1
|
Zeng W, Zheng L, Li Y, Yang J, Mao T, Zhang J, Liu Y, Ning J, Zhang T, Huang H, Chen X, Lu F. Engineered extracellular vesicles for delivering functional Cas9/gRNA to eliminate hepatitis B virus cccDNA and integration. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2284286. [PMID: 37982370 PMCID: PMC10763861 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2284286] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
The persistence of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and HBV integration into the host genome in infected hepatocytes pose significant challenges to the cure of chronic HBV infection. Although CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing shows promise for targeted clearance of viral genomes, a safe and efficient delivery method is currently lacking. Here, we developed a novel approach by combining light-induced heterodimerization and protein acylation to enhance the loading efficiency of Cas9 protein into extracellular vesicles (EVs). Moreover, vesicular stomatitis virus-glycoprotein (VSV-G) was incorporated onto the EVs membrane, significantly facilitating the endosomal escape of Cas9 protein and increasing its gene editing activity in recipient cells. Our results demonstrated that engineered EVs containing Cas9/gRNA and VSV-G can effectively reduce viral antigens and cccDNA levels in the HBV-replicating and infected cell models. Notably, we also confirmed the antiviral activity and high safety of the engineered EVs in the HBV-replicating mouse model generated by hydrodynamic injection and the HBV transgenic mouse model. In conclusion, engineered EVs could successfully mediate functional CRISPR/Cas9 delivery both in vitro and in vivo, leading to the clearance of episomal cccDNA and integrated viral DNA fragments, and providing a novel therapeutic approach for curing chronic HBV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wanjia Zeng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liwei Zheng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yukun Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Yang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tianhao Mao
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanna Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Ning
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongxin Huang
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fengmin Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tu T, Wettengel J, Xia Y, Testoni B, Littlejohn M, Le Bert N, Ebert G, Verrier ER, Tavis JE, Cohen C. Major open questions in the hepatitis B and D field - Proceedings of the inaugural International emerging hepatitis B and hepatitis D researchers workshop. Virology 2024; 595:110089. [PMID: 38640789 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110089] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
The early and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) of scientific communities represent the forefront of research and the future direction in which a field takes. The opinions of this key demographic are not commonly aggregated to audit fields and precisely demonstrate where challenges lie for the future. To address this, we initiated the inaugural International Emerging Researchers Workshop for the global Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D scientific community (75 individuals). The cohort was split into small discussion groups and the significant problems, challenges, and future directions were assessed. Here, we summarise the outcome of these discussions and outline the future directions suggested by the EMCR community. We show an effective approach to gauging and accumulating the ideas of EMCRs and provide a succinct summary of the significant gaps remaining in the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Tu
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| | - Jochen Wettengel
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA; Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich /Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner Site, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Yuchen Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, China; Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan, China
| | - Barbara Testoni
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR-5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, Lyon, France; Hepatology Institute of Lyon, France
| | - Margaret Littlejohn
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Department of Infectious Disease, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nina Le Bert
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Gregor Ebert
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich /Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eloi R Verrier
- University of Strasbourg, Inserm, Institute for Translational Medicine and Liver Disease, UMR_S1110, Strasbourg, France
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the Saint Louis University Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jeong Y, Han J, Jang KL. Reactive Oxygen Species Induction by Hepatitis B Virus: Implications for Viral Replication in p53-Positive Human Hepatoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6606. [PMID: 38928309 PMCID: PMC11204012 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126606] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects approximately 300 million people worldwide, causing chronic infections. The HBV X protein (HBx) is crucial for viral replication and induces reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to cellular damage. This study explores the relationship between HBx-induced ROS, p53 activation, and HBV replication. Using HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines that express the HBV receptor NTCP, we compared ROS generation and HBV replication relative to p53 status. Results indicated that HBV infection significantly increased ROS levels in p53-positive HepG2-NTCP cells compared to p53-deficient Hep3B-NTCP cells. Knockdown of p53 reduced ROS levels and enhanced HBV replication in HepG2-NTCP cells, whereas p53 overexpression increased ROS and inhibited HBV replication in Hep3B-NTCP cells. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) reversed these effects. The study also found that ROS-induced degradation of the HBx is mediated by the E3 ligase Siah-1, which is activated by p53. Mutations in p53 or inhibition of its transcriptional activity prevented ROS-mediated HBx degradation and HBV inhibition. These findings reveal a p53-dependent negative feedback loop where HBx-induced ROS increases p53 levels, leading to Siah-1-mediated HBx degradation and HBV replication inhibition. This study offers insights into the molecular mechanisms of HBV replication and identifies potential therapeutic targets involving ROS and p53 pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Jeong
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (Y.J.); (J.H.)
| | - Jiwoo Han
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (Y.J.); (J.H.)
| | - Kyung Lib Jang
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (Y.J.); (J.H.)
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- Microbiological Resource Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Han J, Jang KL. All-trans retinoic acid downregulates HBx levels via E6-associated protein-mediated proteasomal degradation to suppress hepatitis B virus replication. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305350. [PMID: 38861553 PMCID: PMC11166335 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), recognized as the principal and most biologically potent metabolite of vitamin A, has been identified for its inhibitory effects on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. The present study reveals that ATRA induces E6-associated protein (E6AP)-mediated proteasomal degradation of HBx to suppress HBV replication in human hepatoma cells in a p53-dependent pathway. For this effect, ATRA induced promoter hypomethylation of E6AP in the presence of HBx, which resulted in the upregulation of E6AP levels in HepG2 but not in Hep3B cells, emphasizing the p53-dependent nature of this effect. As a consequence, ATRA augmented the interaction between E6AP and HBx, resulting in substantial ubiquitination of HBx and consequent reduction in HBx protein levels in both the HBx overexpression system and the in vitro HBV replication model. Additionally, the knockdown of E6AP under ATRA treatment reduced the interaction between HBx and E6AP and decreased the ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of HBx, which prompted a recovery of HBV replication in the presence of ATRA, as confirmed by increased levels of intracellular HBV proteins and secreted HBV levels. This study not only contributes to the understanding of the complex interactions between ATRA, p53, E6AP, and HBx but also provides an academic basis for the clinical employment of ATRA in the treatment of HBV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiwoo Han
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Lib Jang
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Microbiological Resource Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Louvat C, Deymier S, Nguyen XN, Labaronne E, Noy K, Cariou M, Corbin A, Mateo M, Ricci EP, Fiorini F, Cimarelli A. Stable structures or PABP1 loading protects cellular and viral RNAs against ISG20-mediated decay. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302233. [PMID: 38418089 PMCID: PMC10902665 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
ISG20 is an IFN-induced 3'-5' RNA exonuclease that acts as a broad antiviral factor. At present, the features that expose RNA to ISG20 remain unclear, although recent studies have pointed to the modulatory role of epitranscriptomic modifications in the susceptibility of target RNAs to ISG20. These findings raise the question as to how cellular RNAs, on which these modifications are abundant, cope with ISG20. To obtain an unbiased perspective on this topic, we used RNA-seq and biochemical assays to identify elements that regulate the behavior of RNAs against ISG20. RNA-seq analyses not only indicate a general preservation of the cell transcriptome, but they also highlight a small, but detectable, decrease in the levels of histone mRNAs. Contrarily to all other cellular ones, histone mRNAs are non-polyadenylated and possess a short stem-loop at their 3' end, prompting us to examine the relationship between these features and ISG20 degradation. The results we have obtained indicate that poly(A)-binding protein loading on the RNA 3' tail provides a primal protection against ISG20, easily explaining the overall protection of cellular mRNAs observed by RNA-seq. Terminal stem-loop RNA structures have been associated with ISG20 protection before. Here, we re-examined this question and found that the balance between resistance and susceptibility to ISG20 depends on their thermodynamic stability. These results shed new light on the complex interplay that regulates the susceptibility of different classes of viruses against ISG20.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Louvat
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, MMSB-IBCP, UMR 5086 CNRS University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Séverine Deymier
- https://ror.org/059sz6q14 Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie(CIRI), Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Xuan-Nhi Nguyen
- https://ror.org/059sz6q14 Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie(CIRI), Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Emmanuel Labaronne
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modelisation de la Cellule, Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Lyon, France
| | - Kodie Noy
- https://ror.org/059sz6q14 Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie(CIRI), Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France
| | - Marie Cariou
- https://ror.org/059sz6q14 Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie(CIRI), Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Antoine Corbin
- https://ror.org/059sz6q14 Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie(CIRI), Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Mathieu Mateo
- https://ror.org/059sz6q14 Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie(CIRI), Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France
| | - Emiliano P Ricci
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modelisation de la Cellule, Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Lyon, France
| | - Francesca Fiorini
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, MMSB-IBCP, UMR 5086 CNRS University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Andrea Cimarelli
- https://ror.org/059sz6q14 Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie(CIRI), Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li G, Yang D, Liu X, Zhang T, Liu H, Zou J, Xu Z, Chen X, Dai L, Chen H, Lu F. Precore mutation enhances viral replication to facilitate persistent infection especially in HBeAg-negative patients. Virol Sin 2024; 39:319-330. [PMID: 38492851 PMCID: PMC11074699 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2024.03.003] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Naturally occurred precore (PC, G1896A) and/or basal core promoter (BCP, A1762T/G1764A) mutations are prevalent in chronic HBV-infected patients, especially those under HBeAg-negative status. However, the replicative capacity of HBV with PC/BCP mutations remains ambiguous. Herein, meta-analysis showed that, only under HBeAg-negative status, the serum HBV DNA load in patients with PC mutation was 7.41-fold higher than those without the mutation. Both PC mutation alone and BCP + PC mutations promoted HBV replication in cell and hydrodynamic injection mouse models. In human hepatocyte chimeric mouse model, BCP + PC mutations led to elevated replicative capacity and intrahepatic core protein accumulation. Mechanistically, preC RNA harboring PC mutation could serve as mRNA to express core and P proteins, and such pgRNA-like function favored the maintenance of cccDNA pool under HBeAg-negative status. Additionally, BCP + PC mutations induced more extensive and severe human hepatocyte damage as well as activated endoplasmic reticulum stress and TNF signaling pathway in livers of chimeric mice. This study indicates that HBeAg-negative patients should be monitored on HBV mutations regularly and are expected to receive early antiviral treatment to prevent disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guixin Li
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Danli Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA, 18901, USA
| | - Jun Zou
- Shenzhen Sanyuansheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Zimeng Xu
- Precision Medicine Center of Zhengzhou University, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lizhong Dai
- Peking University-Sansure Biotech Joint Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Sansure Biotech Co., Ltd, Changsha, 410205, China.
| | - Hongsong Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, 100044, China.
