Our results have practical value in improving the efficiency of pluripotent stem cell derivation from "difficult to reprogram" somatic cells, in addition to providing some insights into the mechanisms of liver carcinogenesis in chronic hepatitis B. To conclude, HBx improves the reprogramming efficiency of YFs. HBx increases the cellular levels of OCT3/4 and MYC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhusudana Girija Sanal
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine and Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sarita Gupta
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine and Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Rahul Saha
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine and Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Nisha Vats
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine and Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shiv Kumar Sarin
- Department of Hepatology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
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21
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He P, Zhang P, Fang Y, Han N, Yang W, Xia Z, Zhu Y, Zhang Z, Shen J. The role of HBV cccDNA in occult hepatitis B virus infection. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:2297-2307. [PMID: 36735210 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04660-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) refers to the presence of replication-competent HBV DNA in the liver, with or without HBV DNA in the blood, in individuals who tested negative for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). In this peculiar phase of HBV infection, the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is in a low state of replication. Several advances have been made toward clarifying the mechanisms involved in such a suppression of viral activity, which seems to be mainly related to the host's immune control and epigenetic factors. Although the underlying mechanisms describing the genesis of OBI are not completely known, the presence of viral cccDNA, which remains in a low state of replication due to the host's strong immune suppression of HBV replication and gene expression, appears to be the causative factor. Through this review, we have provided an updated account on the role of HBV cccDNA in regulating OBI. We have comprehensively described the HBV cell cycle, cccDNA kinetics, current regulatory mechanisms, and the therapeutic methods of cccDNA in OBI-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peixin Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yaping Fang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ning Han
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wensu Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoxin Xia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenhua Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Jilu Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China.
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, 230012, People's Republic of China.
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22
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Kong X, Liu Z, Zhang R, Xie F, Liang R, Zhang Y, Yu L, Yang W, Li X, Chen Q, Li B, Hong Y, Li M, Xia X, Gu L, Fu L, Li X, Shen Y, Wu T, Yu C, Li W. JMJD2D stabilises and cooperates with HBx protein to promote HBV transcription and replication. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100849. [PMID: 37701334 PMCID: PMC10494471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims HBV infection is a global health burden. Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) transcriptional regulation is a major cause of poor cure rates of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. Herein, we evaluated whether targeting host factors to achieve functional silencing of cccDNA may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of HBV infection. Methods To evaluate the effects of Jumonji C domain-containing (JMJD2) protein subfamily JMJD2A-2D proteins on HBV replication, we used lentivirus-based RNA interference to suppress the expression of isoforms JMJD2A-2D in HBV-infected cells. JMJD2D-knockout mice were generated to obtain an HBV-injected model for in vivo experiments. Co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitylation assays were used to detect JMJD2D-HBx interactions and HBx stability modulated by JMJD2D. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed to investigate JMJD2D-cccDNA and HBx-cccDNA interactions. Results Among the JMJD2 family members, JMJD2D was significantly upregulated in mouse livers and human hepatoma cells. Downregulation of JMJD2D inhibited cccDNA transcription and HBV replication. Molecularly, JMJD2D sustained HBx stability by suppressing the TRIM14-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway and acted as a key co-activator of HBx to augment HBV replication. The JMJD2D-targeting inhibitor, 5C-8-HQ, suppressed cccDNA transcription and HBV replication. Conclusion Our study clarified the mechanism by which JMJD2D regulates HBV transcription and replication and identified JMJD2D as a potential diagnostic biomarker and promising drug target against CHB, and HBV-associated hepatocarcinoma. Impact and implications HBV cccDNA is central to persistent infection and is a major obstacle to healing CHB. In this study, using cellular and animal HBV models, JMJD2D was found to stabilise and cooperate with HBx to augment HBV transcription and replication. This study reveals a potential novel translational target for intervention in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Kong
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zuofeng Liu
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hepatology, Affiliated Hospital of Panzhihua University, Panzhihua, China
| | - Ruyi Zhang
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fu’an Xie
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Rubing Liang
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lingling Yu
- Department of Cardiology, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, China
| | - Wensheng Yang
- Department of Pathology, Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xi Li
- College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Bei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yilin Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ming Li
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Research and Developing, Xiamen Medicine Research Institute, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaogang Xia
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lingwei Gu
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Management, Jiang Xia Blood Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Lijuan Fu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaohua Li
- Department of Surgery, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ye Shen
- Department of Management, Jiang Xia Blood Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Wu
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chundong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wengang Li
- Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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23
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Liu W, Yao Q, Su X, Deng Y, Yang M, Peng B, Zhao F, Du C, Zhang X, Zhu J, Wang D, Li W, Li H. Molecular insights into Spindlin1-HBx interplay and its impact on HBV transcription from cccDNA minichromosome. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4663. [PMID: 37537164 PMCID: PMC10400593 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40225-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular interplay between host epigenetic factors and viral proteins constitutes an intriguing mechanism for sustaining hepatitis B virus (HBV) life cycle and its chronic infection. HBV encodes a regulatory protein, HBx, which activates transcription and replication of HBV genome organized as covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA minichromosome. Here we illustrate how HBx accomplishes its task by hijacking Spindlin1, an epigenetic reader comprising three consecutive Tudor domains. Our biochemical and structural studies have revealed that the highly conserved N-terminal 2-21 segment of HBx (HBx2-21) associates intimately with Tudor 3 of Spindlin1, enhancing histone H3 "K4me3-K9me3" readout by Tudors 2 and 1. Functionally, Spindlin1-HBx engagement promotes gene expression from the chromatinized cccDNA, accompanied by an epigenetic switch from an H3K9me3-enriched repressive state to an H3K4me3-marked active state, as well as a conformational switch of HBx that may occur in coordination with other HBx-binding factors, such as DDB1. Despite a proposed transrepression activity of HBx2-21, our study reveals a key role of Spindlin1 in derepressing this conserved motif, thereby promoting HBV transcription from its chromatinized genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qiyan Yao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiaonan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yafang Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Mo Yang
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, 1050 Boyles Str., Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Bo Peng
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Fan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Chao Du
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xiulan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jinsong Zhu
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
- Suzhou Puxin Life Science Technology, Ltd, Suzhou, 215124, China
| | - Daliang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Wenhui Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China.
