1
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Ullah S, Naveed M, Ali A, Bibi S, Idrees W, Rafique S, Idrees M, Waqas M, Uddin J, Jan A, Khan A, Al-Harrasi A. Assessment of ubiquitin specific Peptidase-18 gene in peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24581. [PMID: 38298711 PMCID: PMC10828700 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains one of the leading causes of liver complications globally. Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase-18 (USP18) is a ubiquitin-specific protease that cleaves interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) from ISGylated protein complexes and is involved in regulating interferon responsiveness. To study the effect of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on the USP18 gene using qPCR, 132 participants were recruited and classified into different groups based on treatment duration. USP18 expression was raised compared to rapid virologic response (RVR) and early virologic response (EVR) groups with P = 0.0026 and P = 0.0016, respectively. USP18 was found to be 7.36 folds higher in naïve patients than those with RVR and sustained viral response (SVR). In RVR and SVR groups where patients had cleared HCV RNA after treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) therapy, the expression of USP18 was found to be low, with a fold change of 1.3 and 1.4 folds, respectively. Expression of USP18 was significantly higher in the non-RVR group than in the RVR group. In the No EVR group, gene expression was significantly higher than in the EVR group. It is concluded that targeting HCV proteins using DAAs can cause USP18 expression to be normalized more effectively. Moreover, USP18 is a vital marker indicating treatment resistance and distinguishing responders from non-responders during DAA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Ullah
- Molecular Virology laboratory Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), 87-West Canal Bank Road Thokar Niaz Baig, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mariam Naveed
- Molecular Virology laboratory Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), 87-West Canal Bank Road Thokar Niaz Baig, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Amjad Ali
- Molecular Virology laboratory Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), 87-West Canal Bank Road Thokar Niaz Baig, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Bibi
- Department of Botany, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Wafa Idrees
- Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Shazia Rafique
- Division of Molecular Virology, Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), 87-West Canal Bank Road Thokar Niaz Baig, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Idrees
- Division of Molecular Virology, Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), 87-West Canal Bank Road Thokar Niaz Baig, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- Vice Chancellor, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Waqas
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat-ul-Mouz 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Jalal Uddin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, 62529, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Afnan Jan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ajmal Khan
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat-ul-Mouz 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat-ul-Mouz 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman
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2
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Meza G, Galián F, Jaimes-Bernal C, Márquez FJ, Sinangil F, Scagnolari C, Real LM, Forthal D, Caruz A. IFNL4 genotype influences the rate of HIV-1 seroconversion in men who have sex with men. Virulence 2022; 13:757-763. [PMID: 35481423 PMCID: PMC9067526 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2066612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals lacking interferon lambda 4 (IFNL4) protein due to a common null mutation (rs368234815) in the IFNL4 gene display higher resistance against several infections. The influence of IFNL4 on HIV-1 infection is still under discussion and conflicting results have been reported. This study intended to corroborate or refute the association of the null allele of IFNL4 and HIV-1 predisposition in a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM). IFNL4 null genotype was assessed on 619 HIV-1-seronegative MSM who were followed for 36 months during a trial of a prophylactic vaccine against HIV-1. Of those, 257 individuals seroconverted during this period. A logistic regression model was constructed including demographic and IFNL4 genotype. In addition, a meta-analysis using data from the current study and other European populations was conducted. The null IFNL4 genotypes were correlated with lower HIV-1 seroconversion (Adjusted OR = 0.4 [95%CI: 0.2–0.8], P = 0.008) and longer time to seroconversion (889 vs. 938 days, P= 0.01). These results were validated by a meta-analysis incorporating data from other European populations and the result yielded a significant association of the IFNL4 null genotype under a dominant model with a lower probability of HIV-1 infection (OR=0.4 [95% CI: 0.3-0.6]; P= 1.3 x 10E-5).