| | - Fengmin Lu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, 100044, China; Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Shivangi, Mishra MK, Gupta S, Razdan K, Sudan S, Sehgal S. Clinical diagnosis of viral hepatitis: Current status and future strategies. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 108:116151. [PMID: 38184983 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2023.116151] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Viral hepatitis (VH) is a significant public health issue with tremendous potential to aggravate into chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent decade has witnessed remarkable uprising in the drug development and effective treatment of VH. An upsurge is seen in identification of antiviral therapies with low rates of viral resistance, the improvement of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) vaccination and the development of direct-acting antivirals for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). But unfortunately, the "2030 worldwide eradication" objective of World Health Organization (WHO) is still unmet. It can be largely attributed to the deficit faced by the healthcare system concerning screening and diagnosis. A timely, accurate and comprehensive screening; encompassing maximum population coverage is essential to combat this disease. However, advancements in VH diagnostics remain inadequate and with a marginal use in routine practice. This paper deliberates upon the lacunae in traditional and prevailing diagnostic methodology of viral hepatitis, especially their inadequacy in meeting the unique situations prevailing low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shivangi
- Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu, Jammu (J&K), India
| | - Manish Kumar Mishra
- Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu, Jammu (J&K), India
| | | | - Konika Razdan
- Government Medical College, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
| | - Shashi Sudan
- Government Medical College, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
| | - Shelly Sehgal
- Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu, Jammu (J&K), India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Yang D, Zou J, Guan G, Feng X, Zhang T, Li G, Liu H, Zheng H, Xi J, Yu G, Dai L, Lu F, Chen X. The A1762T/G1764A mutations enhance HBV replication by alternating viral transcriptome. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29129. [PMID: 37772469 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29129] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The A1762T/G1764A mutations, one of the most common mutations in the hepatitis B virus basal core promoter, are associated with the progression of chronic HBV infection. However, effects of these mutations on HBV replication remains controversial. This study aimed to systematically investigate the effect of the mutations on HBV replication and its underlying mechanisms. Using the prcccDNA/pCMV-Cre recombinant plasmid system, a prcccDNA-A1762T/G1764A mutant plasmid was constructed. Compared with wild-type HBV, A1762T/G1764A mutant HBV showed enhanced replication ability with higher secreted HBV DNA and RNA levels, while Southern and Northern blot indicated higher intracellular levels of relaxed circular DNA, single-stranded DNA, and 3.5 kb RNA. Meanwhile, the mutations increased expression of intracellular core protein and decreased the production of HBeAg and HBsAg. In vitro infection based on HepG2-NTCP cells and mice hydrodynamic injection experiment also proved that these mutations promote HBV replication. 5'-RACE assays showed that these mutations upregulated transcription of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) while downregulating that of preC RNA, which was further confirmed by full-length transcriptome sequencing. Moreover, a proportion of sub-pgRNAs with the potential to express polymerase were also upregulated by these mutations. The ChIP-qPCR assay showed that A1762T/G1764A mutations created a functional HNF1α binding site in the BCP region, and its overexpression enhanced the effect of A1762T/G1764A mutations on HBV. Our findings revealed the mechanism and importance of A1762T/G1764A mutations as an indicator for management of CHB patients, and provided HNF1α as a new target for curing HBV-infected patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danli Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Research and Development Center, Shenzhen Sanyuansheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guiwen Guan
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Feng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guixin Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Huiling Zheng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyuan Xi
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Guangxin Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lizhong Dai
- Peking University-Sansure Biotech Joint Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Sansure Biotech Co., LTD, Changsha, China
| | - Fengmin Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Hepatology Institute, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yoon H, Lee HK, Jang KL. Hydrogen Peroxide Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Replication by Downregulating HBx Levels via Siah-1-Mediated Proteasomal Degradation in Human Hepatoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13354. [PMID: 37686160 PMCID: PMC10488175 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713354] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is constantly exposed to significant oxidative stress characterized by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as H2O2, during infection in hepatocytes of patients. In this study, we demonstrated that H2O2 inhibits HBV replication in a p53-dependent fashion in human hepatoma cell lines expressing sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide. Interestingly, H2O2 failed to inhibit the replication of an HBV X protein (HBx)-null HBV mutant, but this defect was successfully complemented by ectopic expression of HBx. Additionally, H2O2 upregulated p53 levels, leading to increased expression of seven in absentia homolog 1 (Siah-1) levels. Siah-1, an E3 ligase, induced the ubiquitination-dependent proteasomal degradation of HBx. The inhibitory effect of H2O2 was nearly abolished not only by treatment with a representative antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine but also by knockdown of either p53 or Siah-1 using specific short hairpin RNA, confirming the role of p53 and Siah-1 in the inhibition of HBV replication by H2O2. The present study provides insights into the mechanism that regulates HBV replication under conditions of oxidative stress in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyunyoung Yoon
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (H.Y.); (H.-K.L.)
| | - Hye-Kyoung Lee
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (H.Y.); (H.-K.L.)
| | - Kyung Lib Jang
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (H.Y.); (H.-K.L.)
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- Microbiological Resource Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee GS, Purdy MA, Choi Y. Cell Culture Systems for Studying Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D Virus Infections. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1527. [PMID: 37511902 PMCID: PMC10381383 DOI: 10.3390/life13071527] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections cause liver disease, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV infection remains a major global health problem. In 2019, 296 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B and about 5% of them were co-infected with HDV. In vitro cell culture systems are instrumental in the development of therapeutic targets. Cell culture systems contribute to identifying molecular mechanisms for HBV and HDV propagation, finding drug targets for antiviral therapies, and testing antiviral agents. Current HBV therapeutics, such as nucleoside analogs, effectively suppress viral replication but are not curative. Additionally, no effective treatment for HDV infection is currently available. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop therapies to treat both viral infections. A robust in vitro cell culture system supporting HBV and HDV infections (HBV/HDV) is a critical prerequisite to studying HBV/HDV pathogenesis, the complete life cycle of HBV/HDV infections, and consequently identifying new therapeutics. However, the lack of an efficient cell culture system hampers the development of novel antiviral strategies for HBV/HDV infections. In vitro cell culture models have evolved with significant improvements over several decades. Recently, the development of the HepG2-NTCP sec+ cell line, expressing the sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide receptor (NTCP) and self-assembling co-cultured primary human hepatocytes (SACC-PHHs) has opened new perspectives for a better understanding of HBV and HDV lifecycles and the development of specific antiviral drug targets against HBV/HDV infections. We address various cell culture systems along with different cell lines and how these cell culture systems can be used to provide better tools for HBV and HDV studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grace Sanghee Lee
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Michael A Purdy
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Youkyung Choi
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Han J, Jang KL. All- trans Retinoic Acid Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Replication by Downregulating HBx Levels via Siah-1-Mediated Proteasomal Degradation. Viruses 2023; 15:1456. [PMID: 37515144 PMCID: PMC10386411 DOI: 10.3390/v15071456] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the most biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, is known to abolish the potential of HBx to downregulate the levels of p14, p16, and p21 and to stimulate cell growth during hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, contributing to its chemopreventive and therapeutic effects against HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we demonstrated that ATRA antagonizes HBx to inhibit HBV replication. For this effect, ATRA individually or in combination with HBx upregulated p53 levels, resulting in upregulation of seven in absentia homolog 1 (Siah-1) levels. Siah-1, an E3 ligase, induces ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of HBx in the presence of ATRA. The ability of ATRA to induce Siah-1-mediated HBx degradation and the subsequent inhibition of HBV replication was proven in an in vitro HBV replication model. The effects of ATRA became invalid when either p53 or Siah-1 was knocked down by a specific shRNA, providing direct evidence for the role of p53 and Siah-1 in the negative regulation of HBV replication by ATRA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiwoo Han
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Lib Jang
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- Microbiological Resource Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yu Y, Schneider WM, Kass MA, Michailidis E, Acevedo A, Pamplona Mosimann AL, Bordignon J, Koenig A, Livingston CM, van Gijzel H, Ni Y, Ambrose PM, Freije CA, Zhang M, Zou C, Kabbani M, Quirk C, Jahan C, Wu X, Urban S, You S, Shlomai A, de Jong YP, Rice CM. An RNA-based system to study hepatitis B virus replication and evaluate antivirals. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg6265. [PMID: 37043562 PMCID: PMC10096565 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg6265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects an estimated 300 million people, and standard treatments are rarely curative. Infection increases the risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and consequently, nearly 1 million people die each year from chronic hepatitis B. Tools and approaches that bring insights into HBV biology and facilitate the discovery and evaluation of antiviral drugs are in demand. Here, we describe a method to initiate the replication of HBV, a DNA virus, using synthetic RNA. This approach eliminates contaminating background signals from input virus or plasmid DNA that plagues existing systems and can be used to study multiple stages of HBV replication. We further demonstrate that this method can be uniquely applied to identify sequence variants that confer resistance to antiviral drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingpu Yu
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - William M. Schneider
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maximilian A. Kass
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eleftherios Michailidis
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ashley Acevedo
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ana L. Pamplona Mosimann
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Juliano Bordignon
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alexander Koenig
- Infectious Diseases Research Unit, GSK, Upper Providence, PA 19426, USA
| | | | | | - Yi Ni
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pradeep M. Ambrose
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Catherine A. Freije
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mengyin Zhang
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Chenhui Zou
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mohammad Kabbani
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Corrine Quirk
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Cyprien Jahan
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xianfang Wu
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shihyun You
- Infectious Diseases Research Unit, GSK, Upper Providence, PA 19426, USA
| | - Amir Shlomai
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ype P. de Jong
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Charles M. Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Relevance of HBx for Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054964. [PMID: 36902395 PMCID: PMC10003785 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) counts as a major global health problem, as it presents a significant causative factor for liver-related morbidity and mortality. The development of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) as a characteristic of a persistent, chronic infection could be caused, among others, by the pleiotropic function of the viral regulatory protein HBx. The latter is known to modulate an onset of cellular and viral signaling processes with emerging influence in liver pathogenesis. However, the flexible and multifunctional nature of HBx impedes the fundamental understanding of related mechanisms and the development of associated diseases, and has even led to partial controversial results in the past. Based on the cellular distribution of HBx-nuclear-, cytoplasmic- or mitochondria-associated-this review encompasses the current knowledge and previous investigations of HBx in context of cellular signaling pathways and HBV-associated pathogenesis. In addition, particular focus is set on the clinical relevance and potential novel therapeutic applications in the context of HBx.