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Haitao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China.
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24
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Yao Q, Peng B, Li C, Li X, Chen M, Zhou Z, Tang D, He J, Wu Y, Sun Y, Li W. SLF2 Interacts with the SMC5/6 Complex to Direct Hepatitis B Virus Episomal DNA to Promyelocytic Leukemia Bodies for Transcriptional Repression. J Virol 2023:e0032823. [PMID: 37338350 PMCID: PMC10373549 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00328-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects approximately 300 million people worldwide, and permanently repressing transcription of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the episomal viral DNA reservoir, is an attractive approach toward curing HBV. However, the mechanism underlying cccDNA transcription is only partially understood. In this study, by illuminating cccDNA of wild-type HBV (HBV-WT) and transcriptionally inactive HBV that bears a deficient HBV X gene (HBV-ΔX), we found that the HBV-ΔX cccDNA more frequently colocalizes with promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies than that of HBV-WT cccDNA. A small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen targeting 91 PML body-related proteins identified SMC5-SMC6 localization factor 2 (SLF2) as a host restriction factor of cccDNA transcription, and subsequent studies showed that SLF2 mediates HBV cccDNA entrapment in PML bodies by interacting with the SMC5/6 complex. We further showed that the region of SLF2 comprising residues 590 to 710 interacts with and recruits the SMC5/6 complex to PML bodies, and the C-terminal domain of SLF2 containing this region is necessary for repression of cccDNA transcription. Our findings shed new light on cellular mechanisms that inhibit HBV infection and lend further support for targeting the HBx pathway to repress HBV activity. IMPORTANCE Chronic HBV infection remains a major public health problem worldwide. Current antiviral treatments rarely cure the infection, as they cannot clear the viral reservoir, cccDNA, in the nucleus. Therefore, permanently silencing HBV cccDNA transcription represents a promising approach for a cure of HBV infection. Our study provides new insights into the cellular mechanisms that restrict HBV infection, revealing the role of SLF2 in directing HBV cccDNA to PML bodies for transcriptional repression. These findings have important implications for the development of antiviral therapies against HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyan Yao
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Peng
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuelei Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingyi Chen
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongmin Zhou
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dingbin Tang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiabei He
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yumeng Wu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yinyan Sun
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhui Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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25
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Villanueva RA, Loyola A. Pre- and Post-Transcriptional Control of HBV Gene Expression: The Road Traveled towards the New Paradigm of HBx, Its Isoforms, and Their Diverse Functions. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1674. [PMID: 37371770 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061674] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped DNA human virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family. Perhaps its main distinguishable characteristic is the replication of its genome through a reverse transcription process. The HBV circular genome encodes only four overlapping reading frames, encoding for the main canonical proteins named core, P, surface, and X (or HBx protein). However, pre- and post-transcriptional gene regulation diversifies the full HBV proteome into diverse isoform proteins. In line with this, hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is a viral multifunctional and regulatory protein of 16.5 kDa, whose canonical reading frame presents two phylogenetically conserved internal in-frame translational initiation codons, and which results as well in the expression of two divergent N-terminal smaller isoforms of 8.6 and 5.8 kDa, during translation. The canonical HBx, as well as the smaller isoform proteins, displays different roles during viral replication and subcellular localizations. In this article, we reviewed the different mechanisms of pre- and post-transcriptional regulation of protein expression that take place during viral replication. We also investigated all the past and recent evidence about HBV HBx gene regulation and its divergent N-terminal isoform proteins. Evidence has been collected for over 30 years. The accumulated evidence simply strengthens the concept of a new paradigm of the canonical HBx, and its smaller divergent N-terminal isoform proteins, not only during viral replication, but also throughout cell pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandra Loyola
- Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago 8580702, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 7510602, Chile
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26
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Doan PTB, Nio K, Shimakami T, Kuroki K, Li YY, Sugimoto S, Takayama H, Okada H, Kaneko S, Honda M, Yamashita T. Super-Resolution Microscopy Analysis of Hepatitis B Viral cccDNA and Host Factors. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051178. [PMID: 37243264 DOI: 10.3390/v15051178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) cannot be cured completely because of the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). We previously found that the host gene dedicator of cytokinesis 11 (DOCK11) was required for HBV persistence. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism that links DOCK11 to other host genes in the regulation of cccDNA transcription. cccDNA levels were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in stable HBV-producing cell lines and HBV-infected PXB-cells®. Interactions between DOCK11 and other host genes were identified by super-resolution microscopy, immunoblotting, and chromatin immunoprecipitation. FISH facilitated the subcellular localization of key HBV nucleic acids. Interestingly, although DOCK11 partially colocalized with histone proteins, such as H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, and nonhistone proteins, such as RNA Pol II, it played limited roles in histone modification and RNA transcription. DOCK11 was functionally involved in regulating the subnuclear distribution of host factors and/or cccDNA, resulting in an increase in cccDNA closely located to H3K4me3 and RNA Pol II for activating cccDNA transcription. Thus, it was suggested that the association of cccDNA-bound Pol II and H3K4me3 required the assistance of DOCK11. DOCK11 facilitated the association of cccDNA with H3K4me3 and RNA Pol II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong Thi Bich Doan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Kouki Nio
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Shimakami
