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Li Z, Zhang L. Reconsidering the etiology of Beethoven's deafness: A cautionary perspective on chronic HBV infection. J Infect 2024; 88:199. [PMID: 38065290 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Zichen Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Leiliang Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Rzymski P, Zarębska-Michaluk D, Flisiak R. Beethoven's deafness more likely linked to viral infection than lead poisoning. J Infect 2024; 88:210. [PMID: 38141786 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland.
| | - Dorota Zarębska-Michaluk
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Allergology, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Białystok, 15-540 Białystok, Poland
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Yao X, Xu K, Tao N, Cheng S, Chen H, Zhang D, Yang M, Tan M, Yu H, Chen P, Zhan Z, He S, Li R, Wang C, Wu D, Ren J. ZNF148 inhibits HBV replication by downregulating RXRα transcription. Virol J 2024; 21:35. [PMID: 38297280 PMCID: PMC10832224 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02291-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progressive hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can result in cirrhosis, hepatocellular cancer, and chronic hepatitis. While antiviral drugs that are now on the market are efficient in controlling HBV infection, finding a functional cure is still quite difficult. Identifying host factors involved in regulating the HBV life cycle will contribute to the development of new antiviral strategies. Zinc finger proteins have a significant function in HBV replication, according to earlier studies. Zinc finger protein 148 (ZNF148), a zinc finger transcription factor, regulates the expression of various genes by specifically binding to GC-rich sequences within promoter regions. The function of ZNF148 in HBV replication was investigated in this study. METHODS HepG2-Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (HepG2-NTCP) cells and Huh7 cells were used to evaluate the function of ZNF148 in vitro. Northern blotting and real-time PCR were used to quantify the amount of viral RNA. Southern blotting and real-time PCR were used to quantify the amount of viral DNA. Viral protein levels were elevated, according to the Western blot results. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to examine the transcriptional activity of viral promoters. ZNF148's impact on HBV in vivo was investigated using an established rcccDNA mouse model. RESULTS ZNF148 overexpression significantly decreased the levels of HBV RNAs and HBV core DNA in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells and Huh7 cells expressing prcccDNA. Silencing ZNF148 exhibited the opposite effects in both cell lines. Furthermore, ZNF148 inhibited the activity of HBV ENII/Cp and the transcriptional activity of cccDNA. Mechanistic studies revealed that ZNF148 attenuated retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα) expression by binding to the RXRα promoter sequence. RXRα binding site mutation or RXRα overexpression abolished the suppressive effect of ZNF148 on HBV replication. The inhibitory effect of ZNF148 was also observed in the rcccDNA mouse model. CONCLUSIONS ZNF148 inhibited HBV replication by downregulating RXRα transcription. Our findings reveal that ZNF148 may be a new target for anti-HBV strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyan Yao
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Kexin Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Nana Tao
- 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 Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Shengtao Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Huajian Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Dapeng Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Minli Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Ming Tan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Haibo Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Peng Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Zongzhu Zhan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Siyi He
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Ranran Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Chunduo Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Daiqing Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
| | - Jihua Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chong Yi Building, 1 YiXueYuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Kasianchuk N, Dobrowolska K, Harkava S, Bretcan A, Zarębska-Michaluk D, Jaroszewicz J, Flisiak R, Rzymski P. Gene-Editing and RNA Interference in Treating Hepatitis B: A Review. Viruses 2023; 15:2395. [PMID: 38140636 PMCID: PMC10747710 DOI: 10.3390/v15122395] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to cause substantial health and economic burdens, and its target of elimination may not be reached in 2030 without further efforts in diagnostics, non-pharmaceutical prevention measures, vaccination, and treatment. Current therapeutic options in chronic HBV, based on interferons and/or nucleos(t)ide analogs, suppress the virus replication but do not eliminate the pathogen and suffer from several constraints. This paper reviews the progress on biotechnological approaches in functional and definitive HBV treatments, including gene-editing tools, i.e., zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9, as well as therapeutics based on RNA interference. The advantages and challenges of these approaches are also discussed. Although the safety and efficacy of gene-editing tools in HBV therapies are yet to be demonstrated, they show promise for the revitalization of a much-needed advance in the field and offer viral eradication. Particular hopes are related to CRISPR/Cas9; however, therapeutics employing this system are yet to enter the clinical testing phases. In contrast, a number of candidates based on RNA interference, intending to confer a functional cure, have already been introduced to human studies. However, larger and longer trials are required to assess their efficacy and safety. Considering that prevention is always superior to treatment, it is essential to pursue global efforts in HBV vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadiia Kasianchuk
- Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Sofiia Harkava
- Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Regional Branch in Dnipro, 49000 Dnipro, Ukraine;
| | - Andreea Bretcan
- National College “Ienăchiță Văcărescu”, 130016 Târgoviște, Romania;
| | - Dorota Zarębska-Michaluk
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Allergology, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-317 Kielce, Poland;
| | - Jerzy Jaroszewicz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland;
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Białystok, 15-540 Białystok, Poland;
| | - Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland
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