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Ohta K, Ito M, Chida T, Nakashima K, Sakai S, Kanegae Y, Kawasaki H, Aoshima T, Takabayashi S, Takahashi H, Kawata K, Shoji I, Sawasaki T, Suda T, Suzuki T. Role of hepcidin upregulation and proteolytic cleavage of ferroportin 1 in hepatitis C virus-induced iron accumulation. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011591. [PMID: 37585449 PMCID: PMC10461841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a pathogen characterized not only by its persistent infection leading to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but also by metabolic disorders such as lipid and iron dysregulation. Elevated iron load is commonly observed in the livers of patients with chronic hepatitis C, and hepatic iron overload is a highly profibrogenic and carcinogenic factor that increases the risk of HCC. However, the underlying mechanisms of elevated iron accumulation in HCV-infected livers remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we observed iron accumulation in cells and liver tissues under HCV infection and in mice expressing viral proteins from recombinant adenoviruses. We established two molecular mechanisms that contribute to increased iron load in cells caused by HCV infection. One is the transcriptional induction of hepcidin, the key hormone for modulating iron homeostasis. The transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding protein hepatocyte specific (CREBH), which was activated by HCV infection, not only directly recognizes the hepcidin promoter but also induces bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) expression, resulting in an activated BMP-SMAD pathway that enhances hepcidin promoter activity. The other is post-translational regulation of the iron-exporting membrane protein ferroportin 1 (FPN1), which is cleaved between residues Cys284 and Ala285 in the intracytoplasmic loop region of the central portion mediated by HCV NS3-4A serine protease. We propose that host transcriptional activation triggered by endoplasmic reticulum stress and FPN1 cleavage by viral protease work in concert to impair iron efflux, leading to iron accumulation in HCV-infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyoshi Ohta
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Masahiko Ito
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Chida
- Department of Regional Medical Care Support, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kenji Nakashima
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Satoshi Sakai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yumi Kanegae
- Core Research Facilities, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideya Kawasaki
- Institute for NanoSuit Research, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takuya Aoshima
- Laboratory Animal Facilities & Services, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Shuji Takabayashi
- Laboratory Animal Facilities & Services, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Takahashi
- Division of Cell-Free Science, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Kazuhito Kawata
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Ikuo Shoji
- Division of Infectious Disease Control, Center for Infectious Diseases, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sawasaki
- Division of Cell-Free Science, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Takafumi Suda
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
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Toll-like Receptor Response to Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Recent Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105475. [PMID: 35628287 PMCID: PMC9141274 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major global health burden, causing chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are evolutionarily conserved pattern recognition receptors that detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns and activate downstream signaling to induce proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. An increasing number of studies have suggested the importance of TLR responses in the outcome of HCV infection. However, the exact role of innate immune responses, including TLR response, in controlling chronic HCV infection remains to be established. A proper understanding of the TLR response in HCV infection is essential for devising new therapeutic approaches against HCV infection. In this review, we discuss the progress made in our understanding of the host innate immune response to HCV infection, with a particular focus on the TLR response. In addition, we discuss the mechanisms adopted by HCV to avoid immune surveillance mediated by TLRs.
