Role of Dendritic Cell-Specific ICAM-3-Grabbing Nonintegrin on Dendritic Cells in the Recognition of Hepatitis B Virus

Envelope Proteins of Hepatitis B Virus: Molecular Biology and Involvement in Carcinogenesis

The envelope of hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is required for the entry to hepatocytes, consists of a lipid bilayer derived from hepatocyte and HBV envelope proteins, large/middle/small hepatitis B surface antigen (L/M/SHBs). The mechanisms and host factors for the envelope formation in the hepatocytes are being revealed. HBV-infected hepatocytes release a large amount of subviral particles (SVPs) containing L/M/SHBs that facilitate escape from the immune system. Recently, novel drugs inhibiting the functions of the viral envelope and those inhibiting the release of SVPs have been reported. LHBs that accumulate in ER is considered to promote carcinogenesis and, especially, deletion mutants in the preS1/S2 domain have been reported to be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this review, we summarize recent reports on the findings regarding the biological characteristics of HBV envelope proteins, their involvement in HCC development and new agents targeting the envelope.

N-Glycosylation and N-Glycan Processing in HBV Biology and Pathogenesis

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) glycobiology has been an area of intensive research in the last decades and continues to be an attractive topic due to the multiple roles that N-glycosylation in particular plays in the virus life-cycle and its interaction with the host that are still being discovered. The three HBV envelope glycoproteins, small (S), medium (M) and large (L) share a very peculiar N-glycosylation pattern, which distinctly regulates their folding, degradation, assembly, intracellular trafficking and antigenic properties. In addition, recent findings indicate important roles of N-linked oligosaccharides in viral pathogenesis and evasion of the immune system surveillance. This review focuses on N-glycosylation’s contribution to HBV infection and disease, with implications for development of improved vaccines and antiviral therapies.

Hepatitis B virus upregulates host expression of α-1,2-mannosidases via the PPARα pathway

AIM

To assess the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) on the expression of host α-1,2-mannosidases and determine the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

We measured the expression levels of MAN1A1, MAN1A2, MAN1B1, and MAN1C1 in cell lines HepG2.2.15, HepN10, HepAD38 and HepG2 by Western blot. Viral antigens (HBsAg and HBeAg) in the culture medium were measured using the chemiluminescence method. HBV DNA quantification assays were performed using a commercial real-time PCR kit. Protein levels of human liver tissue α-1,2-mannosidases were also evaluated by Western blot. Plasmids containing seven individual viral genes of HBV (PTT22-HBx, PTT22-HBs, PTT22-preS2, PTT22-preS1, PTT22-HBc, PTT22-HBe, and PTT22-HBp) or control plasmids (PTT22-vector) were transfected into HepG2 cells. MK886 (PPARα) and GW9662 (PPARγ) inhibitors were used to explore the effects of HBV on α-1,2-mannosidase expression after the PPARα and PPARγ pathways were blocked.

RESULTS

We showed that the expression of α-1,2-mannosidases was higher in stably transfected HBV cells than in controls. The expression levels of α-1,2-mannosidase were higher in AD38 cells than those in ND10 cells, which were in turn greater than those in G2.2.15 cells, and positively correlated with the expression of HBsAg in all the cell lines. Levels of α-1,2-mannosidase in non-tumorous liver tissues of HBV-related HCC patients were also higher than in the tissues from non-HBV-related HCC patients. Moreover, transfecting HepG2 cells with a component of the HBV viral envelope also increased the expression of α-1,2-mannosidases. However, this envelope protein component could not induce MAN1C1 expression in the presence of a PPARα inhibitor, MK886. We also found that MK886 did not affect the expression of MAN1C1 in AD38 cells without tetracycline in the culture medium. This phenomenon was not observed in the case of GW9662.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that HBV increases the expression of α-mannosidases both in vitro and in vivo via activation of the PPARα pathway by its envelope protein.

Functionally aberrant dendritic cell subsets and expression of DC-SIGN differentiate acute from chronic HBV infection

BACKGROUND

Dendritic cells (DCs) promote pathogen recognition, uptake and presentation of antigen through DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) and toll-like receptors (TLRs).

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

We aimed to study temporal changes in DCs, TLRs and DC-SIGN during acute viral hepatitis B (AVHB) infection and compare them to chronic (CHB) and to investigate the earliest time point of activated pathogen recognition receptors in hepatitis B viral infection.

METHODS

We measured the frequencies of circulating myeloid (mDC) and plasmacytoid (pDC) dendritic cells and IFN-α production along with the expression of DC-SIGN and Toll Like Receptors (TLR's) in HBV patients at different time points. Also investigated in healthy volunteers, the dynamic changes in TLRs expression after receiving hepatitis B vaccine.

RESULTS

On follow-up of AVHB patients, we found the mDC population was significantly higher at week 4 and 6 (p < 0.02, 0.01), whereas the pDC population was unchanged at week 6 compared with week 0. Whereas frequencies of mDCs and pDCs were found to be elevated in AVHB and CHB patients than HC (p < 0.00 and 0.01, respectively) but was comparable among AVHB vs CHB. The DCs in CHB patients were functionally impaired with significantly low IFN-α production and low DCSIGN expression (p < 0.04 and 0.00, respectively). Even after stimulation by TLR agonists, no change was found in IFN-α production in CHB patients. MyD88 and IL-6, IFN-α mRNA levels were also found down-regulated. Interestingly, on follow-up after HBV vaccine, TLRs expression was found high at day 3 after vaccination.

DISCUSSION

The initial events of immune activation might be responsible for modulating immune response. These novel observations would pave the way for the development of antiviral strategies for chronic HBV infection.