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Kuroki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Ying-Yi Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Saiho Sugimoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Hideo Takayama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Hikari Okada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Shuichi Kaneko
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Masao Honda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
| | - Taro Yamashita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
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Irwan ID, Cullen BR. The SMC5/6 complex: An emerging antiviral restriction factor that can silence episomal DNA. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011180. [PMID: 36862666 PMCID: PMC9980727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ishak D. Irwan
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Bryan R. Cullen
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Illuminating the Live-Cell Dynamics of Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA Using the CRISPR-Tag System. mBio 2023; 14:e0355022. [PMID: 36840581 PMCID: PMC10128046 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03550-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the major obstacle to curing chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Current cccDNA detection methods are mostly based on biochemical extraction and bulk measurements. They nevertheless generated a general sketch of its biological features. However, an understanding of the spatiotemporal features of cccDNA is still lacking. To achieve this, we established a system combining CRISPR-Tag and recombinant HBV minicircle technology to visualize cccDNA at single-cell level in real time. Using this system, we found that the observed recombinant cccDNA (rcccDNA) correlated quantitatively with its active transcripts when a low to medium number of foci (<20) are present, but this correlation was lost in cells harboring high copy numbers (≥20) of rcccDNA. The disruption of HBx expression seems to displace cccDNA from the dCas9-accessible region, while HBx complementation restored the number of observable cccDNA foci. This indicated regulation of cccDNA accessibility by HBx. Second, observable HBV and duck HBV (DHBV) cccDNA molecules are substantially lost during cell division, and the remaining ones were distributed randomly to daughter cells. In contrast, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-derived episomes can be retained in a LANA (latency-associated nuclear antigen)-dependent manner. Last, the dynamics of rcccDNA episomes in nuclei displayed confined diffusion at short time scales, with directional transport over longer time scales. In conclusion, this system enables the study of physiological kinetics of cccDNA at the single-cell level. The differential accessibility of rcccDNA to dCas9 under various physiological conditions may be exploited to elucidate the complex transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of the HBV minichromosome. IMPORTANCE Understanding the formation and maintenance of HBV cccDNA has always been a central issue in the study of HBV pathobiology. However, little progress has been made due to the lack of robust assay systems and its resistance to genetic modification. Here, a live-cell imaging system by grafting CRISPR-Tag into the recombinant cccDNA was established to visualize its molecular behavior in real time. We found that the accessibility of rcccDNA to dCas9-based imaging is related to HBx-regulated mechanisms. We also confirmed the substantial loss of observable rcccDNA in one-round cell division and random distribution of the remaining molecules. Molecular dynamics analysis revealed the confined movement of the rcccDNA episome, suggesting its juxtaposition to chromatin domains. Overall, this novel system offers a unique platform to investigate the intranuclear dynamics of cccDNA within live cells.
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The scientific basis of combination therapy for chronic hepatitis B functional cure. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:238-253. [PMID: 36631717 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-022-00724-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Functional cure of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) - or hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss after 24 weeks off therapy - is now the goal of treatment, but is rarely achieved with current therapy. Understanding the hepatitis B virus (HBV) life cycle and immunological defects that lead to persistence can identify targets for novel therapy. Broadly, treatments fall into three categories: those that reduce viral replication, those that reduce antigen load and immunotherapies. Profound viral suppression alone does not achieve quantitative (q)HBsAg reduction or HBsAg loss. Combining nucleos(t)ide analogues and immunotherapy reduces qHBsAg levels and induces HBsAg loss in some patients, particularly those with low baseline qHBsAg levels. Even agents that are specifically designed to reduce viral antigen load might not be able to achieve sustained HBsAg loss when used alone. Thus, rationale exists for the use of combinations of all three therapy types. Monitoring during therapy is important not just to predict HBsAg loss but also to understand mechanisms of HBsAg loss using viral and immunological biomarkers, and in selected cases intrahepatic sampling. We consider various paths to functional cure of CHB and the need to individualize treatment of this heterogeneous infection until a therapeutic avenue for all patients with CHB is available.
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30
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Bhattacharya A. Epigenetic modifications and regulations in gastrointestinal diseases. EPIGENETICS IN ORGAN SPECIFIC DISORDERS 2023:497-543. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823931-5.00005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2025]
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31
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Ciliatoside A, isolated from Peristrophe japonica, inhibits HBsAg expression and cccDNA transcription by inducing autophagy. Antiviral Res 2023; 209:105482. [PMID: 36496141 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss and seroconversion are considered as an end point of a functional cure. Therefore, it is crucial to find new agents which could efficiently decrease HBsAg. Traditional herbal plants have been considered as an important source of new hepatitis B drugs development for their extensive use in antimicrobial and anti-inflammation. In this study, Peristrophe japonica, which could remarkably reduce HBsAg in the supernatant of HepG2.2.15 cells, was screened out for further extraction. Here, an active ethyl acetate fraction of Peristrophe japonica containing 34 sub-fractions was extracted. Subsequently, the monomeric compound Ciliatoside A was isolated and identified as a potential antiviral reagent with low cytotoxicity from Fraction 30. Ciliatoside A exhibited strong inhibition on intracellular and circulating HBsAg and HBV RNAs in HBV-infected cells and an HBV recombinant-cccDNA mouse model. The mechanistic study revealed that Ciliatoside A exhibited a potent anti-HBV effect through inducing autophagy-lysosomal pathway to autophagic degradation of HBc by activating AMPK-ULK1 axis and inhibiting mTOR activation. In summary, we have identified a novel antiviral compound Ciliatoside A isolated from Peristrophe japonica. This study may provide important direction and new ideas for the discovery of hepatitis B cure drugs.