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Dultz G, Shimakami T, Schneider M, Murai K, Yamane D, Marion A, Zeitler TM, Stross C, Grimm C, Richter RM, Bäumer K, Yi M, Biondi RM, Zeuzem S, Tampé R, Antes I, Lange CM, Welsch C. Extended interaction networks with HCV protease NS3-4A substrates explain the lack of adaptive capability against protease inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13862-13874. [PMID: 32747444 PMCID: PMC7535904 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors against the NS3-4A protease of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have proven to be useful drugs in the treatment of HCV infection. Although variants have been identified with mutations that confer resistance to these inhibitors, the mutations do not restore replicative fitness and no secondary mutations that rescue fitness have been found. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the lack of fitness compensation, we screened known resistance mutations in infectious HCV cell culture with different genomic backgrounds. We observed that the Q41R mutation of NS3-4A efficiently rescues the replicative fitness in cell culture for virus variants containing mutations at NS3-Asp168 To understand how the Q41R mutation rescues activity, we performed protease activity assays complemented by molecular dynamics simulations, which showed that protease-peptide interactions far outside the targeted peptide cleavage sites mediate substrate recognition by NS3-4A and support protease cleavage kinetics. These interactions shed new light on the mechanisms by which NS3-4A cleaves its substrates, viral polyproteins and a prime cellular antiviral adaptor protein, the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein MAVS. Peptide binding is mediated by an extended hydrogen-bond network in NS3-4A that was effectively optimized for protease-MAVS binding in Asp168 variants with rescued replicative fitness from NS3-Q41R. In the protease harboring NS3-Q41R, the N-terminal cleavage products of MAVS retained high affinity to the active site, rendering the protease susceptible for potential product inhibition. Our findings reveal delicately balanced protease-peptide interactions in viral replication and immune escape that likely restrict the protease adaptive capability and narrow the virus evolutionary space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Dultz
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tetsuro Shimakami
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Markus Schneider
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) at the Department of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Kazuhisa Murai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamane
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Antoine Marion
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) at the Department of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Tobias M Zeitler
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) at the Department of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Claudia Stross
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christian Grimm
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Rebecca M Richter
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Katrin Bäumer
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - MinKyung Yi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Ricardo M Biondi
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; Biomedicine Research Institute of Buenos Aires - CONICET - Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Stefan Zeuzem
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; University Center for Infectious Diseases, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Robert Tampé
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter and Cluster of Excellence-Macromolecular Complexes, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Iris Antes
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) at the Department of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Christian M Lange
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christoph Welsch
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; University Center for Infectious Diseases, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
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OCIAD1 is a host mitochondrial substrate of the hepatitis C virus NS3-4A protease. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236447. [PMID: 32697788 PMCID: PMC7375614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3-4A (NS3-4A) protease is a key component of the viral replication complex and the target of protease inhibitors used in current clinical practice. By cleaving and thereby inactivating selected host factors it also plays a role in the persistence and pathogenesis of hepatitis C. Here, we describe ovarian cancer immunoreactive antigen domain containing protein 1 (OCIAD1) as a novel cellular substrate of the HCV NS3-4A protease. OCIAD1 was identified by quantitative proteomics involving stable isotopic labeling using amino acids in cell culture coupled with mass spectrometry. It is a poorly characterized membrane protein believed to be involved in cancer development. OCIAD1 is cleaved by the NS3-4A protease at Cys 38, close to a predicted transmembrane segment. Cleavage was observed in heterologous expression systems, the replicon and cell culture-derived HCV systems, as well as in liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C. NS3-4A proteases from diverse hepacivirus species efficiently cleaved OCIAD1. The subcellular localization of OCIAD1 on mitochondria was not altered by NS3-4A-mediated cleavage. Interestingly, OCIAD2, a homolog of OCIAD1 with a cysteine residue in a similar position and identical subcellular localization, was not cleaved by NS3-4A. Domain swapping experiments revealed that the sequence surrounding the cleavage site as well as the predicted transmembrane segment contribute to substrate selectivity. Overexpression as well as knock down and rescue experiments did not affect the HCV life cycle in vitro, raising the possibility that OCIAD1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C in vivo.
