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Tarnow G, McLachlan A. Selective effect of β-catenin on nuclear receptor-dependent hepatitis B virus transcription and replication. Virology 2022; 571:52-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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B-Catenin Signaling Regulates the In Vivo Distribution of Hepatitis B Virus Biosynthesis across the Liver Lobule. J Virol 2021; 95:e0078021. [PMID: 34319157 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00780-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
β-catenin (Ctnnb1) supports high levels of liver gene expression in hepatocytes in proximity to the central vein functionally defining zone 3 of the liver lobule. This region of the liver lobule supports the highest levels of viral biosynthesis in wildtype HBV transgenic mice. Liver-specific β-catenin-null HBV transgenic mice exhibit a stark loss of high levels of pericentral viral biosynthesis. Additionally, viral replication that does not depend directly on β-catenin activity appears to expand to include hepatocytes of zone 1 of the liver lobule in proximity to the portal vein, a region of the liver that typically lacks significant HBV biosynthesis in wildtype HBV transgenic mice. While the average amount of viral RNA transcripts does not change, viral DNA replication is reduced approximately three-fold. Together, these observations demonstrate that β-catenin signaling represents a major determinant of HBV biosynthesis governing the magnitude and distribution of viral replication across the liver lobule in vivo. Additionally, these findings reveal a novel mechanism for the regulation of HBV biosynthesis that is potentially relevant to the expression of additional liver-specific genes. IMPORTANCE Viral biosynthesis is highest around the central vein in the HBV transgenic mouse model of chronic infection. The associated HBV biosynthetic gradient across the liver lobule is primarily dependent upon β-catenin. In the absence of β-catenin, the gradient of viral gene expression spanning the liver lobule is absent and HBV replication is reduced. Therefore, therapeutically manipulating β-catenin activity in the liver of chronic HBV carriers may reduce circulating infectious virions without greatly modulating viral protein production. Together, these change in viral biosynthesis might limit infection of additional hepatocytes while permitting immunological clearance of previously infected cells, potentially limiting disease persistence.
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Wing PAC, Liu PJ, Harris JM, Magri A, Michler T, Zhuang X, Borrmann H, Minisini R, Frampton NR, Wettengel JM, Mailly L, D'Arienzo V, Riedl T, Nobre L, Weekes MP, Pirisi M, Heikenwalder M, Baumert TF, Hammond EM, Mole DR, Protzer U, Balfe P, McKeating JA. Hypoxia inducible factors regulate hepatitis B virus replication by activating the basal core promoter. J Hepatol 2021; 75:64-73. [PMID: 33516779 PMCID: PMC8214165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are a hallmark of inflammation and are key regulators of hepatic immunity and metabolism, yet their role in HBV replication is poorly defined. HBV replicates in hepatocytes within the liver, a naturally hypoxic organ, however most studies of viral replication are performed under conditions of atmospheric oxygen, where HIFs are inactive. We therefore investigated the role of HIFs in regulating HBV replication. METHODS Using cell culture, animal models, human tissue and pharmacological agents inhibiting the HIF-prolyl hydroxylases, we investigated the impact of hypoxia on the HBV life cycle. RESULTS Culturing liver cell-based model systems under low oxygen uncovered a new role for HIFs in binding HBV DNA and activating the basal core promoter, leading to increased pre-genomic RNA and de novo HBV particle secretion. The presence of hypoxia responsive elements among all primate members of the hepadnaviridae highlights an evolutionary conserved role for HIFs in regulating this virus family. CONCLUSIONS Identifying a role for this conserved oxygen sensor in regulating HBV transcription suggests that this virus has evolved to exploit the HIF signaling pathway to persist in the low oxygen environment of the liver. Our studies show the importance of considering oxygen availability when studying HBV-host interactions and provide innovative routes to better understand and target chronic HBV infection. LAY SUMMARY Viral replication in host cells is defined by the cellular microenvironment and one key factor is local oxygen tension. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates in the liver, a naturally hypoxic organ. Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are the major sensors of low oxygen; herein, we identify a new role for these factors in regulating HBV replication, revealing new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A C Wing
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - James M Harris
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Magri
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas Michler
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Xiaodong Zhuang
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helene Borrmann
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rosalba Minisini
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Nicholas R Frampton
- Institute of Inflammation and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jochen M Wettengel
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Laurent Mailly
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; INSERM, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Tobias Riedl
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luis Nobre
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael P Weekes
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mario Pirisi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; INSERM, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ester M Hammond
- Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David R Mole
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Balfe
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jane A McKeating
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Taha TY, Anirudhan V, Limothai U, Loeb DD, Petukhov PA, McLachlan A. Modulation of hepatitis B virus pregenomic RNA stability and splicing by histone deacetylase 5 enhances viral biosynthesis. