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Blackard JT, Kong L, Rouster SD, Karns R, Horn PS, Kottilil S, Shata MT, Sherman KE. CCR5 receptor antagonism inhibits hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in vitro. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224523. [PMID: 31661521 PMCID: PMC6818973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aim The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-strand RNA virus that infects millions of people worldwide. Recent advances in therapy have led to viral cure using two- and three- drug combinations of direct acting inhibitors of viral replication. CCR5 is a chemokine receptor that is expressed on hepatocytes and represents a key co-receptor for HIV. We evaluated the effect of CCR5 blockade or knockdown on HCV replication in Huh7.5JFH1 cells. Methods Cells were exposed to varying concentrations of maraviroc (CCR5 inhibitor), cenicriviroc (CCR2/CCR5 inhibitor), sofosbuvir (nucleotide polymerase inhibitor), or raltegravir (HIV integrase inhibitor). Results HCV RNA was detected utilizing two qualitative strand-specific RT-PCR assays. HCV core antigen and NS3 protein was quantified in the supernatant and cell lysate, respectively. siRNA was utilized to knockdown CCR5 gene expression in hepatocytes. Alternatively, anti-CCR5 antibodies were employed to block the receptor. Supernatant levels of HCV RNA (expressed as fold change) were not reduced in the presence of raltegravir but were reduced 8.55-fold and 12.42-fold with cenicriviroc and maraviroc, respectively. Sofosbuvir resulted in a 16.20-fold change in HCV RNA levels. HCV core and NS3 protein production was also reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Two distinct anti-CCR5 antibodies also resulted in a significant reduction in HCV protein expression, as did siRNA knockdown of CCR5 gene expression. Conclusions These data provide evidence that CCR5 modulation could have a significant effect on HCV replication in an in vitro system. Further evaluation of the role of CCR5 inhibition in clinical settings may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T Blackard
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Ling Kong
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Susan D Rouster
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Rebekah Karns
- Digestive Health Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Paul S Horn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America.,Neurology Division, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Shyam Kottilil
- University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - M Tarek Shata
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Kenneth E Sherman
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
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Blackard JT, Kong L, Lombardi A, Homann D, Hammerstad SS, Tomer Y. A preliminary analysis of hepatitis C virus in pancreatic islet cells. Virol J 2017; 14:237. [PMID: 29258547 PMCID: PMC5738208 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-017-0905-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is supported by numerous epidemiologic studies. We hypothesized that HCV could infect human pancreatic islet cells in vitro. METHODS Measures of HCV RNA synthesis and protein production were used to evaluate HCV infection of pancreatic islets recovered from human donors. RESULTS Significant co-staining of insulin and the HCV entry factor CD81 was observed in pancreatic islets. Positive- and negative-sense HCV RNA were detected in HCV-exposed islets at days 1, 3, 7, and 14 post-infection. The HCV core and NS3 proteins were expressed and increased with time providing further evidence of viral replication. Interferon and an HCV polymerase inhibitor reduced viral replication in islet cells. In HCV-infected islets, TNFα levels were elevated at days 1, 3, and 7 post-infection, while IL-6 levels were elevated at day 1 but not days 3 or 7. Overall, the expression of miR-122 was low in islets compared to the Huh7.5 hepatocyte-derived cell line, although the relative expression of miR-122 increased in islet cells after viral infection (1, 6.63, and 5.83 at days 1, 3, and 7, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In this pilot study, viral infection was demonstrated in pancreatic islet cells from multiple donors using complementary measures of viral replication, thus providing evidence of in vitro infection. Altered cytokine expression may contribute to the development of insulin deficiency, and understanding the etiology of diabetes in individuals with HCV infection may facilitate the development of novel treatment modalities and prevention strategies. This in vitro system provides an important model for mechanistic studies of HCV-pancreas interactions and facilitates future studies of the potential impact of viral infection on islet cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T Blackard
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, ML 0595, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
| | - Ling Kong
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, ML 0595, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Dirk Homann
- Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Yaron Tomer