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Minor MM, Hollinger FB, McNees AL, Jung SY, Jain A, Hyser JM, Bissig KD, Slagle BL. Hepatitis B Virus HBx Protein Mediates the Degradation of Host Restriction Factors through the Cullin 4 DDB1 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex. Cells 2020; 9:E834. [PMID: 32235678 PMCID: PMC7226812 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) regulatory HBx protein is required for infection, and its binding to cellular damaged DNA binding protein 1 (DDB1) is critical for this function. DDB1 is an adaptor protein for the cullin 4A Really Interesting New Gene (RING) E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL4) complex and functions by binding cellular DDB1 cullin associated factor (DCAF) receptor proteins that recruit substrates for ubiquitination and degradation. We compared the proteins found in the CRL4 complex immunoprecipitated from uninfected versus HBV-infected hepatocytes from human liver chimeric mice for insight into mechanisms by which HBV and the cell interact within the CRL4 complex. Consistent with its role as a viral DCAF, HBx was found in the HBV CRL4 complexes. In tissue culture transfection experiments, we showed that HBx expression led to decreased levels of known restriction factor structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 6 (SMC6) and putative restriction factors stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2), and proteasome activator subunit 4 (PSME4). Moreover, silencing of these proteins led to increased HBV replication in the HepG2-sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) infection model. We also identified cellular DCAF receptors in CRL4 complexes from humanized mice. Increasing amounts of HBx did not reveal competitive DCAF binding to cullin4 (CUL4)-DDB1 in plasmid-transfected cells. Our results suggest a model in which HBx benefits virus replication by directly or indirectly degrading multiple cellular restriction factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa M. Minor
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.M.M.); (F.B.H.); (A.L.M.); (J.M.H.)
| | - F. Blaine Hollinger
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.M.M.); (F.B.H.); (A.L.M.); (J.M.H.)
| | - Adrienne L. McNees
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.M.M.); (F.B.H.); (A.L.M.); (J.M.H.)
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Sung Yun Jung
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Antrix Jain
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Joseph M. Hyser
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.M.M.); (F.B.H.); (A.L.M.); (J.M.H.)
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Betty L. Slagle
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.M.M.); (F.B.H.); (A.L.M.); (J.M.H.)
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
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6
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Perez S, Gevor M, Davidovich A, Kaspi A, Yamin K, Domovich T, Meirson T, Matityahu A, Brody Y, Stemmer SM, El-Osta A, Haviv I, Onn I, Gal-Tanamy M. Dysregulation of the cohesin subunit RAD21 by Hepatitis C virus mediates host-virus interactions. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:2455-2471. [PMID: 30698808 PMCID: PMC6412124 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis, which often results in liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV possesses an RNA genome and its replication is confined to the cytoplasm. Yet, infection with HCV leads to global changes in gene expression, and chromosomal instability (CIN) in the host cell. The mechanisms by which the cytoplasmic virus affects these nuclear processes are elusive. Here, we show that HCV modulates the function of the Structural Maintenance of Chromosome (SMC) protein complex, cohesin, which tethers remote regions of chromatin. We demonstrate that infection of hepatoma cells with HCV leads to up regulation of the expression of the RAD21 cohesin subunit and changes cohesin residency on the chromatin. These changes regulate the expression of genes associated with virus-induced pathways. Furthermore, siRNA downregulation of viral-induced RAD21 reduces HCV infection. During mitosis, HCV infection induces hypercondensation of chromosomes and the appearance of multi-centrosomes. We provide evidence that the underlying mechanism involves the viral NS3/4 protease and the cohesin regulator, WAPL. Altogether, our results provide the first evidence that HCV induces changes in gene expression and chromosome structure of infected cells by modulating cohesin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shira Perez
- Molecular Virology Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
- Cancer Personalized Medicine and Diagnostic Genomics Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Michael Gevor
- Molecular Virology Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
- Chromosome Instability and Dynamics Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Ateret Davidovich
- Molecular Virology Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Antony Kaspi
- Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Laboratory, Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Katreena Yamin
- Chromosome Instability and Dynamics Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Tom Domovich
- Molecular Virology Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Tomer Meirson
- Cell Migration and Invasion Laboratory, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Avi Matityahu
- Chromosome Instability and Dynamics Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Yehuda Brody
- The Broad institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Salomon M Stemmer
- Davidoff Center, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Assam El-Osta
- Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Laboratory, Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Izhak Haviv
- Cancer Personalized Medicine and Diagnostic Genomics Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Itay Onn
- Chromosome Instability and Dynamics Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Meital Gal-Tanamy