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Meza
- Departamento de Biología Experimental, Unidad de Inmunogenetica, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain.,Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Fátima Galián
- Departamento de Biología Experimental, Unidad de Inmunogenetica, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Claudia Jaimes-Bernal
- Departamento de Biología Experimental, Unidad de Inmunogenetica, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain.,Universidad de Boyaca, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Tunja, Colombia
| | - Francisco J Márquez
- Departamento de Biología Experimental, Unidad de Inmunogenetica, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Faruk Sinangil
- Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases, Lafayette, CA, USA
| | - Carolina Scagnolari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Institut Pasteur Italia, SApienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luis Miguel Real
- de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain.,Inmunología, Universidad de MálagaDepartamento de Especialidades Quirúrgicas, Bioquímica e , Málaga Spain
| | - Donald Forthal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Antonio Caruz
- Departamento de Biología Experimental, Unidad de Inmunogenetica, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
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3
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Pan A, Li Y, Guan J, Zhang P, Zhang C, Han Y, Zhang T, Cheng Y, Sun L, Lu S, Weng J, Ren Q, Fan S, Wang W, Wang J. USP18-deficiency in cervical carcinoma is crucial for the malignant behavior of tumor cells in an ERK signal-dependent manner. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:421. [PMID: 33850562 PMCID: PMC8025074 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific peptidase (USP)18 belongs to the USP family, and is involved in cleaving and removing ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like molecules from their target molecules. Recently, increasing evidence has suggested that USP18 is constitutively expressed in different types of human tumors, and ectopic expression or downregulation of USP18 expression may contribute to tumorigenesis. However, the role of USP18 in uterine cervical cancer (UCC) remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate USP18 expression in a human tissue microarray constructed using UCC and non-cancer cervical tissues, and to determine the potential role and molecular mechanism by which USP18 is implicated in the tumor biology of human UCC HeLa cells. Microarray analysis demonstrated that USP18 protein expression was downregulated in tumor tissues compared with in normal tissues. In addition, in vitro analysis revealed that USP18-knockdown markedly promoted the proliferation, colony formation, migration and aggressiveness of HeLa cells. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that USP18-knockdown increased the levels of Bcl-2, STAT3 and phosphorylated-ERK in HeLa cells. Notably, USP18 silencing-induced malignant phenotypes were interrupted following exogenous administration of the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059. Overall, the results of the present study suggested that USP18 may be a potent inhibitor involved in UCC tumor-associated biological behaviors, which are associated with the ERK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aonan Pan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Affiliated Second Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China
| | - Yue Li
- Departments of Immunology and Etiology, Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, P.R. China
| | - Jian Guan
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154002, P.R. China
| | - Pengxia Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell and Molecular Biology, Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, P.R. China
| | - Chunbin Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell and Molecular Biology, Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, P.R. China
| | - Yupeng Han
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154002, P.R. China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Departments of Immunology and Etiology, Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, P.R. China
| | - Yao Cheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154002, P.R. China
| | - Luo Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154002, P.R. China
| | - Shizhen Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell and Molecular Biology, Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, P.R. China
| | - Jinru Weng
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154002, P.R. China
| | - Qiaosheng Ren
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154002, P.R. China
| | - Shengjie Fan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, P.R. China
| | - Weiqun Wang
- Department of Physiology, Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, P.R. China
| | - Jingtao Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, P.R. China
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4
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Meissner EG, Chung D, Tsao B, Haas DW, Utay NS. IFNL4 Genotype Does Not Associate with CD4 T-Cell Recovery in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2021; 37:184-188. [PMID: 33066718 PMCID: PMC8020497 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2020.0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune non-responders (INRs) are people with HIV infection who fail to restore their CD4 T-cell counts in spite of prolonged virologic suppression, a condition associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality. The mechanisms of immune non-response are not entirely clear. We used existing clinical and genetic data from AIDS Clinical Trials Group clinical trials to ask whether an IFNL4 single-nucleotide polymorphism, shown to be associated with outcomes for other infectious diseases, correlated with immune non-response for HIV. Analysis of data from 426 participants with clearly defined CD4 T-cell recovery phenotypes, including 88 INRs with CD4 < 200 cells/mm3 after 2 years of suppressive antiretroviral therapy, did not identify an association of IFNL4 genotype with immune non-response. Thus, the IFNL4 genotype is unlikely to influence immunologic recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric G. Meissner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Dongjun Chung