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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Russelli G, Pizzillo P, Iannolo G, Barbera F, Tuzzolino F, Liotta R, Traina M, Vizzini G, Gridelli B, Badami E, Conaldi PG. HCV replication in gastrointestinal mucosa: Potential extra-hepatic viral reservoir and possible role in HCV infection recurrence after liver transplantation. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181683. [PMID: 28750044 PMCID: PMC5531480 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) predominantly infects hepatocytes, although it is known that receptors for viral entry are distributed on a wide array of target cells. Chronic HCV infection is indeed characterized by multiple non-liver manifestations, suggesting a more complex HCV tropism extended to extrahepatic tissues and remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the gastrointestinal mucosa (GIM) as a potential extrahepatic viral replication site and its contribution to HCV recurrence. METHODS We analyzed GIM biopsies from a cohort of 76 patients, 11 of which were HCV-negative and 65 HCV-positive. Of these, 54 biopsies were from liver-transplanted patients. In 29 cases, we were able to investigate gastrointestinal biopsies from the same patient before and after transplant. To evaluate the presence of HCV, we looked for viral antigens and genome RNA, whilst to assess viral replicative activity, we searched for the replicative intermediate minus-strand RNA. We studied the genetic diversity and the phylogenetic relationship of HCV quasispecies from plasma, liver and gastrointestinal mucosa of HCV-liver-transplanted patients in order to assess HCV compartmentalization and possible contribution of gastrointestinal variants to liver re-infection after transplantation. RESULTS Here we show that HCV infects and replicates in the cells of the GIM and that the favorite hosts were mostly enteroendocrine cells. Interestingly, we observed compartmentalization of the HCV quasispecies present in the gastrointestinal mucosa compared to other tissues of the same patient. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis revealed a high similarity between HCV variants detected in gastrointestinal mucosa and those present in the re-infected graft. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that the gastrointestinal mucosa might be considered as an extrahepatic reservoir of HCV and that could contribute to viral recurrence. Moreover, the finding that HCV infects and replicates in neuroendocrine cells opens new perspectives on the role of these cells in the natural history of HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Russelli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS-ISMETT (Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad alta specializzazione), Palermo, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Pizzillo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS-ISMETT (Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad alta specializzazione), Palermo, Italy
| | - Gioacchin Iannolo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS-ISMETT (Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad alta specializzazione), Palermo, Italy
| | - Floriana Barbera
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS-ISMETT (Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad alta specializzazione), Palermo, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Rosa Liotta
- Pathology Service, Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, IRCCS-ISMETT, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Traina
- Endoscopy Service, Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, IRCCS-ISMETT, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vizzini
- Department for the Treatment and Study of Abdominal Diseases and Abdominal Transplantation, IRCCS-ISMETT, Palermo, Italy
| | - Bruno Gridelli
- Department for the Treatment and Study of Abdominal Diseases and Abdominal Transplantation, IRCCS-ISMETT, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Pier Giulio Conaldi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS-ISMETT (Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad alta specializzazione), Palermo, Italy
- Fondazione Ri.MED, Palermo, Italy
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Blackard JT, Kong L, Huber AK, Tomer Y. Hepatitis C virus infection of a thyroid cell line: implications for pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus and thyroiditis. Thyroid 2013; 23:863-70. [PMID: 23259732 PMCID: PMC3704108 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2012.0507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmune and non-autoimmune thyroiditis frequently occur in persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Treatment with interferon alpha (IFNα) is also associated with significant risk for the development of thyroiditis. To explore HCV-thyroid interactions at a cellular level, we evaluated whether a human thyroid cell line (ML1) could be infected productively with HCV in vitro. METHODS AND RESULTS ML1 cells showed robust surface expression of the major HCV receptor CD81. Using a highly sensitive, strand-specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay, positive-sense and negative-sense HCV RNA were detected in ML1 cell lysates at days 3, 7, and 14 postinfection with HCV. HCV core