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32
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Brezgin SA, Kostyusheva AP, Ponomareva NI, Gegechkori VI, Kirdyashkina NP, Ayvasyan SR, Dmitrieva LN, Kokoreva LN, Chulanov VP, Kostyushev DS. HBx Protein Potentiates Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322050041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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33
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Wu Z, Wang L, Wang X, Sun Y, Li H, Zhang Z, Ren C, Zhang X, Li S, Lu J, Xu L, Yue X, Hong Y, Li Q, Zhu H, Gong Y, Gao C, Hu H, Gao L, Liang X, Ma C. cccDNA Surrogate MC-HBV-Based Screen Identifies Cohesin Complex as a Novel HBV Restriction Factor. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 14:1177-1198. [PMID: 35987451 PMCID: PMC9579331 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV), existing as a stable minichromosome in the hepatocyte, is responsible for persistent HBV infection. Maintenance and sustained replication of cccDNA require its interaction with both viral and host proteins. However, the cccDNA-interacting host factors that limit HBV replication remain elusive. METHODS Minicircle HBV (MC-HBV), a recombinant cccDNA, was constructed based on chimeric intron and minicircle DNA technology. By mass spectrometry based on pull-down with biotinylated MC-HBV, the cccDNA-hepatocyte interaction profile was mapped. HBV replication was assessed in different cell models that support cccDNA formation. RESULTS MC-HBV supports persistent HBV replication and mimics the cccDNA minichromosome. The MC-HBV-based screen identified cohesin complex as a cccDNA binding host factor, leading to reduced HBV replication. Mechanistically, with the help of CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), which has specific binding sites on cccDNA, cohesin loads on cccDNA and reshapes cccDNA confirmation to prevent RNA polymerase II enrichment. Interestingly, HBV X protein transcriptionally reduces structural maintenance of chromosomes complex expression to partially relieve the inhibitory role of the cohesin complex on HBV replication. CONCLUSIONS Our data not only provide a feasible approach to explore cccDNA-binding factors, but also identify cohesin/CTCF complex as a critical host restriction factor for cccDNA-driven HBV replication. These findings provide a novel insight into cccDNA-host interaction and targeted therapeutic intervention for HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuanchang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Liyuan Wang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Agriculture and Forestry, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Haoran Li
- College of Agriculture and Forestry, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaoying Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Caiyue Ren
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shuangjie Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinghui Lu
- Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Leiqi Xu
- Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xuetian Yue
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yue Hong
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qiang Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Haizhen Zhu
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yaoqin Gong
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chengjiang Gao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Huili Hu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lifen Gao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaohong Liang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China,Correspondence Address correspondence to: Chunhong Ma, PhD, Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012 China.
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Zhang Y, Li L, Cheng ST, Qin YP, He X, Li F, Wu DQ, Ren F, Yu HB, Liu J, Chen J, Ren JH, Zhang ZZ. Rapamycin inhibits hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA transcription by enhancing the ubiquitination of HBx. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:850087. [PMID: 36033851 PMCID: PMC9403416 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.850087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still a serious public health problem worldwide. Antiviral therapies such as interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogs efficiently control HBV replication, but they cannot eradicate chronic hepatitis B (CHB) because of their incapacity to eliminate endocellular covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Thus, there is a necessity to develop new strategies for targeting cccDNA. As cccDNA is difficult to clear, transcriptional silencing of cccDNA is a possible effective strategy. HBx plays a vitally important role in maintaining the transcriptional activity of cccDNA and it could be a target for blocking the transcription of cccDNA. To screen new drugs that may contribute to antiviral therapy, the ability of 2,000 small-molecule compounds to inhibit HBx was examined by the HiBiT lytic detection system. We found that the macrolide compound rapamycin, which is clinically used to prevent acute rejection after organ transplantation, could significantly reduce HBx protein expression. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that rapamycin decreased the stability of the HBx protein by promoting its degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Moreover, rapamycin inhibited HBV RNA, HBV DNA, and cccDNA transcription levels in HBV-infected cells. In addition, HBx deficiency abrogated the inhibition of cccDNA transcription induced by rapamycin. Similar results were also confirmed in a recombinant cccDNA mouse model. In summary, we report a new small-molecule, rapamycin, which targets HBx to block HBV cccDNA transcription and inhibit HBV replication. This approach can identify new strategies to cure CHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Infectious Disease, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Chongqing, China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Sheng-Tao Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi-Ping Qin
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin He
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dai-Qing Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Ren
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Co-construction for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Chongqing, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Hai-Bo Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Juan Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ji-Hua Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ji-Hua Ren,
| | - Zhen-Zhen Zhang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Zhen-Zhen Zhang,
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Sotty J, Bablon P, Lekbaby B, Augustin J, Girier-Dufournier M, Langlois L, Dorival C, Carrat F, Pol S, Fontaine H, Sarica N, Neuveut C, Housset C, Kremdsorf D, Schnuriger A, Soussan P. Diversity of the nucleic acid forms of circulating HBV in chronically infected patients and its impact on viral cycle. Hepatol Int 2022; 16:1259-1272. [PMID: 35927368 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10389-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Besides the prototypical hepatitis B virus (HBV) infectious particle, which contains a full-length double-stranded DNA (flDNA), additional circulating virus-like particles, which carry pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), spliced1RNA (sp1RNA) or spliced-derived DNA (defDNA) forms have been described. We aimed to determine the level of these four circulating forms in patients and to evaluate their impact on viral lifecycle. METHODS Chronic HBV untreated patients (n = 162), included in the HEPATHER cohort, were investigated. Pangenomic qPCRs were set up to quantify the four circulating forms of HBV nucleic acids (HBVnaf). In vitro infection assays were performed to address the impact of HBVnaf. RESULTS Hierarchical clustering individualized two clusters of HBVnaf diversity among patients: (1) cluster 1 (C1) showing a predominance of flDNA; (2) cluster 2 (C2) showing various proportions of the different forms. HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis phase and higher viral load (7.0 ± 6.4 vs 6.6 ± 6.2 Log10 copies/ml; p < 0.001) characterized C2 compared to C1 patients. Among the different HBVnaf, pgRNA was more prevalent in C1 patients with high vs low HBV viral load (22.1% ± 2.5% vs 4.1% ± 1.8% of HBVnaf, p < 0.0001) but remained highly prevalent in C2 patients, whatever the level of replication. C2 patients samples used in infection assays showed that: (1) HBVnaf secretion was independent of the viral strain; (2) the viral cycle efficiency differed according to the proportion of HBVnaf in the inoculum, independently of cccDNA formation. Inoculum enrichment before infection suggests that pgRNA-containing particles drive this impact on viral replication. CONCLUSION Besides the critical role of HBV replication in circulating HBVnaf diversity, our data highlight an impact of this diversity on the dynamics of viral cycle. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Patients were included from a prospective multicenter French national cohort (ANRS CO22 HEPATHER, NCT01953458).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules Sotty
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France
| | - Pierre Bablon
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France
| | - Bouchra Lekbaby
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Augustin
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France.,Université Paris-Est Créteil, Département de Pathologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Morgane Girier-Dufournier
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France
| | - Lucas Langlois
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France
| | - Céline Dorival
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Département de santé publique, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Fabrice Carrat
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Département de santé publique, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Stanislas Pol
- Université de Paris, AP-HP, Département d'hépatologie, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Hélène Fontaine
- Université de Paris, AP-HP, Département d'hépatologie, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Nazim Sarica
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire CNRS-UMR9002, Montpellier, France
| | - Christine Neuveut
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire CNRS-UMR9002, Montpellier, France
| | - Chantal Housset
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France
| | - Dina Kremdsorf
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Schnuriger
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France.,Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, Département de Virologie, GHU Paris-Est, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Soussan
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre de Recherche de Saint Antoine (CRSA), Paris, France. .,Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, Département de Virologie, GHU Paris-Est, Paris, France.