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Betty Tsao
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - David W. Haas
- Departments of Medicine, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Division of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Netanya S. Utay
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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5
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Yin Y, Favoreel HW. Herpesviruses and the Type III Interferon System. Virol Sin 2021; 36:577-587. [PMID: 33400088 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-020-00330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Type III interferons (IFNs) represent the most recently discovered group of IFNs. Together with type I IFNs (e.g. IFN-α/β), type III IFNs (IFN-λ) are produced as part of the innate immune response to virus infection, and elicit an anti-viral state by inducing expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs). It was initially thought that type I IFNs and type III IFNs perform largely redundant functions. However, it has become evident that type III IFNs particularly play a major role in antiviral protection of mucosal epithelial barriers, thereby serving an important role in the first-line defense against virus infection and invasion at contact areas with the outside world, versus the generally more broad, potent and systemic antiviral effects of type I IFNs. Herpesviruseses are large DNA viruses, which enter their host via mucosal surfaces and establish lifelong, latent infections. Despite the importance of mucosal epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of herpesviruses, our current knowledge on the interaction of herpesviruses with type III IFN is limited and largely restricted to studies on the alphaherpesvirus herpes simplex virus (HSV). This review summarizes the current understanding about the role of IFN-λ in the immune response against herpesvirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yin
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Herman W Favoreel
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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6
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Yi C, Xia J, He L, Ling Z, Wang X, Yan Y, Wang J, Zhao X, Fan W, Sun X, Zhang R, Ye S, Zhang R, Xu Y, Ma L, Zhang Y, Zhou H, Huang Z, Niu J, Long G, Lu J, Zhong J, Sun B. Junctional and somatic hypermutation-induced CX 4C motif is critical for the recognition of a highly conserved epitope on HCV E2 by a human broadly neutralizing antibody. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 18:675-685. [PMID: 32235917 PMCID: PMC7222171 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-0403-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Induction of broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs) that bind to the viral envelope glycoproteins is a major goal of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine research. The study of bNAbs arising in natural infection is essential in this endeavor. We generated a human antibody, 8D6, recognizing the E2 protein of HCV isolated from a chronic hepatitis C patient. This antibody shows broadly neutralizing activity, which covers a pan-genotypic panel of cell culture-derived HCV virions (HCVcc). Functional and epitope analyses demonstrated that 8D6 can block the interaction between E2 and CD81 by targeting a highly conserved epitope on E2. We describe how the 8D6 lineage evolved via somatic hypermutation to achieve broad neutralization. We found that the V(D)J recombination-generated junctional and somatic hypermutation-induced disulfide bridge (C-C) motif in the CDRH3 is critical for the broad neutralization and binding activity of 8D6. This motif is conserved among a series of broadly neutralizing HCV antibodies, indicating a common binding model. Next, the 8D6 inferred germline (iGL) was reconstructed and tested for its binding affinity and neutralization activity. Interestingly, 8D6 iGL-mediated relatively strong inhibition of the 1b genotype PR79L9 strain, suggesting that PR79L9 may serve as a potential natural viral strain that provides E2 sequences that induce bNAbs. Overall, our detailed epitope mapping and genetic studies of the HCV E2-specific mAb 8D6 have allowed for further refinement of antigenic sites on E2 and reveal a new mechanism to generate a functional CDRH3, while its iGL can serve as a probe to identify potential HCV vaccine strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Xia
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan He
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry of Natural Substances, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,College of Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiyang Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuesong Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinhao Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiguo Fan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ronghua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Ye
- National Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, Beijing, China.,Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute of Medicine & Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Rongguang Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Yongfen Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Liyan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaguang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Honglin Zhou
- Nanjing Galaxy Biopharma Co., Ltd, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhong Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Junqi Niu
- Hepatology Section, First Hospital, University of Jilin, Changchun, China
| | - Gang Long