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008802. [PMID: 32822428 PMCID: PMC7467325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a worldwide health problem without curative treatments. Investigation of the regulation of HBV biosynthesis by class I and II histone deacetylases (HDACs) demonstrated that catalytically active HDAC5 upregulates HBV biosynthesis. HDAC5 expression increased both the stability and splicing of the HBV 3.5 kb RNA without altering the translational efficiency of the viral pregenomic or spliced 2.2 kb RNAs. Together, these observations point to a broader role of HDAC5 in regulating RNA splicing and transcript stability while specifically identifying a potentially novel approach toward antiviral HBV therapeutic development. This study demonstrates that HDAC5 deacetylation of host cellular factor(s) results in increased HBV biosynthesis by enhancing viral transcript stability and splicing via direct or indirect binding of host factors to viral intron sequences. This represents the first demonstration of this type of post-transcriptional regulation in the liver and is similar to observations seen for cellular transcripts in neural and cardiac cell types. These observations suggest a more general phenomenon which could represent an additional post-transcriptional code governing the regulation of RNA:protein interactions and hence RNA metabolism. Therefore, covalent modifications of RNA binding proteins may modulate post-transcriptional gene expression in an analogous manner to the known histone code that controls gene transcription. Although this analysis primarily relates to the mechanism(s) by which HDAC5 governs HBV RNA metabolism, it does have significant therapeutic implications. The inhibition of HDAC5 in combination with current nucleos(t)ide analog drugs targeting the viral reverse transcriptase/DNA polymerase might aid in the treatment and possible resolution of chronic infections by targeting both host and viral factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taha Y. Taha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Varada Anirudhan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Umaporn Limothai
- Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Daniel D. Loeb
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Pavel A. Petukhov
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (PAP); (AM)
| | - Alan McLachlan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (PAP); (AM)
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Li H, Yan L, Shi Y, Lv D, Shang J, Bai L, Tang H. Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Overview. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1179:1-16. [PMID: 31741331 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-9151-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a DNA virus, belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family. It is a partially double-stranded DNA virus with a small viral genome (3.2 kb). Chronic HBV infection remains a global public health problem. If left untreated, chronic HBV infection can progress to end-stage liver disease, such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In recent years, tremendous advances in the field of HBV basic and clinical research have been achieved, ranging from the HBV biological characteristics, immunopathogenesis, and animal models to the development of new therapeutic strategies and new drugs against HBV. In this overview, we begin with a brief history of HBV discovery and treatment milestones. We then briefly summarize the HBV research advances, which will be detailed in the following chapters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Libo Yan
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Duoduo Lv
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jin Shang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lang Bai
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Tang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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Oropeza CE, Tarnow G, Sridhar A, Taha TY, Shalaby RE, McLachlan A. The Regulation of HBV Transcription and Replication. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1179:39-69. [PMID: 31741333 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-9151-4_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major human pathogen lacking a reliable curative therapy. Current therapeutics target the viral reverse transcriptase/DNA polymerase to inhibit viral replication but generally fail to resolve chronic HBV infections. Due to the limited coding potential of the HBV genome, alternative approaches for the treatment of chronic infections are desperately needed. An alternative approach to the development of antiviral therapeutics is to target cellular gene products that are critical to the viral life cycle. As transcription of the viral genome is an essential step in the viral life cycle, the selective inhibition of viral RNA synthesis is a possible approach for the development of additional therapeutic modalities that might be used in combination with currently available therapies. To address this possibility, a molecular understanding of the relationship between viral transcription and replication is required. The first step is to identify the transcription factors that are the most critical in controlling the levels of HBV RNA synthesis and to determine their in vivo role in viral biosynthesis. Mapping studies in cell culture utilizing reporter gene constructs permitted the identification of both ubiquitous and liver-enriched transcription factors capable of modulating transcription from the four HBV promoters. However, it was challenging to determine their relative importance for viral biosynthesis in the available human hepatoma replication systems. This technical limitation was addressed, in part, by the development of non-hepatoma HBV replication systems where viral biosynthesis was dependent on complementation with exogenously expressed transcription factors. These systems revealed the importance of specific nuclear receptors and hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF3)/forkhead box A (FoxA) transcription factors for HBV biosynthesis. Furthermore, using the HBV transgenic mouse model of chronic viral infection, the importance of various nuclear receptors and FoxA isoforms could be established in vivo. The availability of this combination of systems now permits a rational approach toward the development of selective host transcription factor inhibitors. This might permit the development of a new class of therapeutics to aid in the treatment and resolution of chronic HBV infections, which currently affects approximately 1 in 30 individuals worldwide and kills up to a million people annually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia E Oropeza
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Grant Tarnow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Abhayavarshini Sridhar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Taha Y Taha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rasha E Shalaby
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt, Egypt
| | - Alan McLachlan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator family members competitively regulate hepatitis b virus biosynthesis. Virology 2018; 526:214-221. [PMID: 30419515 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional coactivators represent critical components of the transcriptional pre-initiation complex and are required for efficient gene activation. Members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC1) family differentially regulate hepatitis b virus (HBV) biosynthesis. Whereas PGC1α has been shown to be a potent activator of HBV biosynthesis, PGC1β only very poorly activates HBV RNA and DNA synthesis in human hepatoma (HepG2) and embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells. Furthermore, PGC1β inhibits PGC1α-mediated HBV biosynthesis. These observations suggest that a potential competition between human hepatoma (HepG2) and embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells PGC1α and PGC1β for common transcription factor target(s) may regulate HBV transcription and replication in a context and signal transduction pathway dependent manner.
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