Collapse
|
14
|
McDuffie D, Barr D, Helm M, Baumert T, Agarwal A, Thomas E. Physiomimetic In Vitro Human Models for Viral Infection in the Liver. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:31-49. [PMID: 36402129 PMCID: PMC10005888 DOI: 10.1055/a-1981-5944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of liver morbidity and mortality globally. The mechanisms underlying acute infection and clearance, versus the development of chronic infection, are poorly understood. In vitro models of viral hepatitis circumvent the high costs and ethical considerations of animal models, which also translate poorly to studying the human-specific hepatitis viruses. However, significant challenges are associated with modeling long-term infection in vitro. Differentiated hepatocytes are best able to sustain chronic viral hepatitis infection, but standard two-dimensional models are limited because they fail to mimic the architecture and cellular microenvironment of the liver, and cannot maintain a differentiated hepatocyte phenotype over extended periods. Alternatively, physiomimetic models facilitate important interactions between hepatocytes and their microenvironment by incorporating liver-specific environmental factors such as three-dimensional ECM interactions and co-culture with non-parenchymal cells. These physiologically relevant interactions help maintain a functional hepatocyte phenotype that is critical for sustaining viral hepatitis infection. In this review, we provide an overview of distinct, novel, and innovative in vitro liver models and discuss their functionality and relevance in modeling viral hepatitis. These platforms may provide novel insight into mechanisms that regulate viral clearance versus progression to chronic infections that can drive subsequent liver disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis McDuffie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
| | - David Barr
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Madeline Helm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
| | - Thomas Baumert
- Inserm Research Institute for Viral and Liver Diseases, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ashutosh Agarwal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Emmanuel Thomas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
- Schiff Center for Liver Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
- Address for correspondence Emmanuel Thomas, MD, PhD, FAASLD Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL 33136-1015
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Yoon H, Han J, Jang KL. Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Stimulates Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Replication by Protecting HCV Core Protein from E6AP-Mediated Proteasomal Degradation. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0143222. [PMID: 36374094 PMCID: PMC9784765 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01432-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Most clinical and experimental studies have suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) is dominant over hepatitis B virus (HBV) during coinfection, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we found that the HBV X protein (HBx) upregulates the levels of the HCV core protein to stimulate HCV replication during coinfection in human hepatoma cells. For this purpose, HBx upregulated both the protein levels and enzyme activities of cellular DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and DNMT3b, and this subsequently reduced the expression levels of the E6-associated protein (E6AP), an E3 ligase of the HCV core protein, via DNA methylation. The ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of the HCV core protein was severely impaired in the presence of HBx, whereas this effect was not observed when E6AP was either ectopically expressed or restored by treatment with 5-aza-2'dC or DNMT1 knockdown. The effect of HBx on the HCV core protein was accurately reproduced in HBV/HCV coinfection systems, which were established by either monoinfection by HCV in Huh7D cells transfected with a 1.2-mer HBV replicon or coinfection by HBV and HCV in Huh7D-Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide cells, providing evidence for the stimulation of HCV replication by HBx. The present study may provide insights into understanding HCV dominance during HBV/HCV coinfection in patients. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major human pathogens that cause a substantial proportion of liver diseases worldwide. As the two hepatotropic viruses have the same modes of transmission, coinfection is often observed, especially in areas and populations where HBV is endemic. High-risk populations include people who inject drugs. Both clinical and experimental studies have shown that HCV is more dominant than HBV during coinfection, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we show that HBV X protein (HBx) stimulates HCV replication by inhibiting the expression of E6-associated protein (E6AP) via DNA methylation, thereby protecting the HCV core protein from proteasomal degradation, which can contribute to HCV dominance during HBV/HCV coinfection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyunyoung Yoon
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwoo Han
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Lib Jang
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, The Graduate School, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Microbiological Resource Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Domovitz T, Ayoub S, Werbner M, Alter J, Izhaki Tavor L, Yahalom-Ronen Y, Tikhonov E, Meirson T, Maman Y, Paran N, Israely T, Dessau M, Gal-Tanamy M. HCV Infection Increases the Expression of ACE2 Receptor, Leading to Enhanced Entry of Both HCV and SARS-CoV-2 into Hepatocytes and a Coinfection State. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0115022. [PMID: 36314945 PMCID: PMC9769977 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01150-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest the enhancement of liver injury in COVID-19 patients infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatocytes express low levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor, raising the possibility of HCV-SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in the liver. This work aimed to explore whether HCV and SARS-CoV-2 coinfect hepatocytes and the interplay between these viruses. We demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 coinfects HCV-infected Huh7.5 (Huh7.5HCV) cells. Both viruses replicated efficiently in the coinfected cells, with HCV replication enhanced in coinfected compared to HCV-mono-infected cells. Strikingly, Huh7.5HCV cells were eight fold more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses than naive Huh7.5 cells, suggesting enhanced SARS-CoV-2 entry into HCV-preinfected hepatocytes. In addition, we observed increased binding of spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein to Huh7.5HCV cells, as well as enhanced cell-to-cell fusion of Huh7.5HCV cells with spike-expressing Huh7.5 cells. We explored the mechanism of enhanced SARS-CoV-2 entry and identified an increased ACE2 mRNA and protein levels in Huh7.5HCV cells, primary hepatocytes, and in data from infected liver biopsies obtained from database. Importantly, higher expression of ACE2 increased HCV infection by enhancing its binding to the host cell, underscoring its role in the HCV life cycle as well. Transcriptome analysis revealed that shared host signaling pathways were induced in HCV-SARS-CoV-2 coinfection. This study revealed complex interactions between HCV and SARS-CoV-2 infections in hepatocytes, which may lead to the increased liver damage recently reported in HCV-positive COVID-19 patients. IMPORTANCE Here, we provide the first experimental evidence for the coexistence of SARS-CoV-2 infection with HCV, and the interplay between them. The study revealed a complex relationship of enhancement between the two viruses, where HCV infection increased the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2, thus facilitating SARS-CoV-2 entry, and potentially, also HCV entry. Thereafter, SARS-CoV-2 infection enhanced HCV replication in hepatocytes. This study may explain the aggravation of liver damage that was recently reported in COVID-19 patients with HCV coinfection and suggests preinfection with HCV as a risk factor for severe COVID-19. Moreover, it highlights the possible importance of HCV treatment for coinfected patients. In a broader view, these findings emphasize the importance of identifying coinfecting pathogens that increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and that may accelerate COVID-19-related co-morbidities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Domovitz
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Samer Ayoub
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Michal Werbner
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Joel Alter
- The Laboratory of Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Lee Izhaki Tavor
- The Laboratory of Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Yfat Yahalom-Ronen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Evgeny Tikhonov
- The Lab of Genomic Instability and Cancer, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Tomer Meirson
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
- Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Yaakov Maman
- The Lab of Genomic Instability and Cancer, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Nir Paran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Tomer Israely
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Moshe Dessau
- The Laboratory of Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Meital Gal-Tanamy
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Establishment and Characterization of an HBV Viral Spread and Infectious System following Long-Term Passage of an HBV Clinical Isolate in the Primary Human Hepatocyte and Fibroblast Coculture System. J Virol 2022; 96:e0084922. [PMID: 36037476 PMCID: PMC9517703 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00849-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The existing cell culture-based methods to study hepatitis B virus (HBV) have limitations and do not allow for viral long-term passage. The aim of this study was to develop a robust in vitro long-term viral passage system with optimized cell culture conditions and a viral isolate with the ability to spread and passage. An HBV genotype A clinical isolate was subjected to multiple rounds of UV treatment and passaged in an optimized primary human hepatocyte (PHH)/human fibroblast coculture system. The passaged UV-treated virus was sequenced and further characterized. In addition, a panel of mutant viruses containing different combinations of mutations observed in this virus was investigated. The clinical isolate was passaged for 20 rounds with 21 days per round in an optimized PHH/human fibroblast coculture system while subject to UV mutagenesis. This passaged UV-mutated isolate harbored four mutations: G225A (sR24K) in the S gene, A2062T in the core gene, and two mutations G1764A and C1766T (xV131I) in the basal core promoter (BCP) region. In vitro characterization of the four mutations suggested that the two BCP mutations G1764A and C1766T contributed to the increased viral replication and viral infectivity. A robust in vitro long-term HBV viral passage system has been established by passaging a UV-treated clinical isolate in an optimized PHH/fibroblast coculture system. The two BCP mutations played a key role in the virus's ability to passage. This passage system can be used for studying the entire life cycle of HBV and has the potential for in vitro drug-resistance selection upon further optimization. IMPORTANCE The existing cell culture-based methods to study HBV have limitations and do not allow for viral long-term passage. In this study, an HBV genotype A clinical isolate was subjected to multiple rounds of UV treatment and passaged in an optimized PHH/human fibroblast coculture system. This passaged UV-mutated isolate carried four mutations across the HBV genome, and in vitro characterization of the four mutations suggested that the two basal core promoter (BCP) mutations G1764A and C1766T played a key role in the virus's ability to passage. In summary, we have developed a robust in vitro long-term HBV viral passage system by passaging an UV-treated HBV genotype A clinical isolate in an optimized PHH/human fibroblast coculture system. This passage system can be used for studying the entire life cycle of HBV and has the potential for in vitro drug-resistance selection upon further optimization.