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Junxia Lu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jin Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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7
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Fenizia C, Saulle I, Clerici M, Biasin M. Genetic and epigenetic regulation of natural resistance to HIV-1 infection: new approaches to unveil the HESN secret. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2020; 16:429-445. [PMID: 32085689 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2020.1732820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Since the identification of HIV, several studies reported the unusual case of small groups of subjects showing natural resistance to HIV infection. These subjects are referred to as HIV-1-exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals and include people located in different areas, with diverse ethnic backgrounds and routes of exposure. The mechanism/s responsible for protection from infection in HESN individuals are basically indefinite and most likely are multifactorial.Areas covered: Host factors, including genetic background as well as natural and acquired immunity, have all been associated with this phenomenon. Recently, epigenetic factors have been investigated as possible determinants of reduced susceptibility to HIV infection. With the advent of the OMICS era, the availability of techniques such as GWAS, RNAseq, and exome-sequencing in both bulk cell populations and single cells will likely lead to great strides in the understanding of the HESN mystery.Expert opinion: The employment of increasingly sophisticated techniques is allowing the gathering of enormous amounts of data. The integration of such information will provide important hints that could lead to the identification of viral and host correlates of protection against HIV infection, allowing the development of more effective preventative and therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Fenizia
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Irma Saulle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Don C. Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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8
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Fang MZ, Jackson SS, O'Brien TR. IFNL4: Notable variants and associated phenotypes . Gene 2019; 730:144289. [PMID: 31846709 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.144289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Interferon lambda proteins activate the JAK-STAT signalling pathway, resulting in upregulation of genes with antiviral effects. The interferon lambda family was initially thought to be redundant to the interferon alpha family, which signals through the same pathway, except for the more limited expression of the IFNLR1 receptor. However, recent studies show that interferon lambdas uniquely protect tissue barriers against a wide range of important viral infections. The interferon lambda 4 gene (IFNL4) was discovered in 2013. The IFNL4 protein is determined by the IFNL4-ΔG/TT (rs368234815) variant. The ancestral IFNL4-ΔG allele generates IFNL4, whereas IFNL4-TT causes pre-mature termination of the protein. Surprisingly, although interferons are generally antiviral proteins, the genotypes that generate the IFNL4 protein are strongly linked to impaired clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV). IFNL4 genotype has also been linked to variation within the HCV genome, as well as risk of hepatic fibrosis, certain cancers and some infectious diseases. There has been very strong evolutionary selection against the ancestral IFNL4-ΔG allele, which is the major form in African populations, but the minor allele in Europeans and Asians. The reason for this selection and the biological mechanisms underlying observed phenotypic associations remain to be explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Z Fang
- Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, 6E108, MSC 9767, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sarah S Jackson
- Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, 6E108, MSC 9767, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Thomas R O'Brien
- Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, 6E108, MSC 9767, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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9
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Jaimes-Bernal C, Rallón N, Benito JM, Omar M, Gómez-Vidal MA, Márquez FJ, Sánchez-Arcas B, Trujillo M, Royo JL, Saulle I, Biasin M, Rivero-Juárez A, Caruz A. A Knockout IFNL4 Variant Is Associated With Protection From Sexually Transmitted HIV-1 Infection. J Infect Dis 2019; 219:772-776. [PMID: 30289470 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An interferon λ4 gene (IFNL4) knockout allele (rs368234815; TT) is associated with spontaneous and IFN-α-dependent cure of hepatitis C virus infection. The role of this polymorphism in the susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is controversial. This study aimed to assess the association of this knockout IFNL4 variant and sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection. A total of 228 HIV-1-positive individuals and 136 HIV-exposed seronegative individuals were investigated for their association with IFNL4 rs368234815 genotypes. The IFNL4 ΔG functional allele is associated with increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection through the sexual route (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-3.6; P = .004). A meta-analysis including a population of injection drug users suggests a codominant mode of inheritance of this risk factor (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3-3.2; P = .001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Jaimes-Bernal
- Immunogenetics Unit, Department of Experimental Biology, Universidad de Jaén, Jaen.,Research Group of the Bacteriology and Clinical Laboratory Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Boyacá, Tunja, Colombia
| | - Norma Rallón
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid.,Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles
| | - José M Benito