protein was expressed at high levels in ML1 supernatants at days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 postinfection. The nonstructural protein NS5A was also detected in ML1 cell lysates by Western blotting. HCV entry into ML1 cells was shown to be dependent on the HCV entry factors CD81 and SR-B1/CLA1, while IFNα inhibited HCV replication in ML1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Supernatants from HCV-infected ML1 cells were able to infect fresh ML1 cells productively, suggesting that infectious virions could be transferred from infected to naïve thyroid cells in vivo. Additionally, HCV infection of ML1 cells led to increased expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, we have demonstrated that HCV can infect human thyroid cells in vitro. These findings strongly suggest that HCV infection of thyrocytes may play a role in the association between chronic HCV infection and thyroid autoimmunity. Furthermore, the thyroid may serve as an extrahepatic reservoir for HCV viral replication, thus contributing to the persistence of viral infection and to the development of thyroid autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T Blackard
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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Miyake T, Hiasa Y, Hirooka M, Tokumoto Y, Watanabe T, Furukawa S, Ueda T, Yamamoto S, Kumagi T, Miyaoka H, Abe M, Matsuura B, Onji M. High serum palmitic acid is associated with low antiviral effects of interferon-based therapy for hepatitis C virus. Lipids 2012; 47:1053-62. [PMID: 22983804 DOI: 10.1007/s11745-012-3716-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection alters fatty acid synthesis and metabolism in association with HCV replication. The present study examined the effect of serum fatty acid composition on interferon (IFN)-based therapy. Fifty-five patients with HCV were enrolled and received IFN-based therapy. Patient characteristics, laboratory data (including fatty acids), and viral factors that could be associated with the anti-HCV effects of IFN-based therapy were evaluated. The effects of individual fatty acids on viral replication and IFN-based therapy were also examined in an in-vitro system. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the level of serum palmitic acid before treatment and HCV genotype were significant predictors for rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response (EVR), and sustained virological response (SVR). High levels of palmitic acid inhibited the anti-HCV effects of IFN-based therapy. HCV replication assays confirmed the inhibitory effects of palmitic acid on anti-HCV therapy. The concentration of serum palmitic acid is an independent predictive factor for RVR, EVR, and SVR in IFN-based antiviral therapy. These results suggest that the effect of IFN-based antiviral therapy in patients with HCV infection might be enhanced by treatment that modulates palmitic acid levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruki Miyake
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan
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Shanmugam NKN, Ellenbogen S, Trebicka E, Wang L, Mukhopadhyay S, Lacy-Hulbert A, Gallini CA, Garrett WS, Cherayil BJ. Tumor necrosis factor α inhibits expression of the iron regulating hormone hepcidin in murine models of innate colitis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38136. [PMID: 22675442 PMCID: PMC3365004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2011] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Abnormal expression of the liver peptide hormone hepcidin, a key regulator of iron homeostasis, contributes to the pathogenesis of anemia in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Since little is known about the mechanisms that control hepcidin expression during states of intestinal inflammation, we sought to shed light on this issue using mouse models. Methodology/Principal Findings Hepcidin expression was evaluated in two types of intestinal inflammation caused by innate immune activation—dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in wild-type mice and the spontaneous colitis occurring in T-bet/Rag2-deficient (TRUC) mice. The role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α was investigated by in vivo neutralization, and by treatment of a hepatocyte cell line, as well as mice, with the recombinant cytokine. Expression and activation of Smad1, a positive regulator of hepcidin transcription, were assessed during colitis and following administration or neutralization of TNFα. Hepcidin expression progressively decreased with time during DSS colitis, correlating with changes in systemic iron distribution. TNFα inhibited hepcidin expression in cultured hepatocytes and non-colitic mice, while TNFα neutralization during DSS colitis increased it. Similar results were obtained in TRUC mice. These effects involved a TNFα-dependent decrease in Smad1 protein but not mRNA. Conclusions/Significance TNFα inhibits hepcidin expression in two distinct types of innate colitis, with down-regulation of Smad1 protein playing an important role in this process. This inhibitory effect of TNFα may be superseded by other factors in the context of T cell-mediated colitis given that in the latter form of intestinal inflammation hepcidin is usually up-regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanda Kumar N. Shanmugam
- Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Shiri Ellenbogen
- Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Estela Trebicka
- Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lijian Wang
- Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Subhankar Mukhopadhyay
- Developmental Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Lacy-Hulbert
- Developmental Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Carey Ann Gallini
- Departments of Immunology and Infectious Diseases and Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Wendy S. Garrett
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Departments of Immunology and Infectious Diseases and Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bobby J. Cherayil
- Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Tokumoto Y, Hiasa Y, Uesugi K, Watanabe T, Mashiba T, Abe M, Kumagi T, Ikeda Y, Matsuura B, Onji M. Ribavirin regulates hepatitis C virus replication through enhancing interferon-stimulated genes and interleukin 8. J Infect Dis 2012; 205:1121-30. [PMID: 22357660 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jis025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The manner in which ribavirin (RBV) enhances the antiviral effects of interferon (IFN) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains unknown. We investigated whether RBV modifies IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in vivo and in vitro. METHODS We measured the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of ISGs in T lymphocytes from patients with HCV infection who were receiving IFN-α therapy with or without RBV. We added RBV and/or IFN-α to a plasmid-based HCV replication system containing a full-length HCV genotype 1a sequence in HepG2 and Huh7 cell lines and the JFH-1 HCV genotype 2a sequence in Huh7 cell lines and measured levels of ISGs and autocrine IFN-β. RESULTS The expression of protein kinase R and myxovirus resistance A mRNA was enhanced more with IFN-α and RBV than by IFN-α alone in assays in vivo and in vitro. Such enhancement depended on autocrine IFN-β being enhanced by RBV. RBV upregulated interleukin 8 (IL-8) in the absence of IFN-α. The IL-8 upregulation induced by RBV was responsible for the activation of activator protein 1 (AP-1). CONCLUSIONS Ribavirin augments the anti-HCV effects of IFN-α induced by ISGs through enhancing autocrine IFN-β. Moreover, RBV can enhance IL-8 through activating AP-1. Improved understanding of ISG modulation by RBV would help to establish a means of eliminating HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshio Tokumoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
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Lin L, Libbrecht L, Verbeeck J, Verslype C, Roskams T, van Pelt J, Van Ranst M, Fevery J. Quantitation of replication of the HCV genome in human livers with end-stage cirrhosis by strand-specific real-time RT-PCR assays: methods and clinical relevance. J Med Virol 2009; 81:1569-75. [PMID: 19626615 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
HCV replicates in liver via an intermediate negative strand RNA. To study the relevance of HCV genome replication, quantitative strand-specific HCV real-time RT-PCR assays were developed and applied to livers explanted because of end-stage cirrhosis. The assays have broad ranges of determination and a high reproducibility and accuracy. Analysis of five different samples showed an even distribution of HCV genomes in four livers. Hepatic concentrations of positive (PS)- and negative (NS)-strand RNA did correlate with each other, with PS/NS ratios ranging between 3 and 340. Hepatic concentrations of HCV-PS or -NS RNA did not correlate with serum HCV-RNA levels or with genotypes. A high HCV envelope-2 protein expression correlated with a low NS concentration. HCV-PS and -NS levels, E2 protein expression and genotype did not correlate with biochemical tests or with histological changes in the explanted liver, but the ratio NS/PS, a marker of viral replication, correlated with the severity of the recurrent post-transplant hepatitis caused by HCV. This suggests the existence of an extra-hepatic location of HCV with comparable viral replication rate being responsible for the infection of the newly transplanted liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Lin
- Department of Hepatology, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium
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9