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36
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Bhat S, Kazim SN. HBV cccDNA-A Culprit and Stumbling Block for the Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Its Presence in Hepatocytes Perplexed the Possible Mission for a Functional Cure. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:24066-24081. [PMID: 35874215 PMCID: PMC9301636 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c02216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is still a big health problem across the globe. It has been linked to the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and can trigger different types of liver damage. Existing medicines are unable to disable covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which may result in HBV persistence and recurrence. The current therapeutic goal is to achieve a functional cure, which means HBV-DNA no longer exists when treatment stops and the absence of HBsAg seroclearance. However, due to the presence of integrated HBV DNA and cccDNA functional treatment is now regarded to be difficult. In order to uncover pathways for potential therapeutic targets and identify medicines that could result in large rates of functional cure, a thorough understanding of the virus' biology is required. The proteins of the virus and episomal cccDNA are thought to be critical for the management and support of the HBV replication cycle as they interact directly with the host proteome to establish the best atmosphere for the virus while evading immune detection. The breakthroughs of host dependence factors, cccDNA transcription, epigenetic regulation, and immune-mediated breakdown have all produced significant progress in our understanding of cccDNA biology during the past decade. There are some strategies where cccDNA can be targeted either in a direct or indirect way and are presently at the point of discovery or preclinical or early clinical advancement. Editing of genomes, techniques targeting host dependence factors or epigenetic gene maintenance, nucleocapsid modulators, miRNA, siRNA, virion secretory inhibitors, and immune-mediated degradation are only a few examples. Though cccDNA approaches for direct targeting are still in the early stages of development, the assembly of capsid modulators and immune-reliant treatments have made it to the clinic. Clinical trials are currently being conducted to determine their efficiency and safety in patients, as well as their effect on viral cccDNA. The influence of recent breakthroughs in the development of new treatment techniques on cccDNA biology is also summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad
Ahmad Bhat
- Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Syed Naqui Kazim
- Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, New Delhi 110025, India
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37
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Forkhead O Transcription Factor 4 Restricts HBV Covalently Closed Circular DNA Transcription and HBV Replication through Genetic Downregulation of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha and Epigenetic Suppression of Covalently Closed Circular DNA via Interacting with Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein. J Virol 2022; 96:e0054622. [PMID: 35695580 PMCID: PMC9278149 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00546-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear located hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) remains the key obstacle to cure chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In our previous investigation, it was found that FoxO4 could inhibit HBV core promoter activity through downregulating the expression of HNF4α. However, the exact mechanisms whereby FoxO4 inhibits HBV replication, especially its effect on cccDNA, remain unclear. Here, our data further revealed that FoxO4 could effectively inhibit cccDNA mediated transcription and HBV replication without affecting cccDNA level. Mechanistic study showed that FoxO4 could cause epigenetic suppression of cccDNA. Although FoxO4-mediated downregulation of HNF4α contributed to inhibiting HBV core promoter activity, it had little effect on cccDNA epigenetic regulation. Further, it was found that FoxO4 could colocalize within promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) nuclear bodies and interact with PML. Of note, PML was revealed to be critical for FoxO4-mediated inhibition of cccDNA epigenetic modification and of the following cccDNA transcription and HBV replication. Furthermore, FoxO4 was found to be downregulated in HBV-infected hepatocytes and human liver tissues, and it was negatively correlated with cccDNA transcriptional activity in CHB patients. Together, these findings highlight the role of FoxO4 in suppressing cccDNA transcription and HBV replication via genetic downregulation of HNF4α and epigenetic suppression of cccDNA through interacting with PML. Targeting FoxO4 may present as a new therapeutic strategy against chronic HBV infection. IMPORTANCE HBV cccDNA is a determining factor for viral persistence and the main obstacle for a cure of chronic hepatitis B. Strategies that target cccDNA directly are therefore of great importance in controlling persistent HBV infection. In present investigation, we found that FoxO4 could efficiently suppress cccDNA transcription and HBV replication without affecting the level of cccDNA itself. Further, our data revealed that FoxO4 might inhibit cccDNA function via a two-part mechanism: one is to epigenetically suppress cccDNA transcription via interacting with PML, and the other is to inhibit HBV core promoter activity via the genetic downregulation of HNF4α. Of note, HBV might dampen the expression of FoxO4 for its own persistent infection. We propose that manipulation of FoxO4 may present as a potential therapeutic strategy against chronic HBV infection.