Collapse
|
18
|
Tian X, Dong H, Lai X, Ou G, Cao J, Shi J, Xiang C, Wang L, Zhang X, Zhang K, Song J, Deng J, Deng H, Lu S, Zhuang H, Li T, Xiang K. TRIM56 impairs HBV infection and replication by inhibiting HBV core promoter activity. Antiviral Res 2022; 207:105406. [PMID: 36084850 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105406] [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: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family strongly induced by interferons (IFNs) are parts of the innate immune system with antiviral activity. However, it is still unclear which TRIMs could play important roles in hepatitis B virus (HBV) inhibition. Here, we identified that TRIM56 expression responded in IFN-treated HepG2-NTCP cells and HBV-infected liver tissues, which was a potent IFN-inducible inhibitor of HBV replication. Mechanistically, TRIM56 suppressed HBV replication via its Ring and C-terminal domain. C-terminal domain was essential for TRIM56 translocating from cytoplasm to nucleus during HBV infection. Further analysis revealed that TRIM56's Ring domain targeted IκBα for ubiquitination. This modification induced phosphorylation of p65, which subsequently inhibited HBV core promoter activity, resulting in the inhibition of HBV replication. The p65 was found to be necessary for NF-κB signal pathway to inhibit HBV replication. We verified our findings using HepG2-NTCP and primary human hepatocytes. Our findings reveal that TRIM56 is a critical antiviral immune effector and exerts an anti-HBV activity via NF-κB signal pathway, which is essential for inhibiting transcription of HBV covalently closed circular DNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Tian
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Huijun Dong
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xinyuan Lai
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guomin Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Junning Cao
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Jihang Shi
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Chengang Xiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic, Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center and the MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China; Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xuechao Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ji Song
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Juan Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hongkui Deng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic, Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center and the MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Shichun Lu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zahoor MA, Kuipery A, Mosa AI, Gehring AJ, Feld JJ. HepG2-NTCP Subclones Exhibiting High Susceptibility to Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081800. [PMID: 36016422 PMCID: PMC9412438 DOI: 10.3390/v14081800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
HepG2 cells reconstituted with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) entry receptor sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) are widely used as a convenient in vitro cell culture infection model for HBV replication studies. As such, it is pertinent that HBV infectivity is maintained at steady-state levels for an accurate interpretation of in vitro data. However, variations in the HBV infection efficiency due to imbalanced NTCP expression levels in the HepG2 cell line may affect experimental results. In this study, we performed single cell-cloning of HepG2-NTCP-A3 parental cells via limiting dilution and obtained multiple subclones with increased permissiveness to HBV. Specifically, one subclone (HepG2-NTCP-A3/C2) yielded more than four-fold higher HBV infection compared to the HepG2-NTCP-A3 parental clone. In addition, though HBV infectivity was universally reduced in the absence of polyethylene glycol (PEG), subclone C2 maintained relatively greater permissiveness under PEG-free conditions, suggesting the functional heterogeneity within parental HepG2-NTCP-A3 may be exploitable in developing a PEG-free HBV infection model. The increased viral production correlated with increased intracellular viral antigen expression as evidenced through HBcAg immunofluorescence staining. Further, these subclones were found to express different levels of NTCP, albeit with no remarkable morphology or cell growth differences. In conclusion, we isolated the subclones of HepG2-NTCP-A3 which support efficient HBV production and thus provide an improved in vitro HBV infection model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Atif Zahoor
- Toronto Center for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Adrian Kuipery
- Toronto Center for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Alexander I. Mosa
- Toronto Center for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Adam J. Gehring
- Toronto Center for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jordan J. Feld
- Toronto Center for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
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: 1.5] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Pley C, Lourenço J, McNaughton AL, Matthews PC. Spacer Domain in Hepatitis B Virus Polymerase: Plugging a Hole or Performing a Role? J Virol 2022; 96:e0005122. [PMID: 35412348 PMCID: PMC9093120 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00051-22] [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: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase is divided into terminal protein, spacer, reverse transcriptase, and RNase domains. Spacer has previously been considered dispensable, merely acting as a tether between other domains or providing plasticity to accommodate deletions and mutations. We explore evidence for the role of spacer sequence, structure, and function in HBV evolution and lineage, consider its associations with escape from drugs, vaccines, and immune responses, and review its potential impacts on disease outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Pley
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - José Lourenço
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anna L. McNaughton
- Population Health Science, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Medawar Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philippa C. Matthews
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Medawar Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Xiao Y, Cao J, Zhang Z, Zeng C, Ou G, Shi J, Liu Z, Li Y, Deng J, Xu Y, Zhang W, Li J, Li T, Zhuang H, Lu S, Xiang K. Hepatitis B Virus Pregenomic RNA Reflecting Viral Replication in Distal Non-tumor Tissues as a Determinant of the Stemness and Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:830741. [PMID: 35464922 PMCID: PMC9021960 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.830741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The existence of hepatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) contributes to chemotherapy resistance and cancer recurrence after treatment or surgery. However, very little is known about the hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and its relationship with the stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in HBV-related HCC patients. Methods We collected tumor tissues (T), matched adjacent non-tumor tissues (NT), and distal non-tumor tissues (FNT) from 55 HCC patients for analysis. Results We found HBV DNA levels were higher in T samples than NT and FNT samples, but HBV pgRNA and total RNA expressed lower in T samples. HBV pgRNA and total RNA correlate to HBV DNA among the T, NT, and FNT samples. Further evidence for HBV replication in T samples was provided by HBV S, reverse transcriptase, and X genes sequencing, showing that HBV sequences and genotypes differed between T and matched NT and FNT samples. HBV pgRNA and total RNA showed more frequent significant correlations with CSC markers in NT samples in HBsAg-positive patients. The markers CD133 and OCT4 expressed higher in FNT samples, and HBV replication marker of pgRNA levels was significantly positively correlated to these two markers only in FNT samples. The detection of pgRNA and OCT4 in FNT was correlated to the recurrence of HCC in the resection of HCC patients. Analysis of HBV receptor, sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP), showed that NTCP was correlated negatively to CSC markers in T samples, except for the CD44. Conclusion HBV replication may present in HCC with a weak transcriptomic signature. Moreover, the expression level of HBV pgRNA in distal non-tumor tissues is a sensitive marker for HBV replication and prognosis, which is associated with CSC-related markers especially with OCT4 in distal non-tumor tissues and recurrence of HCC in HBV-related HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Xiao
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Junning Cao
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA Genera Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ze Zhang
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA Genera Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chaoting Zeng
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA Genera Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Guomin Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Jihang Shi
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA Genera Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixiu Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hebei Yanda Lu Daopei Hospital, Langfang, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yinzhe Xu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA Genera Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA Genera Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Peking University-YHLO Joint Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostic of Infectious Disease, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Peking University-YHLO Joint Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostic of Infectious Disease, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shichun Lu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA Genera Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Peking University-YHLO Joint Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostic of Infectious Disease, Peking University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Luo Y, Xiang K, Liu J, Song J, Feng J, Chen J, Dai Y, Hu Y, Zhuang H, Zhou Y. Inhibition of In Vitro Infection of Hepatitis B Virus by Human Breastmilk. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14081561. [PMID: 35458123 PMCID: PMC9031155 DOI: 10.3390/nu14081561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the human breastmilk of mothers infected with HBV, it has been shown that breastfeeding does not increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV. We tested the hypothesis that human breastmilk may contain active components that bind to HBV and inhibit the infectivity of HBV. The results show that human whey significantly inhibited the binding of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) to its antibodies in competitive inhibition immunoassays. The far-western blotting showed that HBsAg bound to a protein of 80 kD in human whey, which was identified as lactoferrin by mass spectrometry. Competitive inhibition immunoassays further demonstrated that both human lactoferrin and bovine lactoferrin bound to HBsAg. Human whey, human lactoferrin, and bovine lactoferrin each significantly inhibited the infectivity of HBV in vitro. Our results indicate that human breastmilk can bind to HBsAg and inhibit the infectivity of HBV, and the active component is lactoferrin. The findings may explain the reason that breastfeeding has no additional risk for MTCT of HBV, although human breastmilk contains HBV. Our study provides experimental evidence that HBV-infected mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their infants
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuqian Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China; (Y.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China; (K.X.); (J.S.)
| | - Jingli Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China; (Y.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Ji Song
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China; (K.X.); (J.S.)
| | - Jing Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China; (J.F.); (J.C.); (Y.D.)
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China; (J.F.); (J.C.); (Y.D.)
| | - Yimin Dai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China; (J.F.); (J.C.); (Y.D.)
| | - Yali Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China; (J.F.); (J.C.); (Y.D.)
- Correspondence: (Y.H.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); Tel.: +86-25-6818-3761 (Y.Z.)
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China; (K.X.); (J.S.)
- Correspondence: (Y.H.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); Tel.: +86-25-6818-3761 (Y.Z.)
| | - Yihua Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China; (Y.L.); (J.L.)
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
- Correspondence: (Y.H.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); Tel.: +86-25-6818-3761 (Y.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepatotropic virus and an important human pathogen. There are an estimated 296 million people in the world that are chronically infected by this virus, and many of them will develop severe liver diseases including hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV is a small DNA virus that replicates via the reverse transcription pathway. In this review, we summarize the molecular pathways that govern the replication of HBV and its interactions with host cells. We also discuss viral and non-viral factors that are associated with HBV-induced carcinogenesis and pathogenesis, as well as the role of host immune responses in HBV persistence and liver pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chen Chuang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Kuen-Nan Tsai
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Jing-Hsiung James Ou
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Rahman N, Sun J, Li Z, Pattnaik A, Mohallem R, Wang M, Kazemian M, Aryal UK, Andrisani O. The cytoplasmic LSm1-7 and nuclear LSm2-8 complexes exert opposite effects on Hepatitis B virus biosynthesis and interferon responses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:970130. [PMID: 36016928 PMCID: PMC9396650 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.970130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite many studies on host or viral gene expression, how the cellular proteome responds to internal or external cues during the infection process remains unclear. In this study, we used a Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) replication model and performed proteomic analyses to understand how HBV evades innate immunity as a function of cell cycle progression. Specifically, we performed proteomic analyses of HBV-replicating cells in G1/S and G2/M phases, as a function of IFN-α treatment. We identified that the conserved LSm (Like-Sm1-8) proteins were differentially regulated in HBV replicating cells treated with IFN-α. Specifically, in G2/M phase, IFN-α increased protein level of LSm1, the unique subunit of cytoplasmic LSm1-7 complex involved in mRNA decay. By contrast, IFN-α decreased LSm8, the unique subunit of nuclear LSm2-8 complex, a chaperone of U6 spliceosomal RNA, suggesting the cytoplasmic LSm1-7 complex is antiviral, whereas the nuclear LSm2-8 complex is pro-viral. In HBV replication and infection models, siRNA-mediated knockdown of LSm1 increased all viral RNAs. Conversely, LSm8 knockdown reduced viral RNA levels, dependent on N6-adenosine methylation (m6A) of the epsilon stem-loop at the 5' end of pre-Core/pregenomic (preC/pg) RNA. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) assays demonstrated reduced viral RNA methylation by LSm8 knockdown, dependent on the 5' m6A modification, suggesting the LSm2-8 complex has a role in mediating this modification. Interestingly, splicing inhibitor Cp028 acting upstream of the LSm2-8 complex suppressed viral RNA levels without reducing the 5' m6A modification. This observation suggests Cp028 has novel antiviral effects, likely potentiating IFN-α-mediated suppression of HBV biosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naimur Rahman
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Jiazeng Sun
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Zhili Li
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Aryamav Pattnaik
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Rodrigo Mohallem
- Purdue Proteomics Facility, Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Mengbo Wang
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Majid Kazemian
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Uma K Aryal
- Purdue Proteomics Facility, Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Ourania Andrisani
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Yang H, Rui F, Li R, Yin S, Xue Q, Hu X, Xu Y, Wu C, Shi J, Li J. ADAR1 Inhibits HBV DNA Replication via Regulating miR-122-5p in Palmitic Acid Treated HepG2.2.15 Cells. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2022; 15:4035-4047. [PMID: 36582505 PMCID: PMC9793725 DOI: 10.2147/dmso.s373385] [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: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Changes in living standards and diet structure, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent globally, including in Asia, where chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is endemic. As such, cooccurrence of NAFLD with CHB is common in Asia. However, the pathogenesis underlying the onset of fatty liver in CHB prognosis has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of lipotoxicity on hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA replication. METHODS The expression of adenosine deaminase acting on RNA-1 (ADAR1) and miR-122 was evaluated in liver tissues from patients with CHB concurrent NAFLD. Palmitic acid-treated HepG2.2.15 cells were used as the cell model. The effect of lipotoxicity on HBV DNA replication was evaluated in vitro by transfecting the ADAR1 overexpression or knockdown lentiviral vector into HepG2.2.15 cells, respectively. qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to determine ADAR1 expression. RESULTS The expression of ADAR1 in the liver tissues of CHB patients with concurrent NAFLD was significantly down-regulated compared with that in CHB patients. Enforced expression of ADAR1 inhibited the HBV DNA replication, whereas ADAR1 knockdown resulted in increased HBV DNA expression in palmitic acid - treated HepG2.2.15 cells. Additionally, ADAR1 inhibited the HBV DNA replication by upregulating miR-122, which is most abundant in the liver and mainly inhibits HBV DNA replication. CONCLUSIONS ADAR1 may act as a suppressor of HBV replication in palmitic acid -treated HepG2.2.15 cells by increasing miR-122 levels. Thus, ADAR1 may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for CHB with concurrent NAFLD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Ji’nan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fajuan Rui
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengxia Yin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qi Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Ji’nan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji’nan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yayun Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji’nan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chao Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Junping Shi
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Wenzhou Road, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Junping Shi, Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Wenzhou Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, Email
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Jie Li, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China, Email
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Broennimann K, Ricardo-Lax I, Adler J, Michailidis E, de Jong YP, Reuven N, Shaul Y. RNR-R2 Upregulation by a Short Non-Coding Viral Transcript. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121822. [PMID: 34944466 PMCID: PMC8698843 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA viruses require dNTPs for replication and have developed different strategies to increase intracellular dNTP pools. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects non-dividing cells in which dNTPs are scarce and the question is how viral replication takes place. Previously we reported that the virus induces the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway culminating in RNR-R2 expression and the generation of an active RNR holoenzyme, the key regulator of dNTP levels, leading to an increase in dNTPs. How the virus induces DDR and RNR-R2 upregulation is not completely known. The viral HBx open reading frame (ORF) was believed to trigger this pathway. Unexpectedly, however, we report here that the production of HBx protein is dispensable. We found that a small conserved region of 125 bases within the HBx ORF is sufficient to upregulate RNR-R2 expression in growth-arrested HepG2 cells and primary human hepatocytes. The observed HBV mRNA embedded regulatory element is named ERE. ERE in isolation is sufficient to activate the ATR-Chk1-E2F1-RNR-R2 DDR pathway. These findings demonstrate a non-coding function of HBV transcripts to support its propagation in non-cycling cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karin Broennimann
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; (K.B.); (I.R.-L.); (J.A.); (N.R.)