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Hiasa Y, Kuzuhara H, Tokumoto Y, Konishi I, Yamashita N, Matsuura B, Michitaka K, Chung RT, Onji M. Hepatitis C virus replication is inhibited by 22beta-methoxyolean-12-ene-3beta, 24(4beta)-diol (ME3738) through enhancing interferon-beta. Hepatology 2008; 48:59-69. [PMID: 18459156 DOI: 10.1002/hep.22289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED A derivative of soyasapogenol, 22beta-methoxyolean-12-ene-3beta, 24(4beta)-diol (ME3738), ameliorates liver injury induced by Concanavalin A in mice. We examined whether ME3738 has independent antiviral effects against hepatitis C virus (HCV) using an established HCV replication model that expresses the full-length genotype 1a HCV complementary DNA plasmid (pT7-flHCV-Rz) under the control of a replication-defective adenoviral vector expressing T7 polymerase. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, human hepatoma (Huh7) cells, or monkey kidney (CV-1) cells were transfected with pT7-flHCV-Rz, and infected with adenoviral vector expressing T7 polymerase. ME3738 or interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) was added thereafter and then protein and RNA were harvested from the cells at 9 days after infection. HCV-positive and HCV-negative strands were measured by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and HCV core protein expression was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The messenger RNA levels of innate antiviral response-related genes were assessed using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. ME3738 dose-dependently reduced HCV-RNA and core protein in hepatocyte-derived cell lines. The antiviral effect was more pronounced in HepG2 than in Huh7 cells. ME3738 increased messenger RNA levels of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and of IFN-stimulated genes (2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase, myxovirus resistance protein A [MxA]). Interferon-beta knockdown by small interfering RNA abrogated the anti-HCV effect of ME3738. Moreover, the anti-HCV effects were synergistic when ME3738 was combined with IFN-alpha. CONCLUSION ME3738 has antiviral effects against HCV. The enhancement of autocrine IFN-beta suggests that ME3738 exerts antiviral action along the type I IFN pathway. This anti-HCV action by ME3738 was synergistically enhanced when combined with IFN-alpha. ME3738 might be a useful anti-HCV drug either with or without IFN-alpha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichi Hiasa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
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Tokumoto Y, Hiasa Y, Horiike N, Michitaka K, Matsuura B, Chung RT, Onji M. Hepatitis C virus expression and interferon antiviral action is dependent on PKR expression. J Med Virol 2007; 79:1120-7. [PMID: 17596833 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.20902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Interferon (IFN)-inducible double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) is thought to play a key antiviral role against hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, demonstrating the importance of PKR expression on HCV protein synthesis in the presence or absence of IFN has proven difficult in vivo. In the present experiment, full-length HCV constructs were transiently transfected into two cell lines stably expressing T7 RNA polymerase. HCV expression was monitored under conditions of upregulated or downregulated PKR expression. In addition, IFN was monitored during downregulation of PKR. HCV expression effectively increased PKR expression, as well as that of its regulated proteins. PKR was obviously knocked down by PKR-specific siRNA, which resulted in significantly increased HCV core protein levels. Conversely, over-expression of PKR significantly suppressed HCV core levels in both cell lines. Furthermore, IFN induced high levels of PKR, whereas downregulation of PKR reversed IFN's antiviral effects and increased HCV core levels. Based on these results, it appears that HCV protein expression is directly dependent on PKR expression. PKR is antiviral toward HCV and responsible for IFN's effect against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshio Tokumoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, Japan
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Hiasa Y, Onji M. Understanding the precise function of interferon regulatory factor 3 in hepatitis C virus replication will lead to a new strategy for therapy. J Gastroenterol 2006; 41:814-5. [PMID: 16988775 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-006-1867-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Blackard JT, Kemmer N, Sherman KE. Extrahepatic replication of HCV: insights into clinical manifestations and biological consequences. Hepatology 2006; 44:15-22. [PMID: 16799966 DOI: 10.1002/hep.21283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
An estimated 170 million persons are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide. While hepatocytes are the major site of infection, a broad clinical spectrum of extrahepatic complications and diseases are associated with chronic HCV infection, highlighting the involvement of HCV in a variety of non-hepatic pathogenic processes. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that HCV can replicate efficiently in extrahepatic tissues and cell types, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Nonetheless, laboratory confirmation of HCV replication in extrahepatic sites is fraught with technical challenges, and in vitro systems to investigate extrahepatic replication of HCV are severely limited. Thus, future studies of extrahepatic replication should combine innovative in vitro assays with a prospective cohort design to maximize our understanding of this important phenomenon to the pathogenesis and treatment response rates of HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T Blackard
- Division of Digestive Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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