1
|
Kaiserman J, O’Hara BA, Haley SA, Atwood WJ. An Elusive Target: Inhibitors of JC Polyomavirus Infection and Their Development as Therapeutics for the Treatment of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8580. [PMID: 37239927 PMCID: PMC10218015 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108580] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare demyelinating disease caused by infection with JC Polyomavirus (JCPyV). Despite the identification of the disease and isolation of the causative pathogen over fifty years ago, no antiviral treatments or prophylactic vaccines exist. Disease onset is usually associated with immunosuppression, and current treatment guidelines are limited to restoring immune function. This review summarizes the drugs and small molecules that have been shown to inhibit JCPyV infection and spread. Paying attention to historical developments in the field, we discuss key steps of the virus lifecycle and antivirals known to inhibit each event. We review current obstacles in PML drug discovery, including the difficulties associated with compound penetrance into the central nervous system. We also summarize recent findings in our laboratory regarding the potent anti-JCPyV activity of a novel compound that antagonizes the virus-induced signaling events necessary to establish a productive infection. Understanding the current panel of antiviral compounds will help center the field for future drug discovery efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Walter J. Atwood
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lauver MD, Lukacher AE. JCPyV VP1 Mutations in Progressive MultifocalLeukoencephalopathy: Altering Tropismor Mediating Immune Evasion? Viruses 2020; 12:v12101156. [PMID: 33053912 PMCID: PMC7600905 DOI: 10.3390/v12101156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyomaviruses are ubiquitous human pathogens that cause lifelong, asymptomatic infections in healthy individuals. Although these viruses are restrained by an intact immune system, immunocompromised individuals are at risk for developing severe diseases driven by resurgent viral replication. In particular, loss of immune control over JC polyomavirus can lead to the development of the demyelinating brain disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Viral isolates from PML patients frequently carry point mutations in the major capsid protein, VP1, which mediates virion binding to cellular glycan receptors. Because polyomaviruses are non-enveloped, VP1 is also the target of the host's neutralizing antibody response. Thus, VP1 mutations could affect tropism and/or recognition by polyomavirus-specific antibodies. How these mutations predispose susceptible individuals to PML and other JCPyV-associated CNS diseases remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we review the current understanding of polyomavirus capsid mutations and their effects on viral tropism, immune evasion, and virulence.
Collapse
|
3
|
BK Polyomavirus Activates the DNA Damage Response To Prolong S Phase. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.00130-19. [PMID: 31043526 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00130-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BK polyomavirus (PyV) is a major source of kidney failure in transplant recipients. The standard treatment for patients with lytic BKPyV infection is to reduce immunosuppressive therapy, which increases the risk of graft rejection. PyVs are DNA viruses that rely upon host replication proteins for viral genome replication. A hallmark of PyV infection is activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) to prevent severe host and viral DNA damage that impairs viral production by an unknown mechanism. Therefore, we sought to better understand why BKPyV activates the DDR through the ATR and ATM pathways and how this prevents DNA damage and leads to increased viral production. When ATR was inhibited in BKPyV-infected primary kidney cells, severe DNA damage occurred due to premature Cdk1 activation, which resulted in mitosis of cells that were actively replicating host DNA in S phase. Conversely, ATM was required for efficient entry into S phase and to prevent normal mitotic entry after G2 phase. The synergistic activation of these DDR kinases promoted and maintained BKPyV-mediated S phase to enhance viral production. In contrast to BKPyV infection, DDR inhibition did not disrupt cell cycle control in uninfected cells. This suggests that DDR inhibitors may be used to specifically target BKPyV-infected cells.IMPORTANCE BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is an emerging pathogen that reactivates in immunosuppressed organ transplant patients. We wanted to understand why BKPyV-induced activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) enhances viral titers and prevents host DNA damage. Here, we show that the virus activates the DNA damage response in order to keep the infected cells in S phase to replicate the viral DNA. The source of DNA damage was due to actively replicating cells with uncondensed chromosomes entering directly into mitosis when the DDR was inhibited in BKPyV-infected cells. This study clarifies the previously enigmatic role of the DDR during BKPyV infection by demonstrating that the virus activates the DDR to maintain the cells in S phase in order to promote viral replication and that disruption of this cell cycle arrest can lead to catastrophic DNA damage for the host.