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38
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Kim ES, Zhou J, Zhang H, Marchetti A, van de Klundert M, Cai D, Yu X, Mitra B, Liu Y, Wang M, Protzer U, Guo H. Hepatitis B virus X protein counteracts high mobility group box 1 protein-mediated epigenetic silencing of covalently closed circular DNA. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010576. [PMID: 35679251 PMCID: PMC9182688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), serving as the viral persistence form and transcription template of HBV infection, hijacks host histone and non-histone proteins to form a minichromosome and utilizes posttranslational modifications (PTMs) "histone code" for its transcriptional regulation. HBV X protein (HBx) is known as a cccDNA transcription activator. In this study we established a dual system of the inducible reporter cell lines modelling infection with wildtype (wt) and HBx-null HBV, both secreting HA-tagged HBeAg as a semi-quantitative marker for cccDNA transcription. The cccDNA-bound histone PTM profiling of wt and HBx-null systems, using chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR), confirmed that HBx is essential for maintenance of cccDNA at transcriptionally active state, characterized by active histone PTM markers. Differential proteomics analysis of cccDNA minichromosome established in wt and HBx-null HBV cell lines revealed group-specific hits. One of the hits in HBx-deficient condition was a non-histone host DNA-binding protein high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Its elevated association to HBx-null cccDNA was validated by ChIP-qPCR assay in both the HBV stable cell lines and infection systems in vitro. Furthermore, experimental downregulation of HMGB1 in HBx-null HBV inducible and infection models resulted in transcriptional re-activation of the cccDNA minichromosome, accompanied by a switch of the cccDNA-associated histones to euchromatic state with activating histone PTMs landscape and subsequent upregulation of cccDNA transcription. Mechanistically, HBx interacts with HMGB1 and prevents its binding to cccDNA without affecting the steady state level of HMGB1. Taken together, our results suggest that HMGB1 is a novel host restriction factor of HBV cccDNA with epigenetic silencing mechanism, which can be counteracted by viral transcription activator HBx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena S. Kim
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jun Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hu Zhang
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Alexander Marchetti
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | | | - Dawei Cai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Xiaoyang Yu
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Bidisha Mitra
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Yuanjie Liu
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Mu Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine/Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Haitao Guo
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
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39
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IFN-α inhibits HBV transcription and replication by promoting HDAC3-mediated de-2-hydroxyisobutyrylation of histone H4K8 on HBV cccDNA minichromosome in liver. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:1484-1494. [PMID: 34497374 PMCID: PMC9160025 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00765-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic modification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) plays a crucial role in cccDNA transcription and viral persistence. Interferon-α (IFN-α) is a pivotal agent against HBV cccDNA. However, the mechanism by which IFN-α modulates the epigenetic regulation of cccDNA remains poorly understood. In this study, we report that IFN-α2b enhances the histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3)-mediated de-2-hydroxyisobutyrylation of histone H4 lysine 8 (H4K8) on HBV cccDNA minichromosome to restrict the cccDNA transcription in liver. By screening acetyltransferases and deacetylases, we identified that HDAC3 was an effective restrictor of HBV transcription and replication. Moreover, we found that HDAC3 was able to mediate the de-2-hydroxyisobutyrylation of H4K8 in HBV-expressing hepatoma cells. Then, the 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation of histone H4K8 (H4K8hib) was identified on the HBV cccDNA minichromosome, promoting the HBV transcription and replication. The H4K8hib was regulated by HDAC3 depending on its deacetylase domain in the system. The low level of HDAC3 and high level of H4K8hib were observed in the liver tissues from HBV-infected human liver-chimeric mice. The levels of H4K8hib on HBV cccDNA minichromosome were significantly elevated in the liver biopsy specimens from clinical hepatitis B patients, which was consistent with the high transcriptional activity of cccDNA. Strikingly, IFN-α2b effectively facilitated the histone H4K8 de-2-hydroxyisobutyrylation mediated by HDAC3 on the HBV cccDNA minichromosome in primary human hepatocytes and hepatoma cells, leading to the inhibition of HBV transcription and replication. Our finding provides new insights into the mechanism by which IFN-α modulates the epigenetic regulation of HBV cccDNA minichromosome.
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40
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Yang L, Zou T, Chen Y, Zhao Y, Wu X, Li M, Du F, Chen Y, Xiao Z, Shen J. Hepatitis B virus X protein mediated epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Int 2022; 16:741-754. [PMID: 35648301 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10351-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide health problem. Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx), a pleiotropic regulatory protein encoded by HBV, is necessary for the transcription of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosomes, and affects the epigenetic regulation of host cells. The epigenetic reprogramming of HBx on host cell genome is strongly involved in HBV-related HCC carcinogenesis. Here, we review the latest findings of the epigenetic regulation induced by HBx protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNA expression. The influence of HBx on the epigenetic regulation of cccDNA is also summarized. In addition, preliminary studies of targeted drugs for epigenetic changes induced by HBx are also discussed. The exploration of epigenetic markers as potential targets will help to develop new prevention and/or treatment methods for HBx-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiong Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Tao Zou
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Yueshui Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Xu Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Fukuan Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China.
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China.
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41
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Bianca C, Sidhartha E, Tiribelli C, El-Khobar KE, Sukowati CHC. Role of hepatitis B virus in development of hepatocellular carcinoma: Focus on covalently closed circular DNA. World J Hepatol 2022; 14:866-884. [PMID: 35721287 PMCID: PMC9157711 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i5.866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major global health problem, especially in developing countries. It may lead to prolonged liver damage, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Persistent chronic HBV infection is related to host immune response and the stability of the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in human hepatocytes. In addition to being essential for viral transcription and replication, cccDNA is also suspected to play a role in persistent HBV infections or hepatitis relapses since cccDNA is very stable in non-dividing human hepatocytes. Understanding the pathogenicity and oncogenicity of HBV components would be essential in the development of new diagnostic tools and treatment strategies. This review summarizes the role and molecular mechanisms of HBV cccDNA in hepatocyte transformation and hepatocarcinogenesis and current efforts to its detection and targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claryssa Bianca
- Department of Biomedicine, Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences, Jakarta 13210, Indonesia
| | - Elizabeth Sidhartha
- Department of Biomedicine, Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences, Jakarta 13210, Indonesia
| | - Claudio Tiribelli
- Centro Studi Fegato, Fondazione Italiana Fegato ONLUS, Trieste 34149, Italy
| | - Korri Elvanita El-Khobar
- Eijkman Center for Molecular Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta 10340, Indonesia
| | - Caecilia H C Sukowati
- Centro Studi Fegato, Fondazione Italiana Fegato ONLUS, Trieste 34149, Italy
- Eijkman Center for Molecular Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta 10340, Indonesia
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42