- Molecular Virology Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
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Zhou Y, Zhao Y, Gao Y, Hu W, Qu Y, Lou N, Zhu Y, Zhang X, Yang H. Hepatitis C virus NS3 protein enhances hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasion by promoting PPM1A ubiquitination and degradation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2017; 36:42. [PMID: 28283039 PMCID: PMC5345236 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-017-0510-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Background Growing evidence suggests that hepatitis C virus (HCV) contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by directly modulating oncogenic signaling pathways. Protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A (PPM1A) has recently emerged as an important tumor suppressor as it can block a range of tumor-centric signaling pathways through protein dephosphorylation. However, the role and regulatory mechanisms of PPM1A in HCV-infected cells have not been reported. Methods Total, cytoplasmic, and nuclear PPM1A protein after HCV infection or overexpression of HCV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) were detected by western blotting. The expression of PPM1A in normal liver and HCV-related HCC tissues was quantified by immunohistochemistry. The effects of HCV infection and NS3 expression on the PPM1A protein level were systematically analyzed, and the ubiquitination level of PPM1A was determined by precipitation with anti-PPM1A and immunoblotting with either anti-ubiquitin or anti-PPM1A antibody. Finally, the roles of NS3 and PPM1A in hepatoma cell migration and invasion were assessed by wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. Results HCV infection and replication decreased PPM1A abundance, mediated by NS3, in hepatoma cells. Compared to normal liver tissues, the expression of PPM1A was significantly decreased in the HCC tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. NS3 directly interacted with PPM1A to promote PPM1A ubiquitination and degradation, which was dependent on its protease domain. Blockade of PPM1A through small interfering RNA significantly promoted HCC cell migration, invasion, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), which were further intensified by TGF-β1 stimulation, in vitro. Furthermore, restoration of PPM1A abrogated the NS3-mediated promotion of HCC migration and invasion to a great extent, which was dependent on its protein phosphatase function. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the HCV protein NS3 can downregulate PPM1A by promoting its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, which might contribute to the migration and invasion of hepatoma cells and may represent a new strategy of HCV in carcinogenesis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-017-0510-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yaoying Gao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wenjun Hu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yan Qu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ning Lou
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaoping Zhang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China.
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Hepacivirus NS3/4A Proteases Interfere with MAVS Signaling in both Their Cognate Animal Hosts and Humans: Implications for Zoonotic Transmission. J Virol 2016; 90:10670-10681. [PMID: 27654291 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01634-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple novel members of the genus Hepacivirus have recently been discovered in diverse mammalian species. However, to date, their replication mechanisms and zoonotic potential have not been explored in detail. The NS3/4A serine protease of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is critical for cleavage of the viral polyprotein. It also cleaves the cellular innate immune adaptor MAVS, thus decreasing interferon (IFN) production and contributing to HCV persistence in the human host. To investigate the conservation of fundamental aspects of the hepaciviral life cycle, we explored if MAVS cleavage and suppression of innate immune signaling represent a common mechanism employed across different clades of the genus Hepacivirus to enhance viral replication. To estimate the zoonotic potential of these nonhuman hepaciviruses, we assessed if their NS3/4A proteases were capable of cleaving human MAVS. NS3/4A proteases of viruses infecting colobus monkeys, rodents, horses, and cows cleaved the MAVS proteins of their cognate hosts and interfered with the ability of MAVS to induce the IFN-β promoter. All NS3/4A proteases from nonhuman viruses readily cleaved human MAVS. Thus, NS3/4A-dependent cleavage of MAVS is a conserved replication strategy across multiple clades within the genus Hepacivirus Human MAVS is susceptible to cleavage by these nonhuman viral proteases, indicating that it does not pose a barrier for zoonotic transmission of these viruses to humans. IMPORTANCE Virus infection is recognized by cellular sensor proteins triggering innate immune signaling and antiviral defenses. While viruses have evolved strategies to thwart these antiviral programs in their cognate host species, these evasion mechanisms are often ineffective in a novel host, thus limiting viral transmission across species. HCV, the best-characterized member of the genus Hepacivirus within the family Flaviviridae, uses its NS3/4A protease to disrupt innate immune signaling by cleaving the cellular adaptor protein MAVS. Recently, a large number of HCV-related viruses have been discovered in various animal species, including wild, livestock, and companion animals. We show that the NS3/4A proteases of these hepaciviruses from different animals and representing various clades of the genus cleave their cognate host MAVS proteins in addition to human MAVS. Therefore, cleavage of MAVS is a common strategy of hepaciviruses, and human MAVS is likely unable to limit replication of these nonhuman viruses upon zoonotic exposure.