Collapse
|
4
|
Baez CF, Brandão Varella R, Villani S, Delbue S. Human Polyomaviruses: The Battle of Large and Small Tumor Antigens. Virology (Auckl) 2017; 8:1178122X17744785. [PMID: 29238174 PMCID: PMC5721967 DOI: 10.1177/1178122x17744785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
About 40 years ago, the large and small tumor antigens (LT-Ag and sT-Ag) of the polyomavirus (PyVs) simian vacuolating virus 40 have been identified and characterized. To date, it is well known that all the discovered human PyVs (HPyVs) encode these 2 multifunctional and tumorigenic proteins, expressed at viral replication early stage. The 2 T-Ags are able to transform cells both in vitro and in vivo and seem to play a distinct role in the pathogenesis of some tumors in humans. In addition, they are involved in viral DNA replication, transcription, and virion assembly. This short review focuses on the structural and functional features of the HPyVs’ LT-Ag and sT-Ag, with special attention to their transforming properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camila Freze Baez
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Sonia Villani
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Serena Delbue
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Helle F, Brochot E, Handala L, Martin E, Castelain S, Francois C, Duverlie G. Biology of the BKPyV: An Update. Viruses 2017; 9:v9110327. [PMID: 29099746 PMCID: PMC5707534 DOI: 10.3390/v9110327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The BK virus (BKPyV) is a member of the Polyomaviridae family first isolated in 1971. BKPyV causes frequent infections during childhood and establishes persistent infections with minimal clinical implications within renal tubular cells and the urothelium. However, reactivation of BKPyV in immunocompromised individuals may cause serious complications. In particular, with the implementation of more potent immunosuppressive drugs in the last decade, BKPyV has become an emerging pathogen in kidney and bone marrow transplant recipients where it often causes associated nephropathy and haemorrhagic cystitis, respectively. Unfortunately, no specific antiviral against BKPyV has been approved yet and the only therapeutic option is a modulation of the immunosuppressive drug regimen to improve immune control though it may increase the risk of rejection. A better understanding of the BKPyV life cycle is thus needed to develop efficient treatment against this virus. In this review, we provide an update on recent advances in understanding the biology of BKPyV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francois Helle
- EA4294, Unité de Virologie Clinique et Fondamentale, Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire et Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80054 Amiens, France.
| | - Etienne Brochot
- EA4294, Unité de Virologie Clinique et Fondamentale, Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire et Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80054 Amiens, France.
| | - Lynda Handala
- EA4294, Unité de Virologie Clinique et Fondamentale, Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire et Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80054 Amiens, France.
| | - Elodie Martin
- EA4294, Unité de Virologie Clinique et Fondamentale, Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire et Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80054 Amiens, France.
| | - Sandrine Castelain
- EA4294, Unité de Virologie Clinique et Fondamentale, Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire et Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80054 Amiens, France.
| | - Catherine Francois
- EA4294, Unité de Virologie Clinique et Fondamentale, Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire et Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80054 Amiens, France.
| | - Gilles Duverlie
- EA4294, Unité de Virologie Clinique et Fondamentale, Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire et Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80054 Amiens, France.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Herate C, Vigne C, Guenzel CA, Lambele M, Rouyez MC, Benichou S. Uracil DNA glycosylase interacts with the p32 subunit of the replication protein A complex to modulate HIV-1 reverse transcription for optimal virus dissemination. Retrovirology 2016; 13:26. [PMID: 27068393 PMCID: PMC4828845 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-016-0257-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Through incorporation into virus particles, the HIV-1 Vpr protein participates in the early steps of the virus life cycle by influencing the reverse transcription process. We previously showed that this positive impact on reverse transcription was related to Vpr binding to the uracil DNA glycosylase 2 enzyme (UNG2), leading to enhancement of virus infectivity in established CD4-positive cell lines via a nonenzymatic mechanism. RESULTS We report here that Vpr can form a trimolecular complex with UNG2 and the p32 subunit (RPA32) of the replication protein A (RPA) complex and we explore how these cellular proteins can influence virus replication and dissemination in the primary target cells of HIV-1, which express low levels of both proteins. Virus infectivity and replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), as well as the efficiency of the viral DNA synthesis, were significantly reduced when viruses were produced from cells depleted of endogenous UNG2 or RPA32. Moreover, viruses produced in macrophages failed to replicate efficiently in UNG2- and RPA32-depleted T lymphocytes. Reciprocally, viruses produced in UNG2-depleted T cells did not replicate efficiently in MDMs confirming the positive role of UNG2 for virus dissemination. CONCLUSIONS Our data show the positive effect of UNG2 and RPA32 on the reverse transcription process leading to optimal virus replication and dissemination between the primary target cells of HIV-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecile Herate
- />Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, 22 Rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France
- />CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- />Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Clarisse Vigne
- />Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, 22 Rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France
- />CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- />Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Carolin A. Guenzel
