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Wang J, Jiang B, Wang K, Dai J, Dong C, Wang Y, Zhang P, Li M, Xu W, Wei L. A cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide from Hydrophis cyanocinctus inhibits Zika virus infection by downregulating expression of a viral entry factor. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102471. [PMID: 36089062 PMCID: PMC9530963 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging flavivirus that causes conditions such as microcephaly and testis damage. The spread of ZIKV has become a major public health concern. Recent studies indicated that antimicrobial peptides are an ideal source for screening antiviral candidates with broad-spectrum antiviral activities, including against ZIKV. We herein found that Hc-CATH, a cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide identified from the sea snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus in our previous work, conferred protection against ZIKV infection in host cells and showed preventative efficacy and therapeutic efficacy in C57BL/6J mice, Ifnar1−/− mice, and pregnant mice. Intriguingly, we revealed that Hc-CATH decreased the susceptibility of host cells to ZIKV by downregulating expression of AXL, a TAM (TYRO3, AXL and MERTK) family kinase receptor that mediates ZIKV infection, and subsequently reversed the negative regulation of AXL on host’s type I interferon response. Furthermore, we showed that the cyclo-oxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2/adenylyl cyclase/protein kinase A pathway was involved in Hc-CATH-mediated AXL downregulation, and Hc-CATH in addition directly inactivated ZIKV particles by disrupting viral membrane. Finally, while we found Hc-CATH did not act on the late stage of ZIKV infection, structure–function relationship studies revealed that α-helix and phenylalanine residues are key structural requirements for its protective efficacy against initial ZIKV infection. In summary, we demonstrate that Hc-CATH provides prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy against ZIKV infection via downregulation of AXL, as well as inactivating the virion. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism of cathelicidin against viral infection and highlight the potential of Hc-CATH to prevent and treat ZIKV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bingyan Jiang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kezhen Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianfeng Dai
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunsheng Dong
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yipeng Wang
- Department of Biopharmaceuticals, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Min Li
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Lin Wei
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China.
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Entry Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1366:207-222. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-8702-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Breitinger U, Farag NS, Ali NKM, Ahmed M, El-Azizi MA, Breitinger HG. Cell viability assay as a tool to study activity and inhibition of hepatitis C p7 channels. J Gen Virol 2021; 102. [PMID: 33709903 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001571] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The p7 viroporin of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) forms an intracellular proton-conducting transmembrane channel in virus-infected cells, shunting the pH of intracellular compartments and thus helping virus assembly and release. This activity is essential for virus infectivity, making viroporins an attractive target for drug development. The protein sequence and drug sensitivity of p7 vary between the seven major genotypes of the hepatitis C virus, but the essential channel activity is preserved. Here, we investigated the effect of several inhibitors on recombinant HCV p7 channels corresponding to genotypes 1a-b, 2a-b, 3a and 4a using patch-clamp electrophysiology and cell-based assays. We established a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-based cell viability assay for recombinant p7 expressed in HEK293 cells to assess channel activity and its sensitivity to inhibitors. The results from the cell viability assay were consistent with control measurements using established assays of haemadsorption and intracellular pH, and agreed with data from patch-clamp electrophysiology. Hexamethylene amiloride (HMA) was the most potent inhibitor of p7 activity, but possessed cytotoxic activity at higher concentrations. Rimantadine was active against p7 of all genotypes, while amantadine activity was genotype-dependent. The alkyl-chain iminosugars NB-DNJ, NN-DNJ and NN-DGJ were tested and their activity was found to be genotype-specific. In the current study, we introduce cell viability assays as a rapid and cost-efficient technique to assess viroporin activity and identify channel inhibitors as potential novel antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Breitinger
- Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noha S Farag
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nourhan K M Ali
- Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marwa Ahmed
- Present address: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745, Jena, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A El-Azizi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo, Egypt
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Qian XJ, Zhu YZ, Zhao P, Qi ZT. Entry inhibitors: New advances in HCV treatment. Emerg Microbes Infect 2016; 5:e3. [PMID: 26733381 PMCID: PMC4735057 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2016.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects approximately 3% of the world's population and causes chronic liver diseases, including liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although current antiviral therapy comprising direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) can achieve a quite satisfying sustained virological response (SVR) rate, it is still limited by viral resistance, long treatment duration, combined adverse reactions, and high costs. Moreover, the currently marketed antivirals fail to prevent graft reinfections in HCV patients who receive liver transplantations, probably due to the cell-to-cell transmission of the virus, which is also one of the main reasons behind treatment failure. HCV entry is a highly orchestrated process involving initial attachment and binding, post-binding interactions with host cell factors, internalization, and fusion between the virion and the host cell membrane. Together, these processes provide multiple novel and promising targets for antiviral therapy. Most entry inhibitors target host cell components with high genetic barriers and eliminate viral infection from the very beginning of the viral life cycle. In future, the addition of entry inhibitors to a combination of treatment regimens might optimize and widen the prevention and treatment of HCV infection. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms and prospects of the current preclinical and clinical development of antiviral agents targeting HCV entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Jing Qian
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yong-Zhe Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhong-Tian Qi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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