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid.,Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles
| | - Mohamed Omar
- Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Unit. Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, Jaen
| | | | | | | | | | - José Luis Royo
- Department of Surgery, Biochemistry and Immunology, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga
| | - Irma Saulle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L.-Sacco", University of Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L.-Sacco", University of Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Rivero-Juárez
- Maimonides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Cordoba/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Antonio Caruz
- Immunogenetics Unit, Department of Experimental Biology, Universidad de Jaén, Jaen
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10
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Onabajo OO, Muchmore B, Prokunina-Olsson L. The IFN-λ4 Conundrum: When a Good Interferon Goes Bad. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2019; 39:636-641. [PMID: 31241411 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2019.0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery in 2013, interferon lambda 4 (IFN-λ4) has received a reputation as a paradoxical type III IFN. Difficulties in detecting IFN-λ4, especially in secreted form even led to questions about its existence. However, the genetic ability to generate IFN-λ4, determined by the presence of the rs368234815-ΔG allele, is the strongest predictor of impaired clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in humans. Significant modulation of IFN-λ4 activity by a genetic variant (P70S) supports IFN-λ4, and not other type III IFNs encoded in the same genomic locus, as the primary functional cause of the association with HCV clearance. Although the ability to produce IFN-λ4 is associated with decreased HCV clearance, the recombinant IFN-λ4 is active against HCV and other viruses. These observations present an apparent conundrum-when and how does a presumably good IFN, with anti-HCV activity, interfere with the ability to clear HCV? In this review, we discuss findings that suggest potential mechanisms for explaining this conundrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olusegun O Onabajo
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Brian Muchmore
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ludmila Prokunina-Olsson
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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11
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Abstract
Humans are polymorphic in their ability to produce type-III interferons. Most individuals of African ancestry are genetically capable of generating all 4 type-III interferons (IFN-λ1, 2, 3, and 4), whereas the majority of individuals of European and Asian ancestry lack IFN-λ4 and thus can generate only IFN-λ1, 2, and 3. All 4 type-III IFNs are encoded by genes located within a ∼55 kb genomic region on human chromosome 19. Although IFN-λ4 appears to be important in animals, genetic alterations acquired in the Hominidae lineage, and particularly in humans, resulted in the elimination of IFN-λ4 or restriction of its activity, suggesting that IFN-λ4 function might be detrimental to human health. Genetic variants within the IFNL region, including those controlling production and activity of IFN-λ4, have been strongly associated with clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. There is growing evidence for association of the same genetic variants with a multitude of other disease conditions. This article reviews the genetic landscape of the human IFNL genetic locus, with an emphasis on the genetic control of IFN-λ4 production and activity, and its association with viral clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludmila Prokunina-Olsson
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Laboratory of Translational Genomics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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12
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Pervolaraki K, Rastgou Talemi S, Albrecht D, Bormann F, Bamford C, Mendoza JL, Garcia KC, McLauchlan J, Höfer T, Stanifer ML, Boulant S. Differential induction of interferon stimulated genes between type I and type III interferons is independent of interferon receptor abundance. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007420. [PMID: 30485383 PMCID: PMC6287881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is currently believed that type I and III interferons (IFNs) have redundant functions. However, the preferential distribution of type III IFN receptor on epithelial cells suggests functional differences at epithelial surfaces. Here, using human intestinal epithelial cells we could show that although both type I and type III IFNs confer an antiviral state to the cells, they do so with distinct kinetics. Type I IFN signaling is characterized by an acute strong induction of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) and confers fast antiviral protection. On the contrary, the slow acting type III IFN mediated antiviral protection is characterized by a weaker induction of ISGs in a delayed manner compared to type I IFN. Moreover, while transcript profiling revealed that both IFNs induced a similar set of ISGs, their temporal expression strictly depended on the IFNs, thereby leading to unique antiviral environments. Using a combination of data-driven mathematical modeling and experimental validation, we addressed the molecular reason for this differential kinetic of ISG expression. We could demonstrate that these kinetic differences are intrinsic to each signaling pathway and not due to different expression levels of the corresponding IFN receptors. We report that type III IFN is specifically tailored to act in specific cell types not only due to the restriction of its receptor but also by providing target cells with a distinct antiviral environment compared to type I IFN. We propose that this specific environment is key at surfaces that are often challenged with the extracellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalliopi Pervolaraki