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Qian X, Xu C, Zhao P, Qi Z. Long non-coding RNA GAS5 inhibited hepatitis C virus replication by binding viral NS3 protein. Virology 2016; 492:155-65. [PMID: 26945984 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
HCV infection has a complex and dynamic process which involves a large number of viral and host factors. Long non-coding RNA GAS5 inhibits liver fibrosis and liver tumor migration and invasion. However, the contribution of GAS5 on HCV infection remains unknown. In this study, GAS5 was gradually upregulated during HCV infection in Huh7 cells. In addition, GAS5 attenuated virus replication with its 5' end sequences, as confirmed by different GAS5 truncations. Moreover, this 5' end sequences showed RNA-protein interaction with HCV NS3 protein that could act as a decoy to inhibit its functions, which contributed to the suppression of HCV replication. Finally, the innate immune responses remained low in HCV infected Huh7 cells, ruling out the possibility of GAS5 to modulate innate immunity. Thus, HCV stimulated endogenous GAS5 can suppress HCV infection by acting as HCV NS3 protein decoy, providing a potential role of GAS5 as a diagnostic or therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xijing Qian
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, 800th Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, PR China
| | - Chen Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to Second Military Medical University, 415th Feng Yang Road, Shanghai 200003, PR China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, 800th Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, PR China
| | - Zhongtian Qi
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, 800th Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
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Kazakov T, Yang F, Ramanathan HN, Kohlway A, Diamond MS, Lindenbach BD. Hepatitis C virus RNA replication depends on specific cis- and trans-acting activities of viral nonstructural proteins. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004817. [PMID: 25875808 PMCID: PMC4395149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many positive-strand RNA viruses encode genes that can function in trans, whereas other genes are required in cis for genome replication. The mechanisms underlying trans- and cis-preferences are not fully understood. Here, we evaluate this concept for hepatitis C virus (HCV), an important cause of chronic liver disease and member of the Flaviviridae family. HCV encodes five nonstructural (NS) genes that are required for RNA replication. To date, only two of these genes, NS4B and NS5A, have been trans-complemented, leading to suggestions that other replicase genes work only in cis. We describe a new quantitative system to measure the cis- and trans-requirements for HCV NS gene function in RNA replication and identify several lethal mutations in the NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B genes that can be complemented in trans, alone or in combination, by expressing the NS3-5B polyprotein from a synthetic mRNA. Although NS5B RNA binding and polymerase activities can be supplied in trans, NS5B protein expression was required in cis, indicating that NS5B has a cis-acting role in replicase assembly distinct from its known enzymatic activity. Furthermore, the RNA binding and NTPase activities of the NS3 helicase domain were required in cis, suggesting that these activities play an essential role in RNA template selection. A comprehensive complementation group analysis revealed functional linkages between NS3-4A and NS4B and between NS5B and the upstream NS3-5A genes. Finally, NS5B polymerase activity segregated with a daclatasvir-sensitive NS5A activity, which could explain the synergy of this antiviral compound with nucleoside analogs in patients. Together, these studies define several new aspects of HCV replicase structure-function, help to explain the potency of HCV-specific combination therapies, and provide an experimental framework for the study of cis- and trans-acting activities in positive-strand RNA virus replication more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teymur Kazakov
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Harish N. Ramanathan
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Andrew Kohlway
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Michael S. Diamond
- Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, and Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Brett D. Lindenbach