| | - Inna Ricardo-Lax
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; (K.B.); (I.R.-L.); (J.A.); (N.R.)
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; (E.M.); (Y.P.d.J.)
| | - Julia Adler
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; (K.B.); (I.R.-L.); (J.A.); (N.R.)
| | - Eleftherios Michailidis
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; (E.M.); (Y.P.d.J.)
| | - Ype P. de Jong
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; (E.M.); (Y.P.d.J.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Nina Reuven
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; (K.B.); (I.R.-L.); (J.A.); (N.R.)
| | - Yosef Shaul
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; (K.B.); (I.R.-L.); (J.A.); (N.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-8-934-2320
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Song J, Ou G, Lai X, Tian X, Wang L, Zhang K, Wang L, Zhang X, Zhao C, Zhuang H, Xiang K, Li T. The enhancement role of Matrigel on HBV infection in HepG2-NTCP cells. J Virol Methods 2021; 299:114345. [PMID: 34728272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The hepatoma cell lines stably expressing sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), the receptor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, serve as important infection models for studying viral biology and drug discovery. However, the efficiency of infection greatly varies. In this study, we studied the effects and potential mechanisms of Matrigel® hESC-qualified (M-hq), a biological basement membrane matrix commonly used in cell culture, on promotion HBV in vitro infection in HepG2-NTCP cells. For the first time, our findings demonstrate that M-hq could enhance the infection efficiency of cell culture-derived HBV with no impact on the cell viability, the HBV transcription and response to antiviral treatments. The infection enhancement is reproducible and is suggested to occur at HBV attachment step. Our study suggests that this novel system is applicable for studying HBV biology and new drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji Song
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guomin Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xinyuan Lai
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xing Tian
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Luwei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children Health, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xuechao Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Chengyu Zhao
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Li Y, Luo G. Human low-density lipoprotein receptor plays an important role in hepatitis B virus infection. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009722. [PMID: 34293069 PMCID: PMC8345860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects more than 240 million people worldwide, resulting in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV vaccine is effective to prevent new HBV infection but does not offer therapeutic benefit to hepatitis B patients. Neither are current antiviral drugs curative of chronic hepatitis B. A more thorough understanding of HBV infection and replication holds a great promise for identification of novel antiviral drugs and design of optimal strategies towards the ultimate elimination of chronic hepatitis B. Recently, we have developed a robust HBV cell culture system and discovered that human apolipoprotein E (apoE) is enriched on the HBV envelope and promotes HBV infection and production. In the present study, we have determined the role of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in HBV infection. A LDLR-blocking monoclonal antibody potently inhibited HBV infection in HepG2 cells expressing the sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) as well as in primary human hepatocytes. More importantly, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)-mediated knockdown of LDLR expression and the CRISPR/Cas9-induced knockout of the LDLR gene markedly reduced HBV infection. A recombinant LDLR protein could block heparin-mediated apoE pulldown, suggesting that LDLR may act as an HBV cell attachment receptor via binding to the HBV-associated apoE. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that LDLR plays an important role in HBV infection probably by serving as a virus attachment receptor. Requirement of multiple cell surface receptors and co-receptors for efficient virus infection is exemplified by human immunodeficient virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the case of HBV, expression of the NTCP receptor alone in human and murine hepatocytes converted HBV susceptibility albeit at low levels. Recent identification of the glypican 5 (GPC5) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as HBV infection-promoting factors suggests that efficient HBV infection requires multiple cell surface molecules as virus attachment and post-attachment receptors. Here, we provide substantial evidence demonstrating that another cell surface receptor LDLR plays an important role in HBV infection. Downregulation of LDLR expression significantly lowered HBV infection, whereas its upregulation promoted HBV infection. The levels of LDLR expression correlated with HBV cell attachment, suggesting that it serves as an HBV cell attachment receptor. The inhibition of heparin-mediated apoE pulldown by a purified LDLR suggested that LDLR promotes HBV infection probably through its binding to HBV-associated apoE. It is warranted to further determine whether other LDLR family members also play a role in HBV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Li
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Peking University Health Science Center School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guangxiang Luo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Li X, Xu Z, Mitra B, Wang M, Guo H, Feng Z. Elevated NTCP expression by an iPSC-derived human hepatocyte maintenance medium enhances HBV infection in NTCP-reconstituted HepG2 cells. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:123. [PMID: 34225786 PMCID: PMC8256212 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is a functional receptor for hepatitis B virus (HBV). NTCP-reconstituted human hepatoma cells support HBV infection, but the infection is suboptimal and no apparent HBV spread has been observed in this system. RESULTS We found that NTCP-reconstituted HepG2 cells were highly susceptible to HBV infection after cells were cultured in a commercial human inducible pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocyte maintenance medium (HMM). The enhanced HBV infection coincided with increased NTCP expression, and was observed in six different clones of HepG2-NTCP cells. Promoter assays indicated that HMM activated the cytomegalovirus immediate-early (IE) promoter that drives the NTCP expression in the HepG2-NTCP cells. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that HMM upregulated multiple metabolic pathways. Despite highly upregulated NTCP expression by HMM, no obvious HBV spread was observed even in the presence of PEG 8000. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that this particular medium could be used to enhance HBV infection in NTCP-reconstituted hepatocytes in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinlei Li
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Zhaohui Xu
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Bidisha Mitra
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Minghang Wang
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zongdi Feng
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Gailhouste L, Sudoh M, Qin XY, Watashi K, Wakita T, Ochiya T, Matsuura T, Kojima S, Furutani Y. Epigenetic reprogramming promotes the antiviral action of IFNα in HBV-infected cells. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:130. [PMID: 34078875 PMCID: PMC8170866 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00515-y] [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: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections remain a health burden affecting ~250 million people worldwide. Thus far, available interferon-alpha (IFNα)-based therapies have shown unsatisfactory cure rates, and alternative therapeutic molecules are still required. However, their development has been hampered because accessible cell models supporting relevant HBV replication and appropriate antiviral activity are lacking. Strategies that reverse epigenetic alterations offer a unique opportunity for cell reprogramming, which is valuable for restoring altered cellular functions in human cell lines. This work aimed to investigate the feasibility of converting HepG2 cells that stably overexpress the HBV entry receptor (sodium/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide, NTCP) toward IFNα-responsive cells using epigenetic reprogramming. Herein, we showed that an epigenetic regimen with non-cytotoxic doses of the demethylating compound 5-azacytidine restored the anti-HBV action of IFNα in epigenetically reprogrammed HepG2-NTCP-C4 cells, named REP-HepG2-NTCP cells. Thus, a significant inhibition in HBV DNA levels was measured in REP-HepG2-NTCP cells after IFNα treatment. This inhibitory effect was associated with the enhancement of IFNα-mediated induction of critical interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which was limited in non-reprogrammed cells. In particular, our data indicated that re-expression of 2’-5’-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) and interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) was the result of an epigenetically driven unmasking of these genes in reprogrammed cells. At last, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of the IFN analog CDM-3008 in REP-HepG2-NTCP cells and demonstrated the efficiency of this chemical compound in triggering ISG induction and HBV inhibition. In summary, this study shows that epigenetic reprogramming promotes the IFNα response in HBV-infected cells and is potentially attractive for cell-based experimental screening of IFN-like compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luc Gailhouste
- Liver Cancer Prevention Research Unit, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Japan.