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Lin Y, Qiu T, Wei G, Que Y, Wang W, Kong Y, Xie T, Chen X. Role of Histone Post-Translational Modifications in Inflammatory Diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:852272. [PMID: 35280995 PMCID: PMC8908311 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.852272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a defensive reaction for external stimuli to the human body and generally accompanied by immune responses, which is associated with multiple diseases such as atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, psoriasis, asthma, chronic lung diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple virus-associated diseases. Epigenetic mechanisms have been demonstrated to play a key role in the regulation of inflammation. Common epigenetic regulations are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression; among these, histone modifications embrace various post-modifications including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and ADP ribosylation. This review focuses on the significant role of histone modifications in the progression of inflammatory diseases, providing the potential target for clinical therapy of inflammation-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ting Qiu
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guifeng Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yueyue Que
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenxin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yichao Kong
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tian Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiabin Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
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43
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Wang Y, Li Y, Zai W, Hu K, Zhu Y, Deng Q, Wu M, Li Y, Chen J, Yuan Z. HBV covalently closed circular DNA minichromosomes in distinct epigenetic transcriptional states differ in their vulnerability to damage. Hepatology 2022; 75:1275-1288. [PMID: 34779008 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a major obstacle for a cure of chronic hepatitis B. Accumulating evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications regulate the transcriptional activity of cccDNA minichromosomes. However, it remains unclear how the epigenetic state of cccDNA affects its stability. APPROACHES AND RESULTS By using HBV infection cell models and in vitro and in vivo recombinant cccDNA (rcccDNA) and HBVcircle models, the reduction rate of HBV cccDNA and the efficacy of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit 3A (APOBEC3A)-mediated and CRISPR/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9)-mediated cccDNA targeting were compared between cccDNAs with distinct transcriptional activities. Interferon-α treatment and hepatitis B x protein (HBx) deletion were applied as two strategies for cccDNA repression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and micrococcal nuclease assays were performed to determine the epigenetic pattern of cccDNA. HBV cccDNA levels remained stable in nondividing hepatocytes; however, they were significantly reduced during cell division, and the reduction rate was similar between cccDNAs in transcriptionally active and transcriptionally repressed states. Strikingly, HBV rcccDNA without HBx expression exhibited a significantly longer persistence in mice. The cccDNA with low transcriptional activity exhibited an epigenetically inactive pattern and was more difficult to access by APOBEC3A and engineered CRISPR-Cas9. The epigenetic regulator activating cccDNA increased its vulnerability to APOBEC3A. CONCLUSIONS HBV cccDNA minichromosomes in distinct epigenetic transcriptional states showed a similar reduction rate during cell division but significantly differed in their accessibility and vulnerability to targeted nucleases and antiviral agents. Epigenetic sensitization of cccDNA makes it more susceptible to damage and may potentially contribute to an HBV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yumeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wenjing Zai
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Kongying Hu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yuanfei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qiang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus InfectionChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and InfectionShanghaiChina
| | - Min Wu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical CenterFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yaming Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jieliang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus InfectionChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and InfectionShanghaiChina
| | - Zhenghong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)School of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Research Unit of Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus InfectionChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and InfectionShanghaiChina
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44
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PRKDC promotes hepatitis B virus transcription through enhancing the binding of RNA Pol II to cccDNA. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:404. [PMID: 35468873 PMCID: PMC9038722 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04852-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus infection remains a major health problem worldwide due to its high risk of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which is present as an individual minichromosome, serves as the template for transcription of all viral RNAs and pla ays critical role in viral persistence. Therefore, there is an urgent need to gain broader insight into the transcription regulation of cccDNA. Here, we combined a modified Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) with an engineered ascorbate peroxidase 2 (APEX2) to identify cccDNA associated proteins systematically in living cells. By functional screening, we verified that protein kinase, DNA-activated, catalytic subunit (PRKDC) was an effective activator of HBV cccDNA transcription in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells and primary human hepatocytes. Mechanismly, PRKDC interacted with POLR2A and POLR2B, the two largest subunits of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and recruited Pol II to HBV cccDNA minichromosome in a kinase-dependent manner. PRKDC knockdown or inhibitor treatment significantly decreased the enrichment of POLR2A and POLR2B on cccDNA, as well as reducing the levels of cccDNA associated Pol II Ser5 and Ser2 phosphorylation, which eventually inhibited the HBV cccDNA activity. Collectively, these findings give us new insights into cccDNA transcription regulation, thus providing new potential targets for HBV treatment in patients.
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Proulx J, Ghaly M, Park IW, Borgmann K. HIV-1-Mediated Acceleration of Oncovirus-Related Non-AIDS-Defining Cancers. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040768. [PMID: 35453518 PMCID: PMC9024568 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), overall survival has been improved, and the incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining cancers has also been remarkably reduced. However, non-AIDS-defining cancers among human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-associated malignancies have increased significantly so that cancer is the leading cause of death in people living with HIV in certain highly developed countries, such as France. However, it is currently unknown how HIV-1 infection raises oncogenic virus-mediated cancer risks in the HIV-1 and oncogenic virus co-infected patients, and thus elucidation of the molecular mechanisms for how HIV-1 expedites the oncogenic viruses-triggered tumorigenesis in the co-infected hosts is imperative for developing therapeutics to cure or impede the carcinogenesis. Hence, this review is focused on HIV-1 and oncogenic virus co-infection-mediated molecular processes in the acceleration of non-AIDS-defining cancers.
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Anti-rheumatic drug-induced hepatitis B virus reactivation and preventive strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacol Res 2022; 178:106181. [PMID: 35301112 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To date, an estimated 3 million people worldwide have been infected with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). Although anti-HBV therapies have improved the long-term survival profile of chronic carriers, viral reactivation still poses a significant challenge for preventing HBV-related hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and death. Immuno-modulating drugs, which are widely applied in managing rheumatic conditions, are commonly associated with HBV reactivation (HBVr) as a result of drug-induced immune suppression. However, there are few reports on the risk of HBVr and the medication management plan for HBV carriers, especially rheumatic patients. In this review, we summarize immuno-modulating drug-induced HBVr during rheumatoid therapy and its preventive strategies for HBVr-induced liver diseases, especially cirrhosis and HCC. These findings will assist with developing treatments for rheumatic patients, and prevent HBV-related cirrhosis and HCC.