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Horner SM. Insights into antiviral innate immunity revealed by studying hepatitis C virus. Cytokine 2015; 74:190-7. [PMID: 25819428 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Experimental studies on the interactions of the positive strand RNA virus hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the host have contributed to several discoveries in the field of antiviral innate immunity. These include revealing the antiviral sensing pathways that lead to the induction of type I interferon (IFN) during HCV infection and also the importance of type III IFNs in the antiviral immune response to HCV. These studies on HCV/host interactions have contributed to our overall understanding of viral sensing and viral evasion of the antiviral intracellular innate immune response. In this review, I will highlight how these studies of HCV/host interactions have led to new insights into antiviral innate immunity. Overall, I hope to emphasize that studying antiviral immunity in the context of virus infection is necessary to fully understand antiviral immunity and how it controls the outcome of viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy M Horner
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States.
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12
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Gokhale NS, Vazquez C, Horner SM. Hepatitis C Virus. Strategies to Evade Antiviral Responses. Future Virol 2014; 9:1061-1075. [PMID: 25983854 DOI: 10.2217/fvl.14.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic liver disease and poses a major clinical and economic burden worldwide. HCV is an RNA virus that is sensed as non-self in the infected liver by host pattern recognition receptors, triggering downstream signaling to interferons (IFNs). The type III IFNs play an important role in immunity to HCV, and human genetic variation in their gene loci is associated with differential HCV infection outcomes. HCV evades host antiviral innate immune responses to mediate a persistent infection in the liver. This review focuses on anti-HCV innate immune sensing, innate signaling and effectors, and the processes and proteins used by HCV to evade and regulate host innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandan S Gokhale
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Christine Vazquez
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Stacy M Horner
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 ; Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
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Morikawa K, Gouttenoire J, Hernandez C, Dao Thi VL, Tran HTL, Lange CM, Dill MT, Heim MH, Donzé O, Penin F, Quadroni M, Moradpour D. Quantitative proteomics identifies the membrane-associated peroxidase GPx8 as a cellular substrate of the hepatitis C virus NS3-4A protease. Hepatology 2014; 59:423-33. [PMID: 23929719 DOI: 10.1002/hep.26671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-4A protease is not only an essential component of the viral replication complex and a prime target for antiviral intervention but also a key player in the persistence and pathogenesis of HCV. It cleaves and thereby inactivates two crucial adaptor proteins in viral RNA sensing and innate immunity, mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) and TRIF, a phosphatase involved in growth factor signaling, T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP), and the E3 ubiquitin ligase component UV-damaged DNA-binding protein 1 (DDB1). Here we explored quantitative proteomics to identify novel cellular substrates of the NS3-4A protease. Cell lines inducibly expressing the NS3-4A protease were analyzed by stable isotopic labeling using amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) coupled with protein separation and mass spectrometry. This approach identified the membrane-associated peroxidase GPx8 as a bona fide cellular substrate of the HCV NS3-4A protease. Cleavage by NS3-4A occurs at Cys 11, removing the cytosolic tip of GPx8, and was observed in different experimental systems as well as in liver biopsies from patients with chronic HCV. Overexpression and RNA silencing studies revealed that GPx8 is involved in viral particle production but not in HCV entry or RNA replication. CONCLUSION We provide proof-of-concept for the use of quantitative proteomics to identify cellular substrates of a viral protease and describe GPx8 as a novel proviral host factor targeted by the HCV NS3-4A protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Morikawa
- From the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
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