- Schaller research group at CellNetworks, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Cellular polarity and viral infection, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Soheil Rastgou Talemi
- Division of Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dorothee Albrecht
- Schaller research group at CellNetworks, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Bormann
- Division of Epigenetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Connor Bamford
- MRC- University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Juan L. Mendoza
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - K. Christopher Garcia
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - John McLauchlan
- MRC- University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Höfer
- Division of Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Megan L. Stanifer
- Schaller research group at CellNetworks, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steeve Boulant
- Schaller research group at CellNetworks, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Cellular polarity and viral infection, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Bhushan A, Chinnaswamy S. Identifying causal variants at the interferon lambda locus in case-control studies: Utilizing non-synonymous variant rs117648444 to probe the role of IFN-λ4. Gene 2018; 664:168-180. [PMID: 29705128 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.04.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Genetic variants at the interferon lambda (IFNL) locus have been associated with several human phenotypes in both disease and health. In chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, where the IFNL variants were first identified to be associated with response to interferon-α-ribavirin therapy, the available data clearly suggests that the causal variant could be the dinucleotide polymorphism rs368234815 that causes an open reading frame-shift in the IFNL4 gene resulting in expression of a functional IFN-λ4, a new type III IFN. In other human diseases/phenotypes where IFNL variants have been recently associated with, the causal mechanism remains unclear. In vitro evidence has shown that other IFNL variants (rs28416813, rs4803217) may regulate expression of another type III IFN, IFN-λ3. Therefore, expression of a functional IFN-λ4 and quantitative differences in IFN-λ3 expression are two potential causal mechanisms behind the observed phenotypes. Since these two potential causal mechanisms involve features of mutual exclusivity and overlapping functions, it is difficult to differentiate one from the other, in vivo, in absence of other implicating evidences. In addition, the strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) observed in many populations at the IFNL locus makes it difficult to tease out the actual functional/causal variants responsible for the phenotypes. The non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism rs117648444 that alters the activity of IFN-λ4 and the LD structure in the IFNL region which leads to a confounding effect of rs117648444 on other IFNL variants, provide us with additional tools in case-control studies to probe the role of IFN-λ4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Bhushan
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, P.O.:N.S.S., Kalyani, West Bengal 741251, India
| | - Sreedhar Chinnaswamy
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, P.O.:N.S.S., Kalyani, West Bengal 741251, India.
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14
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McGettrick PMC, Barco EA, Kaminskiy G, Mallon PWG. The immune profile in HIV: A useful signature in future HIV research? Germs 2018; 8:54-57. [PMID: 29951377 DOI: 10.18683/germs.2018.1131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Padraig M C McGettrick
- MB BCh BAO, MRCPI, HIV Molecular Research Group, UCD School of Medicine, Catherine McAuely Education and Research Centre, Nelson Street, Dublin 7, Dublin, Ireland, Department of Infectious Diseases, Mater Misericordae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Elena Alvarez Barco
- BSc, PhD, HIV Molecular Research Group, UCD School of Medicine, Catherine McAuely Education and Research Centre, Nelson Street, Dublin 7, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Greg Kaminskiy
- MD, National Medical Research Centre of Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Patrick W G Mallon
- BSc FRACP MB BCh BAO PhD, HIV Molecular Research Group, UCD School of Medicine, Catherine McAuely Education and Research Centre, Nelson Street, Dublin 7, Dublin, Ireland, Department of Infectious Diseases, Mater Misericordae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
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15
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Jiao B, Shi X, Chen Y, Ye H, Yao M, Hong W, Li S, Duan X, Li Y, Wang Y, Chen L. Insulin receptor substrate-4 interacts with ubiquitin-specific protease 18 to activate the Jak/STAT signaling pathway. Oncotarget 2017; 8:105923-105935. [PMID: 29285303 PMCID: PMC5739690 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) as a negative regulator of the Jak/STAT signaling pathway plays an important role in the host innate immune response. USP18 has been shown to bind to the type I interferon receptor subunit 2 (IFNAR2) to down-regulate the Jak/STAT signaling. In this study, we showed that insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-4 functioned as a novel USP18-binding protein. Co-precipitation assays revealed that two regions (amino acids 335–400 and 1094-1257) of IRS4 were related to bind to the C- terminal region of USP18. IRS4 binding to USP18 diminished the inhibitory effect of USP18 on Jak/STAT signaling. IRS4 over-expression enhanced while IRS4 knock-down suppressed the Jak/STAT signaling in the presence of IFN-a stimulation. As such, IRS4 increased IFN-a-mediated anti-HCV activity. Mechanistically, IRS4 promoted the IFN-a-induced Jak/STAT signaling by interact with USP18. These results suggested that IRS4 binds to USP18 to diminish the blunting effect of USP18 on IFN-a-induced Jak/STAT signaling. Our findings indicated that IRS4 is a novel USP18-binding protein that can be used to boost the host innate immunity to control HCV, and potentially other viruses that are sensitive to IFN-a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baihai Jiao