| | - Masayuki Sudoh
- Liver Cancer Prevention Research Unit, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Japan.,Department of Translational Research, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Xian-Yang Qin
- Liver Cancer Prevention Research Unit, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Japan
| | - Koichi Watashi
- Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Takaji Wakita
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ochiya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Matsuura
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soichi Kojima
- Liver Cancer Prevention Research Unit, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Japan
| | - Yutaka Furutani
- Liver Cancer Prevention Research Unit, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Xu R, Hu P, Li Y, Tian A, Li J, Zhu C. Advances in HBV infection and replication systems in vitro. Virol J 2021; 18:105. [PMID: 34051803 PMCID: PMC8164799 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01580-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family that has limited tissue and species specificity. Due to the persistence of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in host cells after HBV infection, current antiviral drugs cannot eradicate HBV. Therefore, the development of an active cell culture system supporting HBV infection has become the key to studying HBV and developing effective therapeutic drugs. Main body This review summarizes the significant research achievements in HBV cell culture systems in vitro, including embryonic hepatocytes and primary hepatocytes, which support the virus infection process most similar to that in the body and various liver tumor cells. The discovery of the bile-acid pump sodium-taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) as the receptor of HBV has advanced our understanding of HBV biology. Subsequently, various liver cancer cells overexpressing NTCP that support HBV infection have been established, opening a new door for studying HBV infection. The fact that induced pluripotent stem cells that differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells support HBV infection provides a novel idea for the establishment of an HBV cell culture system. Conclusion Because of the host and tissue specificity of HBV, a suitable in vitro HBV infection system is critical for the study of HBV pathogenesis. Nevertheless, recent advances regarding HBV infection in vitro offer hope for better studying the biological characteristics of HBV, the pathogenesis of hepatitis B, the screening of anti-HBV drugs and the mechanism of carcinogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruirui Xu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Pingping Hu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuwen Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Anran Tian
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuanlong Zhu
- Department of Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, Hainan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Chu H, Wang J, Wang Q, Chen J, Li J, Li H, Zhang L. Protective Effect of n-Butanol Extract from Viola yedoensis on Immunological Liver Injury. Chem Biodivers 2021; 18:e2001043. [PMID: 33929783 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202001043] [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: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Viola yedoensis Makino was used to treat inflammation, viral hepatitis, acute pyogenic infection, and ulcerative carbuncles. However, the protective effect on immunological liver injury (ILI) of V. yedoensis had been rarely reported. This study aimed to explore the protective effect of n-butanol extract (BE) from V. yedoensis on ILI in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the BE significantly inhibited the secretions of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in the HepG2.2.15 cells and the replication of HBV DNA. The research data in vivo revealed that the BE reduced the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) in liver tissues of the ConA-induced mice, while increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and the effective contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and the BE could ameliorate liver histological lesions. These results motivated a further investigation into the chemical constituents of BE. Four coumarins (esculetin, prionanthoside, cichoriin, and esculin) and one flavonoid (quercetin-3-O-galactoside) were isolated from the BE by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization, of which structures were eventually confirmed by 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, and MS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haiqing Chu
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China
| | - Jiexin Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China
| | - Jie Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China
| | - Jiaoning Li
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China
| | - Hangying Li
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China.,Ningxia Engineering and Technology Research Center for Modernization of Chinese Medicine, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China
| | - Liming Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China.,Ningxia Engineering and Technology Research Center for Modernization of Chinese Medicine, Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education (Ningxia Medical University), Yinchuan, 750004, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhang K, Lai X, Song J, He L, Wang L, Ou G, Tian X, Wang L, Deng J, Zhang J, Li C, Zhuang H, Li T, Xiang K. A novel cell culture model reveals the viral interference during hepatitis B and C virus coinfection. Antiviral Res 2021; 189:105061. [PMID: 33705864 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Coinfection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) may result in severe liver disease and frequent progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical evidence suggests that HBV replication is suppressed by replicating HCV and often rebounds after treatment with drugs against HCV. Thus, a highly efficient cell culture system permissive for HBV/HCV would facilitate investigation on the interaction and pathogenesis after coinfection. Here we reported a robust HBV/HCV coinfection cell culture model by overexpressing human sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), CD81 and Mir122 into HepG2 cells and investigated interactions between HBV and HCV. In this system, HepG2-NTCP/CD81/Mir122 cells not only supported robust infection and replication of HBV and HCV, but also allowed HBV/HCV coinfection in the single cell level. Our result showed cells with replicating HBV still supported HCV infection. However, HBV replication was suppressed by HCV through the inhibition of HBV core promoter and S promoter II activity, and this inhibition was attenuated by the interferon alpha (IFNα) treatment, suggesting HCV influence on HBV at transcriptional level. Coinfection of HBV/HCV in this system did not block IFN stimulated genes expression. Inhibition of HCV by direct-acting antiviral drugs restored HBV replication and expression of viral genes. Conclusions: HepG2-NTCP/CD81/Mir122 fully supports HBV/HCV coinfection, replication and interaction. This novel cell model offers a platform to advance our understanding of the molecular details of the interaction, pathogenesis and outcomes of HBV/HCV coinfection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xinyuan Lai
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ji Song
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lingyuan He
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Luwei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guomin Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xing Tian
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Juan Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jiajia Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian Distinct, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Chuanyun Li
- Center of Liver Transplantation, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
In Vitro Infection with Hepatitis B Virus Using Differentiated Human Serum Culture of Huh7.5-NTCP Cells without Requiring Dimethyl Sulfoxide. Viruses 2021; 13:v13010097. [PMID: 33445753 PMCID: PMC7828204 DOI: 10.3390/v13010097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An estimated two billion people worldwide have been infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite the high infectivity of HBV in vivo, a lack of easily infectable in vitro culture systems hinders studies of HBV. Overexpression of the sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) bile acid transporter in hepatoma cells improved infection efficiency. We report here a hepatoma cell culture system that does not require dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for HBV infection. We overexpressed NTCP in Huh7.5 cells and allowed these cells to differentiate in a medium supplemented with human serum (HS) instead of fetal bovine serum (FBS). We show that human serum culture enhanced HBV infection in Huh7.5-NTCP cells, e.g., in HS cultures, HBV pgRNA levels were increased by as much as 200-fold in comparison with FBS cultures and 19-fold in comparison with FBS+DMSO cultures. Human serum culture increased levels of hepatocyte differentiation markers, such as albumin secretion, in Huh7.5-NTCP cells to similar levels found in primary human hepatocytes. N-glycosylation of NTCP induced by culture in human serum may contribute to viral entry. Our study demonstrates an in vitro HBV infection of Huh7.5-NTCP cells without the use of potentially toxic DMSO.
Collapse
|
36
|
Shih C, Wu SY, Chou SF, Yuan TTT. Virion Secretion of Hepatitis B Virus Naturally Occurring Core Antigen Variants. Cells 2020; 10:cells10010043. [PMID: 33396864 PMCID: PMC7823318 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In natural infection, hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) accumulates frequent mutations. The most frequent HBc variant in chronic hepatitis B patients is mutant 97L, changing from an isoleucine or phenylalanine to a leucine (L) at HBc amino acid 97. One dogma in the HBV research field is that wild type HBV secretes predominantly virions containing mature double-stranded DNA genomes. Immature genomes, containing single-stranded RNA or DNA, do not get efficiently secreted until reaching genome maturity. Interestingly, HBc variant 97L does not follow this dogma in virion secretion. Instead, it exhibits an immature secretion phenotype, which preferentially secretes virions containing immature genomes. Other aberrant behaviors in virion secretion were also observed in different naturally occurring HBc variants. A hydrophobic pocket around amino acid 97 was identified by bioinformatics, genetic analysis, and cryo-EM. We postulated that this hydrophobic pocket could mediate the transduction of the genome maturation signal for envelopment from the capsid interior to its surface. Virion morphogenesis must involve interactions between HBc, envelope proteins (HBsAg) and host factors, such as components of ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport). Immature secretion can be offset by compensatory mutations, occurring at other positions in HBc or HBsAg. Recently, we demonstrated in mice that the persistence of intrahepatic HBV DNA is related to virion secretion regulated by HBV genome maturity. HBV virion secretion could be an antiviral drug target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiaho Shih
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.S.); (T.-T.T.Y.)
| | - Szu-Yao Wu
- Chimera Bioscience Inc., No. 18 Siyuan St., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei 10087, Taiwan;
| | - Shu-Fan Chou
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Ta-Tung Thomas Yuan
- TFBS Bioscience, Inc. 3F, No. 103, Ln 169, Kangning St., Xizhi Dist., New Taipei City 221, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.S.); (T.-T.T.Y.)
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Chakraborty A, Ko C, Henning C, Lucko A, Harris JM, Chen F, Zhuang X, Wettengel JM, Roessler S, Protzer U, McKeating JA. Synchronised infection identifies early rate-limiting steps in the hepatitis B virus life cycle. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13250. [PMID: 32799415 PMCID: PMC7611726 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped DNA virus that contains a partially double-stranded relaxed circular (rc) DNA. Upon infection, rcDNA is delivered to the nucleus where it is repaired to covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA that serves as the transcription template for all viral RNAs. Our understanding of HBV particle entry dynamics and host pathways regulating intracellular virus trafficking and cccDNA formation is limited. The discovery of sodium taurocholate co-transporting peptide (NTCP) as the primary receptor allows studies on these early steps in viral life cycle. We employed a synchronised infection protocol to quantify HBV entry kinetics. HBV attachment to cells at 4°C is independent of NTCP, however, subsequent particle uptake is NTCP-dependent and reaches saturation at 12 h post-infection. HBV uptake is clathrin- and dynamin dependent with actin and tubulin playing a role in the first 6 h of infection. Cellular fractionation studies demonstrate HBV DNA in the nucleus within 6 h of infection and cccDNA was first detected at 24 h post-infection. Our studies show the majority (83%) of cell bound particles enter HepG2-NTCP cells, however, only a minority (<1%) of intracellular rcDNA was converted to cccDNA, highlighting this as a rate-limiting in establishing infection in vitro. This knowledge highlights the deficiencies in our in vitro cell culture systems and will inform the design and evaluation of physiologically relevant models that support efficient HBV replication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anindita Chakraborty
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.,Technical University of Munich, Institute for Advanced Study, Munich, Germany
| | - Chunkyu Ko
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Christin Henning
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Aaron Lucko
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - James M Harris
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fuwang Chen
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Xiaodong Zhuang
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jochen M Wettengel
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephanie Roessler
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.,Technical University of Munich, Institute for Advanced Study, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
| | - Jane A McKeating
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Mani SKK, Yan B, Cui Z, Sun J, Utturkar S, Foca A, Fares N, Durantel D, Lanman N, Merle P, Kazemian M, Andrisani O. Restoration of RNA helicase DDX5 suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) biosynthesis and Wnt signaling in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics 2020; 10:10957-10972. [PMID: 33042264 PMCID: PMC7532671 DOI: 10.7150/thno.49629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: RNA helicase DDX5 is downregulated during hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, and poor prognosis HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study is to determine the mechanism and significance of DDX5 downregulation for HBV-driven HCC, and identify biologics to prevent DDX5 downregulation. Methods: Molecular approaches including immunoblotting, qRT-PCR, luciferase transfections, hepatosphere assays, Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq), and RNA-seq were used with cellular models of HBV replication, HBV infection, and HBV-related liver tumors, as well as bioinformatic analyses of liver cancer cells from two independent cohorts. Results: We demonstrate that HBV infection induces expression of the proto-oncogenic miR17~92 and miR106b~25 clusters which target the downregulation of DDX5. Increased expression of these miRNAs is also detected in HBV-driven HCCs exhibiting reduced DDX5 mRNA. Stable DDX5 knockdown (DDX5KD) in HBV replicating hepatocytes increased viral replication, and resulted in hepatosphere formation, drug resistance, Wnt activation, and pluripotency gene expression. ATAC-seq of DDX5KD compared to DDX5 wild-type (WT) cells identified accessible chromatin regions enriched in regulation of Wnt signaling genes. RNA-seq analysis comparing WT versus DDX5KD cells identified enhanced expression of multiple genes involved in Wnt pathway. Additionally, expression of Disheveled, DVL1, a key regulator of Wnt pathway activation, was significantly higher in liver cancer cells with low DDX5 expression, from two independent cohorts. Importantly, inhibitors (antagomirs) to miR17~92 and miR106b~25 restored DDX5 levels, reduced DVL1 expression, and suppressed both Wnt activation and viral replication. Conclusion : DDX5 is a negative regulator of Wnt signaling and hepatocyte reprogramming in HCCs. Restoration of DDX5 levels by miR17~92 / miR106b~25 antagomirs in HBV-infected patients can be explored as both antitumor and antiviral strategy.
