RNAi-Based Knockdown of HBx mRNA in HBx-Transformed and HBV-Producing Human Liver Cells

Immune balance in Hepatitis B Infection: Present and Future Therapies

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects millions of people worldwide and about half a million people die every year. India represents the second largest pool of chronic HBV infections with an estimated 40 million chronically infected patients. Persistence or clearance of HBV infection mainly depends upon host immune responses. Chronically infected individuals remain in immune tolerant phase unless HBV flares and leads to the development of chronic active hepatitis or acute-on-chronic liver failure. Strategies based on inhibition of viral replication (nucleoside analogues) or immune modulation (interferons) as monotherapy, or in combination in sequential therapies, are currently being used globally for reducing HBV viral load and mediating HBsAg clearance. However, the immune status and current therapies for promoting sustained virological responses in HBV-infected patients remain suboptimal. Elimination of cccDNA is major challenge for future therapies, and new molecules such as NTCP, Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 agonist (GS9620) and cyclophilin have emerged as potential targets for preventing HBV entry and replication. Other than these, HBV cccDNA elimination is the major target for future therapies.

MicroRNAs Expressed during Viral Infection: Biomarker Potential and Therapeutic Considerations

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short sequences of noncoding single-stranded RNAs that exhibit inhibitory effects on complementary target mRNAs. Recently, it has been discovered that certain viruses express their own miRNAs, while other viruses activate the transcription of cellular miRNAs for their own benefit. This review summarizes the viral and/or cellular miRNAs that are transcribed during infection, with a focus on the biomarker and therapeutic potential of miRNAs (or their antagomirs). Several human viruses of clinical importance are discussed, namely, herpesviruses, polyomaviruses, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human papillomavirus, and human immunodeficiency virus.

Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor beta promotes cell proliferation and invasion by modulating the AKT pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI) beta, (RhoGDI2), has been identified as a proto-oncogene that is upregulated in human cancers, but the role of RhoGDI2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the RhoGDI2 expression level in HCC tissues and the function of RhoGDI2 in HCC cell growth and metastasis. We examined the RhoGDI2 mRNA expression level in 64 sets of HCC tissue and their adjacent nontumor tissue counterparts using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In vitro proliferation and invasion assays were conducted to determine the effect of RhoGDI2 on the ability of HCC cells to proliferate and invade, respectively. Western blot analysis was conducted to examine expression levels of RhoGDI2p-AKT, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in HCC cells. RhoGDI2 mRNA was significantly overexpressed in the HCC specimens compared with the nonneoplastic liver specimens, and the RhoGDI2 mRNA and protein levels were higher in the HCC cell lines, especially the highly metastatic cell lines 97L and 97H. To further investigate the role that RhoGDI2 plays in HCC, we overexpressed RhoGDI2 using a lentivirus-mediated overexpression technique in two HCC cell lines (Huh7 and 7721) that endogenously express a low level of RhoGDI2. Stable cells overexpressing RhoGDI2 demonstrated a significant increase in cell proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, our additional findings indicated that RhoGDI2-mediated cellular invasion requires the PI3K/Akt signaling-dependent expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our findings suggest that RhoGDI2 plays an important role in HCC growth and invasion and should be considered a novel HCC therapeutic target candidate.

Recent advances in developing nucleic acid-based HBV therapy

Chronic HBV infection remains an important public health problem and currently licensed therapies rarely prevent complications of viral persistence. Silencing HBV gene expression using gene therapy, particularly with exogenous activators of RNAi, holds promise for developing an HBV gene therapy. However, immune stimulation, off-targeting effects and inefficient delivery of RNAi activators remain problematic. Several new approaches have recently been employed to address these issues. Chemical modifications to anti-HBV synthetic siRNAs have been investigated and a variety of vectors are being developed for delivery of RNAi effectors. In this article, we review the potential utility of gene therapy for treating HBV infection.