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Xuezhen Shi
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Yanzhao Chen
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Haiyan Ye
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Min Yao
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Wenxu Hong
- Key Laboratory of Shenzhen for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, Shenzhen Blood Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shilin Li
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Duan
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Yujia Li
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Yancui Wang
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China
| | - Limin Chen
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610052, China.,Toronto General Research Institute, University Network and University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L6, Canada
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16
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Obajemu AA, Rao N, Dilley KA, Vargas JM, Sheikh F, Donnelly RP, Shabman RS, Meissner EG, Prokunina-Olsson L, Onabajo OO. IFN-λ4 Attenuates Antiviral Responses by Enhancing Negative Regulation of IFN Signaling. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 199:3808-3820. [PMID: 29070670 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Type III IFNs are important mediators of antiviral immunity. IFN-λ4 is a unique type III IFN because it is produced only in individuals who carry a dG allele of a genetic variant rs368234815-dG/TT. Counterintuitively, those individuals who can produce IFN-λ4, an antiviral cytokine, are also less likely to clear hepatitis C virus infection. In this study, we searched for unique functional properties of IFN-λ4 that might explain its negative effect on hepatitis C virus clearance. We used fresh primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) treated with recombinant type III IFNs or infected with Sendai virus to model acute viral infection and subsequently validated our findings in HepG2 cell line models. Endogenous IFN-λ4 protein was detectable only in Sendai virus-infected PHHs from individuals with the dG allele, where it was poorly secreted but highly functional, even at concentrations < 50 pg/ml. IFN-λ4 acted faster than other type III IFNs in inducing antiviral genes, as well as negative regulators of the IFN response, such as USP18 and SOCS1 Transient treatment of PHHs with IFN-λ4, but not IFN-λ3, caused a strong and sustained induction of SOCS1 and refractoriness to further stimulation with IFN-λ3. Our results suggest unique functional properties of IFN-λ4 that can be important in viral clearance and other clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeola A Obajemu
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Nina Rao
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Kari A Dilley
- Virology Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Joselin M Vargas
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Faruk Sheikh
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993; and
| | - Raymond P Donnelly
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993; and
| | - Reed S Shabman
- Virology Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Eric G Meissner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Ludmila Prokunina-Olsson
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Olusegun O Onabajo
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;
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17
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Sung PS, Hong SH, Chung JH, Kim S, Park SH, Kim HM, Yoon SK, Shin EC. IFN-λ4 potently blocks IFN-α signalling by ISG15 and USP18 in hepatitis C virus infection. Sci Rep 2017. [PMID: 28630501 PMCID: PMC5476576 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04186-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic polymorphisms in IFNL4 have been shown to predict responses to IFN-α-based therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. The IFNL4-ΔG genotype, which encodes functional IFN-λ4 protein, is associated with a poor treatment response. In the present study, we investigated the induction and biological effects of IFN-λ4 in HCV-infected hepatocytes and their association with responsiveness to IFN-α. We also studied the effects of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment on IFN-λ4 expression and IFN-α responsiveness. HCV infection induced IFN-λ4 expression at mRNA and protein levels in primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). In hepatoma cells, IFNL4 gene transfection or recombinant IFN-λ4 protein treatment robustly increased the protein levels of ISG15 and USP18 in an IFNLR1-dependent manner and potently blocked IFN-α signalling. The ISG15/USP18-mediated IFN-α unresponsiveness was demonstrated by transfection of siRNAs targeting ISG15 and/or USP18. This potent IFN-λ4 effect was related to prolonged ISG expression after IFNL4 gene transfection. DAA treatment of HCV-infected PHHs reduced the expression of IFN-λs, including IFN-λ4, and restored IFN-α responsiveness. These results demonstrate that virus-induced IFN-λ4 potently blocks IFN-α signalling by inducing high protein levels of ISG15 and USP18. Moreover, the data clearly demonstrate that DAA therapy restores IFN-α responsiveness in HCV-infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pil Soo Sung
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Hui Hong
- BioMedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hee Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sojeong Kim
- BioMedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Hyung Park
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Min Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Kew Yoon
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea. .,BioMedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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