Collapse
|
39
|
Park YK, Lee SY, Lee AR, Kim K, Kim K, Kim K, Choi B. Antiviral activity of interferon-stimulated gene 20, as a putative repressor binding to hepatitis B virus enhancer II and core promoter. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 35:1426-1436. [PMID: 31951295 PMCID: PMC7497004 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.14986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Interferon-stimulated gene 20 (ISG20) is an interferon-inducible exonuclease that inhibits the replication of several RNA viruses. In patients with chronic hepatitis B, ISG20 expression is related to the interferon-α treatment response. However, the molecular mechanism of ISG20-mediated anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity is unclear. METHODS We have investigated the effect of ISG20 on antiviral activity to address that. The life cycle of HBV was analyzed by the ectopic expression of ISG20 in HepG2 and HepG2-NTCP cells. Finally, to provide physiological relevance of our study, the expression of ISG20 from chronic hepatitis B patients was examined. RESULTS Interferon-stimulated gene 20 was mainly induced by interferon-β and dramatically inhibited HBV replication. In addition, ISG20 decreased HBV gene expression and transcription. Although ISG20 inhibited HBV replication by reducing viral enhancer activity, the expression of transcription factors that bind the HBV enhancer was not affected. Particularly, ISG20 suppressed HBV enhancer activity by binding to the enhancer II and core promoter (EnhII/Cp) region. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that ISG20 exerts the anti-HBV activity by acting as a putative repressor binding to the HBV EnhII/Cp region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Kwang Park
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| | - Sun Young Lee
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| | - Ah Ram Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research and Diagnostic Medicine, IBST, School of MedicineKonkuk UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Kyung‐Chang Kim
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| | - Kisoon Kim
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| | - Kyun‐Hwan Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research and Diagnostic Medicine, IBST, School of MedicineKonkuk UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Byeong‐Sun Choi
- Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease ResearchKorea National Institute of HealthCheongju‐siChungbukKorea
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Wang Q, Michailidis E, Yu Y, Wang Z, Hurley AM, Oren DA, Mayer CT, Gazumyan A, Liu Z, Zhou Y, Schoofs T, Yao KH, Nieke JP, Wu J, Jiang Q, Zou C, Kabbani M, Quirk C, Oliveira T, Chhosphel K, Zhang Q, Schneider WM, Jahan C, Ying T, Horowitz J, Caskey M, Jankovic M, Robbiani DF, Wen Y, de Jong YP, Rice CM, Nussenzweig MC. A Combination of Human Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies against Hepatitis B Virus HBsAg with Distinct Epitopes Suppresses Escape Mutations. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 28:335-349.e6. [PMID: 32504577 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Although there is no effective cure for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, antibodies are protective and correlate with recovery from infection. To examine the human antibody response to HBV, we screened 124 vaccinated and 20 infected, spontaneously recovered individuals. The selected individuals produced shared clones of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that targeted 3 non-overlapping epitopes on the HBV S antigen (HBsAg). Single bNAbs protected humanized mice against infection but selected for resistance mutations in mice with prior established infection. In contrast, infection was controlled by a combination of bNAbs targeting non-overlapping epitopes with complementary sensitivity to mutations that commonly emerge during human infection. The co-crystal structure of one of the bNAbs with an HBsAg peptide epitope revealed a stabilized hairpin loop. This structure, which contains residues frequently mutated in clinical immune escape variants, provides a molecular explanation for why immunotherapy for HBV infection may require combinations of complementary bNAbs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Eleftherios Michailidis
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yingpu Yu
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zijun Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Arlene M Hurley
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Deena A Oren
- Structural Biology Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Christian T Mayer
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anna Gazumyan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zhenmi Liu
- West China School of Public Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yunjiao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Till Schoofs
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kai-Hui Yao
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jan P Nieke
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jianbo Wu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qingling Jiang
- West China School of Public Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chenhui Zou
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mohanmmad Kabbani
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Corrine Quirk
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Thiago Oliveira
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kalsang Chhosphel
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - William M Schneider
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Cyprien Jahan
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tianlei Ying
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jill Horowitz
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Marina Caskey
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mila Jankovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Davide F Robbiani
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yumei Wen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ype P de Jong
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Charles M Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michel C Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Zankharia US, Kudchodkar S, Khoshnejad M, Perales-Puchalt A, Choi H, Ho M, Zaidi F, Ugen KE, Kim JJ, Weiner DB, Muthumani K. Neutralization of hepatitis B virus by a novel DNA-encoded monoclonal antibody. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2020; 16:2156-2164. [PMID: 32463327 PMCID: PMC7553714 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1763686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes a potentially life-threatening liver infection that frequently results in life-long chronic infection. HBV is responsible for 887,000 deaths each year, most resulting from chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. Presently, there are 250 million chronic HBV carriers worldwide who are at a high risk for developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is the most common type of liver cancer with a strong association with HBV infection. HBV transmission through blood transfusions and perinatal transfer from infected mother to child have been common routes of infection. In the present study, we describe the development of a synthetic DNA plasmid encoding an anti-HBV human monoclonal antibody specific for the common “a determinant region” of HBsAg of hepatitis B virus and demonstrate the ability of this platform at directing in vivo antibody expression. In vivo delivery of this DNA encoded monoclonal antibody (DMAb) plasmid in mice resulted in expression of human IgG over a period of one month following a single injection. Serum antibody was found to recognize the relevant conformational epitope from plasma purified native HBsAg as well as bound HBV in HepG2.2.15 cells. The serum DMAb efficiently neutralized HBV and prevented infection of HepaRG cells in vitro. Additional study of these HBV-DMAb as a possible therapy or immunoprophylaxis for HBV infection is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urvi S Zankharia
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sagar Kudchodkar
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Makan Khoshnejad
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Hyeree Choi
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michelle Ho
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Faraz Zaidi
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth E Ugen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Joseph J Kim
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting , PA, USA
| | - David B Weiner
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kar Muthumani
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
In Vitro Systems for Studying Different Genotypes/Sub-Genotypes of Hepatitis B Virus: Strengths and Limitations. Viruses 2020; 12:v12030353. [PMID: 32210021 PMCID: PMC7150782 DOI: 10.3390/v12030353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects the liver resulting in end stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite an effective vaccine, HBV poses a serious health problem globally, accounting for 257 million chronic carriers. Unique features of HBV, including its narrow virus-host range and its hepatocyte tropism, have led to major challenges in the development of suitable in vivo and in vitro model systems to recapitulate the HBV replication cycle and to test various antiviral strategies. Moreover, HBV is classified into at least nine genotypes and 35 sub-genotypes with distinct geographical distributions and prevalence, which have different natural histories of infection, clinical manifestation, and response to current antiviral agents. Here, we review various in vitro systems used to study the molecular biology of the different (sub)genotypes of HBV and their response to antiviral agents, and we discuss their strengths and limitations. Despite the advances made, no system is ideal for pan-genotypic HBV research or drug development and therefore further improvement is required. It is necessary to establish a centralized repository of HBV-related generated materials, which are readily accessible to HBV researchers, with international collaboration toward advancement and development of in vitro model systems for testing new HBV antivirals to ensure their pan-genotypic and/or customized activity.
Collapse
|
43
|
Mu T, Zhao X, Zhu Y, Fan H, Tang H. The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase TRIM21 Promotes HBV DNA Polymerase Degradation. Viruses 2020; 12:v12030346. [PMID: 32245233 PMCID: PMC7150939 DOI: 10.3390/v12030346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family is an E3 ubiquitin ligase family. Recent reports have indicated that some TRIM proteins have antiviral functions, especially against retroviruses. However, most studies mainly focus on the relationship between TRIM21 and interferon or other antiviral effectors. The effect of TRIM21 on virus-encoded proteins remains unclear. In this study, we screened candidate interacting proteins of HBV DNA polymerase (Pol) by FLAG affinity purification and mass spectrometry assay and identified TRIM21 as its regulator. We used a coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) assay to demonstrate that TRIM21 interacted with the TP domain of HBV DNA Pol. In addition, TRIM21 promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of HBV DNA Pol using its RING domain, which has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Lys260 and Lys283 of HBV DNA Pol were identified as targets for ubiquitination mediated by TRIM21. Finally, we uncovered that TRIM21 degrades HBV DNA Pol to restrict HBV DNA replication, and its SPRY domain is critical for this activity. Taken together, our results indicate that TRIM21 suppresses HBV DNA replication mainly by promoting the ubiquitination of HBV DNA Pol, which may provide a new potential target for the treatment of HBV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hua Tang
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +86-22-2354-2503
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Pfaender S, Mar KB, Michailidis E, Kratzel A, Hirt D, V'kovski P, Fan W, Ebert N, Stalder H, Kleine-Weber H, Hoffmann M, Hoffmann HH, Saeed M, Dijkman R, Steinmann E, Wight-Carter M, Hanners NW, Pöhlmann S, Gallagher T, Todt D, Zimmer G, Rice CM, Schoggins JW, Thiel V. LY6E impairs coronavirus fusion and confers immune control of viral disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.03.05.979260. [PMID: 32511345 PMCID: PMC7255780 DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.05.979260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs) are significant threats to global health, as exemplified by the recent emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 1 . Host immune responses to CoV are complex and regulated in part through antiviral interferons. However, the interferon-stimulated gene products that inhibit CoV are not well characterized 2 . Here, we show that interferon-inducible lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus E (LY6E) potently restricts cellular infection by multiple CoVs, including SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Mechanistic studies revealed that LY6E inhibits CoV entry into cells by interfering with spike protein-mediated membrane fusion. Importantly, mice lacking Ly6e in hematopoietic cells were highly susceptible to murine CoV infection. Exacerbated viral pathogenesis in Ly6e knockout mice was accompanied by loss of hepatic and splenic immune cells and reduction in global antiviral gene pathways. Accordingly, we found that Ly6e directly protects primary B cells and dendritic cells from murine CoV infection. Our results demonstrate that LY6E is a critical antiviral immune effector that controls CoV infection and pathogenesis. These findings advance our understanding of immune-mediated control of CoV in vitro and in vivo , knowledge that could help inform strategies to combat infection by emerging CoV.