MicroRNA-like antivirals

Employing engineered DNA templates to express antiviral microRNA (miRNA) sequences has considerable therapeutic potential. The durable silencing that may be achieved with these RNAi activators is valuable to counter chronic viral infections, such as those caused by HIV-1, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and dengue viruses. Early use of expressed antiviral miRNAs entailed generation of cassettes containing Pol III promoters (e.g. U6 and H1) that transcribe virus-targeting short hairpin RNA mimics of precursor miRNAs. Virus escape from single gene silencing elements prompted later development of combinatorial antiviral miRNA expression cassettes that form multitargeting siRNAs from transcribed long hairpin RNA and polycistronic primary miRNA sequences. Weaker Pol III and Pol II promoters have also been employed to control production of antiviral miRNA mimics, improve dose regulation and address concerns about toxicity caused by saturation of the endogenous miRNA pathway. Efficient delivery of expressed antiviral sequences remains challenging and utilizing viral vectors, which include recombinant adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses and lentiviruses, has been favored. Investigations using recombinant lentiviruses to transduce CD34+ hematological precursor cells with expressed HIV-1 gene silencers are at advanced stages and show promise in preclinical and clinical trials. Although the use of expressed antiviral miRNA sequences to treat viral infections is encouraging, eventual therapeutic application will be dependent on rigorously proving their safety, efficient delivery to target tissues and uncomplicated large scale preparation of vector formulations. This article is part of a special issue entitled: MicroRNAs in viral gene regulation.

Transient inhibition of foot-and-mouth disease virus replication by siRNAs silencing VP1 protein coding region

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the causative agent of foot-and-mouth disease, a severe, clinically acute, vesicular disease of cloven-hoofed animals. RNA interference (RNAi) is a mechanism for silencing gene expression post-transcriptionally that is being exploited as a rapid antiviral strategy. To identify efficacious small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to inhibit the replication of FMDV, candidate siRNAs corresponding to FMDV VP1 gene were designed and synthesized in vitro using T7 RNA polymerase. In reporter assays, five siRNAs showed significant sequence-specific silencing effects on the expression of VP1-EGFP fusion protein from plasmid pVP1-EGFP-N1, which was cotransfected with siRNA into 293T cells. Furthermore, using RT-qPCR, viral titration and viability assay, we identified VP1-siRNA517, VP1-siRNA113 and VP1-siRNA519 that transiently acted as potent inhibitors of FMDV replication when BHK-21 cells were infected with FMDV. In addition, variations within multiple regions of the quasispecies of FMDV were retrospectively revealed by sequencing of FMDV genes, and a single nucleotide substitution was identified as the main factor in resistance to RNAi. Our data demonstrated that the three siRNA molecules synthesized with T7 RNA polymerase could have transient inhibitory effects on the replication of FMDV.

Harnessing the RNA interference pathway to advance treatment and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma

Primary liver cancer is the fifth most common malignancy in the world and is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Available treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the commonest primary liver cancer, is rarely curative and there is a need to develop therapy that is more effective. Specific and powerful gene silencing that can be achieved by activating RNA interference (RNAi) has generated enthusiasm for exploiting this pathway for HCC therapy. Many studies have been carried out with the aim of silencing HCC-related cellular oncogenes or the hepatocarcinogenic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Proof of principle studies have demonstrated promising results, and an early clinical trial assessing RNAi-based HBV therapy is currently in progress. Although the data augur well, there are several significant hurdles that need to be overcome before the goal of RNAi-based therapy for HCC is realized. Particularly important are the efficient and safe delivery of RNAi effecters to target malignant tissue and the limitation of unintended harmful non-specific effects.

Opportunities for treating chronic hepatitis B and C virus infection using RNA interference

Activating the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway to achieve silencing of specific genes is one of the most exciting new developments of molecular biology. A particularly interesting use of this technology is inhibition of defined viral gene expression. In this review, we discuss the potential application of RNAi to treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Globally, these hepatotropic viruses are the most important causes of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Available treatments have their limitations, which makes development of novel effective RNAi-based therapies for HBV and HCV especially significant. Several investigations carried out in vitro and in vivo are summarized, which demonstrate proof of principle that HBV and HCV can be inhibited by RNAi activators. Challenges facing further development of this technology to a stage of clinical application are discussed.