- />Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, 22 Rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France
- />CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- />Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Marie Lambele
- />Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, 22 Rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France
- />CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- />Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Christine Rouyez
- />Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, 22 Rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France
- />CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- />Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Serge Benichou
- />Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, 22 Rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France
- />CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- />Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Frost EL, Lukacher AE. The importance of mouse models to define immunovirologic determinants of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Front Immunol 2015; 5:646. [PMID: 25601860 PMCID: PMC4283601 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severely debilitating and often fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in immunosuppressed individuals caused by JC polyomavirus (JCV), a ubiquitous human pathogen. Demyelination results from lytically infected oligodendrocytes, whose clearance is impaired in the setting of depressed JCV-specific T cell-mediated CNS surveillance. Although mutations in the viral capsid and genomic rearrangements in the viral non-coding region appear to set the stage for PML in the immunosuppressed population, mechanisms of demyelination and CNS antiviral immunity are poorly understood in large part due to absence of a tractable animal model that mimics PML neuropathology in humans. Early studies using mouse polyomavirus (MPyV) in T cell-deficient mice demonstrated productive viral replication in the CNS and demyelination; however, these findings were confounded by spinal cord compression by virus-induced vertebral bone tumors. Here, we review current literature regarding animal models of PML, focusing on current trends in antiviral T cell immunity in non-lymphoid organs, including the CNS. Advances in our understanding of polyomavirus lifecycles, viral and host determinants of persistent infection, and T cell-mediated immunity to viral infections in the CNS warrant revisiting polyomavirus CNS infection in the mouse as a bona fide animal model for JCV-PML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Frost
- Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Emory University , Atlanta, GA , USA
| | - Aron E Lukacher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine , Hershey, PA , USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liang B, Tikhanovich I, Nasheuer HP, Folk WR. Stimulation of BK virus DNA replication by NFI family transcription factors. J Virol 2012; 86:3264-75. [PMID: 22205750 PMCID: PMC3302295 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.06369-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BK polyomavirus (BKV) establishes persistent, low-level, and asymptomatic infections in most humans and causes polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) and other pathologies in some individuals. The activation of BKV replication following kidney transplantation, leading to viruria, viremia, and, ultimately, PVAN, is associated with immune suppression as well as inflammation and stress from ischemia-reperfusion injury of the allograft, but the stimuli and molecular mechanisms leading to these pathologies are not well defined. The replication of BKV DNA in cell cultures is regulated by the viral noncoding control region (NCCR) comprising the core origin and flanking sequences, to which BKV T antigen (Tag), cellular proteins, and small regulatory RNAs bind. Six nuclear factor I (NFI) binding sites occur in sequences flanking the late side of the core origin (the enhancer) of the archetype virus, and their mutation, either individually or in toto, reduces BKV DNA replication when placed in competition with templates containing intact BKV NCCRs. NFI family members interacted with the helicase domain of BKV Tag in pulldown assays, suggesting that NFI helps recruit Tag to the viral core origin and may modulate its function. However, Tag may not be the sole target of the replication-modulatory activities of NFI: the NFIC/CTF1 isotype stimulates BKV template replication in vitro at low concentrations of DNA polymerase-α primase (Pol-primase), and the p58 subunit of Pol-primase associates with NFIC/CTF1, suggesting that NFI also recruits Pol-primase to the NCCR. These results suggest that NFI proteins (and the signaling pathways that target them) activate BKV replication and contribute to the consequent pathologies caused by acute infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri—Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Irina Tikhanovich
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Heinz Peter Nasheuer
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - William R. Folk
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri—Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Small noncoding RNAs regulate a variety of cellular processes, including genomic imprinting, chromatin remodeling, replication, transcription, and translation. Here, we report small replication-regulating RNAs (srRNAs) that specifically inhibit DNA replication of the human BK polyomavirus (BKV) in vitro and in vivo. srRNAs from FM3A murine mammary tumor cells were enriched by DNA replication assay-guided fractionation and hybridization to the BKV noncoding control region (NCCR) and synthesized as cDNAs. Selective mutagenesis of the cDNA sequences and their putative targets suggests that the inhibition of BKV DNA replication is mediated by srRNAs binding to the viral NCCR, hindering early steps in the initiation of DNA replication. Ectopic expression of srRNAs in human cells inhibited BKV DNA replication in vivo. Additional srRNAs were designed and synthesized that specifically inhibit simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA replication in vitro. These observations point to novel mechanisms for regulating DNA replication and suggest the design of synthetic agents for inhibiting replication of polyomaviruses and possibly other viruses.
Collapse
|