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Panasiuk YV, Vlasenko NV, Churilova NS, Klushkina VV, Dubodelov DV, Kudryavtseva EN, Korabelnikova MI, Rodionova ZS, Semenenko TA, Kuzin SN, Akimkin VG. [Modern views on the role of X gene of the hepatitis B virus (Hepadnaviridae: Orthohepadnavirus: Hepatitis B virus) in the pathogenesis of the infection it causes]. Vopr Virusol 2022; 67:7-17. [PMID: 35293184 DOI: 10.36233/0507-4088-84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The review presents information on the role of hepatitis B virus (Hepadnaviridae: Orthohepadnavirus: Hepatitis B virus) (HBV) X gene and the protein it encodes (X protein) in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis B. The evolution of HBV from primordial to the modern version of hepadnaviruses (Hepadnaviridae), is outlined as a process that began about 407 million years ago and continues to the present. The results of scientific works of foreign researchers on the variety of the influence of X protein on the infectious process and its role in the mechanisms of carcinogenesis are summarized. The differences in the effect of the X protein on the course of the disease in patients of different ethnic groups with regard to HBV genotypes are described. The significance of determining the genetic variability of X gene as a fundamental characteristic of the virus that has significance for the assessment of risks of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) spread among the population of the Russian Federation is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y V Panasiuk
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - N V Vlasenko
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - N S Churilova
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - V V Klushkina
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - D V Dubodelov
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - E N Kudryavtseva
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - M I Korabelnikova
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - Z S Rodionova
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - T A Semenenko
- FSBI «National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya» of the Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - S N Kuzin
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
| | - V G Akimkin
- FSBI «Central Research Institute for Epidemiology» of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor)
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Dias JD, Sarica N, Cournac A, Koszul R, Neuveut C. Crosstalk between Hepatitis B Virus and the 3D Genome Structure. Viruses 2022; 14:445. [PMID: 35216038 PMCID: PMC8877387 DOI: 10.3390/v14020445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses that transcribe their DNA within the nucleus have to adapt to the existing cellular mechanisms that govern transcriptional regulation. Recent technological breakthroughs have highlighted the highly hierarchical organization of the cellular genome and its role in the regulation of gene expression. This review provides an updated overview on the current knowledge on how the hepatitis B virus interacts with the cellular 3D genome and its consequences on viral and cellular gene expression. We also briefly discuss the strategies developed by other DNA viruses to co-opt and sometimes subvert cellular genome spatial organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Diogo Dias
- Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, Institut de Génétique Humaine, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France; (J.D.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Nazim Sarica
- Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, Institut de Génétique Humaine, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France; (J.D.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Axel Cournac
- Unité Régulation Spatiale des Génomes, CNRS, UMR 3525, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015 Paris, France; (A.C.); (R.K.)
| | - Romain Koszul
- Unité Régulation Spatiale des Génomes, CNRS, UMR 3525, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015 Paris, France; (A.C.); (R.K.)
| | - Christine Neuveut
- Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, Institut de Génétique Humaine, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France; (J.D.D.); (N.S.)
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49
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Interaction between the Hepatitis B Virus and Cellular FLIP Variants in Viral Replication and the Innate Immune System. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020373. [PMID: 35215970 PMCID: PMC8874586 DOI: 10.3390/v14020373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
During viral evolution and adaptation, many viruses have utilized host cellular factors and machinery as their partners. HBx, as a multifunctional viral protein encoded by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), promotes HBV replication and greatly contributes to the development of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBx interacts with several host factors in order to regulate HBV replication and evolve carcinogenesis. The cellular FADD-like IL-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is a major factor that functions in a variety of cellular pathways and specifically in apoptosis. It has been shown that the interaction between HBx and c-FLIP determines HBV fate. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of the interplay between c-FLIP and HBV in various environmental circumstances. We describe strategies adapted by HBV to establish its chronic infection. We also summarize the conventional roles of c-FLIP and highlight the functional outcome of the interaction between c-FLIP and HBV or other viruses in viral replication and the innate immune system.
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50
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Qin YP, Yu HB, Yuan SY, Yang Z, Ren F, Wang Q, Li F, Ren JH, Cheng ST, Zhou YJ, He X, Zhou HZ, Zhang Y, Tan M, Yang ML, Zhang DP, Wen X, Dong ML, Zhang H, Liu J, Li ZH, Chen Y, Huang AL, Chen WX, Chen J. KAT2A Promotes Hepatitis B Virus Transcription and Replication Through Epigenetic Regulation of cccDNA Minichromosome. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:795388. [PMID: 35140694 PMCID: PMC8818952 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.795388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health problem worldwide. Sufficient maintenance of the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which serves as a template for HBV transcription, is responsible for the failure of antiviral therapies. While accumulating evidence suggests that cccDNA transcription is regulated by epigenetic machinery, particularly the acetylation and methylation of cccDNA-bound histone 3 (H3) and histone 4 (H4), the potential contributions of histone succinylation and related host factors remain obscured. Here, by screening a series of succinyltransferases and desuccinylases, we identified KAT2A as an important host factor of HBV transcription and replication. By using HBV-infected cells and mouse models with HBV infection, KAT2A was found to affect the transcriptional activity of cccDNA but did not affect cccDNA production. Mechanism studies showed that KAT2A is mainly located in the nucleus and could bind to cccDNA through interaction with HBV core protein (HBc). Moreover, we confirmed histone H3K79 succinylation (H3K79succ) as a histone modification on cccDNA minichromosome by using the cccDNA ChIP-Seq approach. Importantly, KAT2A silencing specifically reduced the level of cccDNA-bound succinylated H3K79. In conclusion, KAT2A promotes HBV transcription and replication through epigenetic machinery, and our findings may provide new insight into the treatment of HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ping Qin
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hai-Bo Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Si-Yu Yuan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhen Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qing Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ji-Hua Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Sheng-Tao Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu-Jiao Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin He
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong-Zhong Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ming Tan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Min-Li Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Da-Peng Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xu Wen
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mei-Ling Dong
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi-Hong Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Medical Examination Centre, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ai-Long Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei-Xian Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Juan Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Juan Chen,
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