Collapse
|
45
|
Expansion, in vivo-ex vivo cycling, and genetic manipulation of primary human hepatocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:1678-1688. [PMID: 31915293 PMCID: PMC6983380 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1919035117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to study human liver disease is limited by available hepatocyte models. Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) and xenograft models suffer from limited availability, donor-to-donor variability, and high cost. Here we report two transformative advances. First, the alkaloid retrorsine improves humanization of the murine liver, which allows routine production of highly humanized mice and high-quality mouse-passaged PHH. Second, the ability to genetically modify PHH cultures and retransplant to create highly humanized mice with genetically altered grafts. When combined, these two advances open new frontiers for creating disease-specific PHH models and for performing genetic and other screens in PHH. Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) are an essential tool for modeling drug metabolism and liver disease. However, variable plating efficiencies, short lifespan in culture, and resistance to genetic manipulation have limited their use. Here, we show that the pyrrolizidine alkaloid retrorsine improves PHH repopulation of chimeric mice on average 10-fold and rescues the ability of even poorly plateable donor hepatocytes to provide cells for subsequent ex vivo cultures. These mouse-passaged (mp) PHH cultures overcome the marked donor-to-donor variability of cryopreserved PHH and remain functional for months as demonstrated by metabolic assays and infection with hepatitis B virus and Plasmodium falciparum. mpPHH can be efficiently genetically modified in culture, mobilized, and then recultured as spheroids or retransplanted to create highly humanized mice that carry a genetically altered hepatocyte graft. Together, these advances provide flexible tools for the study of human liver disease and evaluation of hepatocyte-targeted gene therapy approaches.
Collapse
|
46
|
Sa-Ngiamsuntorn K, Thongsri P, Pewkliang Y, Wongkajornsilp A, Kongsomboonchoke P, Suthivanich P, Borwornpinyo S, Hongeng S. An Immortalized Hepatocyte-like Cell Line (imHC) Accommodated Complete Viral Lifecycle, Viral Persistence Form, cccDNA and Eventual Spreading of a Clinically-Isolated HBV. Viruses 2019; 11:E952. [PMID: 31623162 PMCID: PMC6832882 DOI: 10.3390/v11100952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 350 million people worldwide have been persistently infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chronic HBV infection could advance toward liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The intervention with prophylactic vaccine and conventional treatment could suppress HBV, but could not completely eradicate it. The major obstacle for investigating curative antiviral drugs are the incompetence of hepatocyte models that should have closely imitated natural human infection. Here, we demonstrated that an immortalized hepatocyte-like cell line (imHC) could accommodate for over 30 days the entire life cycle of HBV prepared from either established cultured cells or clinically-derived fresh isolates. Normally, imHCs had intact interferon signaling with anti-viral action. Infected imHCs responded to treatments with direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) and interferons (IFNs) by diminishing HBV DNA, the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg, aka the Australia antigen) and the hepatitis B viral protein (HBeAg). Notably, we could observe and quantify HBV spreading from infected cells to naïve cells using an imHC co-culture model. In summary, this study constructed a convenient HBV culture model that allows the screening for novel anti-HBV agents with versatile targets, either HBV entry, replication or cccDNA formation. Combinations of agents aiming at different targets should achieve a complete HBV eradication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khanit Sa-Ngiamsuntorn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
| | - Piyanoot Thongsri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
| | - Yongyut Pewkliang
- Excellent Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
| | - Adisak Wongkajornsilp
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
| | | | - Phichaya Suthivanich
- Excellent Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
| | - Suparerk Borwornpinyo
- Excellent Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
| | - Suradej Hongeng
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Wu N, Nguyen XN, Wang L, Appourchaux R, Zhang C, Panthu B, Gruffat H, Journo C, Alais S, Qin J, Zhang N, Tartour K, Catez F, Mahieux R, Ohlmann T, Liu M, Du B, Cimarelli A. The interferon stimulated gene 20 protein (ISG20) is an innate defense antiviral factor that discriminates self versus non-self translation. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008093. [PMID: 31600344 PMCID: PMC6805002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
ISG20 is a broad spectrum antiviral protein thought to directly degrade viral RNA. However, this mechanism of inhibition remains controversial. Using the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) as a model RNA virus, we show here that ISG20 interferes with viral replication by decreasing protein synthesis in the absence of RNA degradation. Importantly, we demonstrate that ISG20 exerts a translational control over a large panel of non-self RNA substrates including those originating from transfected DNA, while sparing endogenous transcripts. This activity correlates with the protein's ability to localize in cytoplasmic processing bodies. Finally, these functions are conserved in the ISG20 murine ortholog, whose genetic ablation results in mice with increased susceptibility to viral infection. Overall, our results posit ISG20 as an important defense factor able to discriminate the self/non-self origins of the RNA through translation modulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Wu
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease Institute, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan-Nhi Nguyen
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Li Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Romain Appourchaux
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Chengfei Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Baptiste Panthu
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Henri Gruffat
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Chloé Journo
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Sandrine Alais
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Juliang Qin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kevin Tartour
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Frédéric Catez
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Renaud Mahieux
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Theophile Ohlmann
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Du
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (BD); (AC)
| | - Andrea Cimarelli
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
- * E-mail: (BD); (AC)
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Qiao L, Luo GG. Human apolipoprotein E promotes hepatitis B virus infection and production. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007874. [PMID: 31393946 PMCID: PMC6687101 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a common cause of liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis, steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV chronically infects about 240 million people worldwide, posing a major global health problem. The current standard antiviral therapy effectively inhibits HBV replication but does not eliminate the virus unlike direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for curing hepatitis C. Our previous studies have demonstrated that human apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays important roles in hepatitis C virus infection and morphogenesis. In the present study, we have found that apoE is also associated with HBV and is required for efficient HBV infection. An apoE-specific monoclonal antibody was able to capture HBV similar to anti-HBs. More importantly, apoE monoclonal antibody could effectively block HBV infection, resulting in a greater than 90% reduction of HBV infectivity. Likewise, silencing of apoE expression or knockout of apoE gene by CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in a greater than 90% reduction of HBV infection and more than 80% decrease of HBV production, which could be fully restored by ectopic apoE expression. However, apoE silencing or knockout did not significantly affect HBV DNA replication or the production of nonenveloped (naked) nucleocapsids. These findings demonstrate that human apoE promotes HBV infection and production. We speculate that apoE may also play a role in persistent HBV infection by evading host immune response similar to its role in the HCV life cycle and pathogenesis. Inhibitors interfering with apoE biogenesis, secretion, and/or binding to receptors may serve as antivirals for elimination of chronic HBV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luhua Qiao
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Guangxiang George Luo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
König A, Yang J, Jo E, Park KHP, Kim H, Than TT, Song X, Qi X, Dai X, Park S, Shum D, Ryu WS, Kim JH, Yoon SK, Park JY, Ahn SH, Han KH, Gerlich WH, Windisch MP. Efficient long-term amplification of hepatitis B virus isolates after infection of slow proliferating HepG2-NTCP cells. J Hepatol 2019; 71:289-300. [PMID: 31077792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS As hepatitis B virus (HBV) spreads through the infected liver it is simultaneously secreted into the blood. HBV-susceptible in vitro infection models do not efficiently amplify viral progeny or support cell-to-cell spread. We sought to establish a cell culture system for the amplification of infectious HBV from clinical specimens. METHODS An HBV-susceptible sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide-overexpressing HepG2 cell clone (HepG2-NTCPsec+) producing high titers of infectious progeny was selected. Secreted HBV progeny were characterized by native gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy. Comparative RNA-seq transcriptomics was performed to quantify the expression of host proviral and restriction factors. Viral spread routes were evaluated using HBV entry- or replication inhibitors, visualization of viral cell-to-cell spread in reporter cells, and nearest neighbor infection determination. Amplification kinetics of HBV genotypes B-D were analyzed. RESULTS Infected HepG2-NTCPsec+ secreted high levels of large HBV surface protein-enveloped infectious HBV progeny with typical appearance under electron microscopy. RNA-seq transcriptomics revealed that HBV does not induce significant gene expression changes in HepG2-NTCPsec+, however, transcription factors favoring HBV amplification were more strongly expressed than in less permissive HepG2-NTCPsec-. Upon inoculation with HBV-containing patient sera, rates of infected cells increased from 10% initially to 70% by viral spread to adjacent cells, and viral progeny and antigens were efficiently secreted. HepG2-NTCPsec+ supported up to 1,300-fold net amplification of HBV genomes depending on the source of virus. Viral spread and amplification were abolished by entry and replication inhibitors; viral rebound was observed after inhibitor discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS The novel HepG2-NTCPsec+ cells efficiently support the complete HBV life cycle, long-term viral spread and amplification of HBV derived from patients or cell culture, resembling relevant features of HBV-infected patients. LAY SUMMARY Currently available laboratory systems are unable to reproduce the dynamics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) spread through the infected liver and release into the blood. We developed a slowly dividing liver-derived cell line which multiplies infectious viral particles upon inoculation with patient- or cell culture-derived HBV. This new infection model can improve therapy by measuring, in advance, the sensitivity of a patient's HBV strain to specific antiviral drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander König
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Jaewon Yang
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Eunji Jo
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Kyu Ho Paul Park
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Hyun Kim
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, 217, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Thoa Thi Than
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Xiyong Song
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xiaoxuan Qi
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xinghong Dai
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Soonju Park
- Screening Discovery Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - David Shum
- Screening Discovery Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Wang-Shick Ryu
- Department of Biochemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung-Hee Kim
- Catholic University Liver Research Center, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung Kew Yoon
- Catholic University Liver Research Center, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jun Yong Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Ahn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kwang-Hyub Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Marc Peter Windisch
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, South Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, 217, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Puray-Chavez MN, Farghali MH, Yapo V, Huber AD, Liu D, Ndongwe TP, Casey MC, Laughlin TG, Hannink M, Tedbury PR, Sarafianos SG. Effects of Moloney Leukemia Virus 10 Protein on Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Viral Replication. Viruses 2019; 11:v11070651. [PMID: 31319455 PMCID: PMC6669478 DOI: 10.3390/v11070651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Moloney leukemia virus 10 (MOV10) is an RNA helicase that has been shown to affect the replication of several viruses. The effect of MOV10 on Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is not known and its role on the replication of this virus is poorly understood. We investigated the effect of MOV10 down-regulation and MOV10 over-expression on HBV in a variety of cell lines, as well as in an infection system using a replication competent virus. We report that MOV10 down-regulation, using siRNA, shRNA, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, resulted in increased levels of HBV DNA, HBV pre-genomic RNA, and HBV core protein. In contrast, MOV10 over-expression reduced HBV DNA, HBV pre-genomic RNA, and HBV core protein. These effects were consistent in all tested cell lines, providing strong evidence for the involvement of MOV10 in the HBV life cycle. We demonstrated that MOV10 does not interact with HBV-core. However, MOV10 binds HBV pgRNA and this interaction does not affect HBV pgRNA decay rate. We conclude that the restriction of HBV by MOV10 is mediated through effects at the level of viral RNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maritza N Puray-Chavez
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Mahmoud H Farghali
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta QXXV+C5, Egypt
| | - Vincent Yapo
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Andrew D Huber
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Dandan Liu
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Tanyaradzwa P Ndongwe
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Mary C Casey
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Thomas G Laughlin
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Mark Hannink
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Philip R Tedbury
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
| | - Stefan G Sarafianos
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
| |
Collapse
|