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Dai Y, Liang Y, Liu C, Liu T, Chen L, Li Y. Can artemisinin and its derivatives treat malaria in a host-directed manner? Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 225:116260. [PMID: 38705539 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is caused by an apicomplexan protozoan parasite, Plasmodium, and is transmitted through vectors. It remains a substantial health burden, especially in developing countries, leading to significant socioeconomic losses. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved various antimalarial medications in the past two decades, the increasing resistance to these medications has worsened the situation. The development of drug resistance stems from genetic diversity among Plasmodium strains, impeding eradication efforts. Consequently, exploring innovative technologies and strategies for developing effective medications based on the host is crucial. Artemisinin and its derivatives (artemisinins) have been recommended by the WHO for treating malaria owing to their known effectiveness in killing the parasite. However, their potential to target the host for malaria treatment has not been investigated. This article concisely reviews the application of host-directed therapeutics, potential drug candidates targeting the host for treating malaria, and usage of artemisinins in numerous diseases. It underscores the importance of host-directed interventions for individuals susceptible to malaria, suggests the potential utility of artemisinins in host-directed malaria treatments, and posits that the modulation of host proteins with artemisinins may offer a means of intervening in host-parasite interactions. Further studies focusing on the host-targeting perspective of artemisinins can provide new insights into the mechanisms of artemisinin resistance and offer a unique opportunity for new antimalarial drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Dai
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yan Liang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Chengcheng Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Tuo Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Lina Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Yujie Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
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Woo Y, Ma M, Okawa M, Saito T. Hepatocyte Intrinsic Innate Antiviral Immunity against Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection: The Voices of Bona Fide Human Hepatocytes. Viruses 2024; 16:740. [PMID: 38793622 PMCID: PMC11126147 DOI: 10.3390/v16050740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of viral infection is attributed to two folds: intrinsic cell death pathway activation due to the viral cytopathic effect, and immune-mediated extrinsic cellular injuries. The immune system, encompassing both innate and adaptive immunity, therefore acts as a double-edged sword in viral infection. Insufficient potency permits pathogens to establish lifelong persistent infection and its consequences, while excessive activation leads to organ damage beyond its mission to control viral pathogens. The innate immune response serves as the front line of defense against viral infection, which is triggered through the recognition of viral products, referred to as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), by host cell pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). The PRRs-PAMPs interaction results in the induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in infected cells, as well as the secretion of interferons (IFNs), to establish a tissue-wide antiviral state in an autocrine and paracrine manner. Cumulative evidence suggests significant variability in the expression patterns of PRRs, the induction potency of ISGs and IFNs, and the IFN response across different cell types and species. Hence, in our understanding of viral hepatitis pathogenesis, insights gained through hepatoma cell lines or murine-based experimental systems are uncertain in precisely recapitulating the innate antiviral response of genuine human hepatocytes. Accordingly, this review article aims to extract and summarize evidence made possible with bona fide human hepatocytes-based study tools, along with their clinical relevance and implications, as well as to identify the remaining gaps in knowledge for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yein Woo
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Muyuan Ma
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Masashi Okawa
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- R&D Department, PhoenixBio USA Corporation, New York, NY 10006, USA
| | - Takeshi Saito
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- USC Research Center for Liver Diseases, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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Lombardo D, Franzè MS, Caminiti G, Pollicino T. Hepatitis Delta Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pathogens 2024; 13:362. [PMID: 38787214 PMCID: PMC11124437 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a compact, enveloped, circular RNA virus that relies on hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope proteins to initiate a primary infection in hepatocytes, assemble, and secrete new virions. Globally, HDV infection affects an estimated 12 million to 72 million people, carrying a significantly elevated risk of developing cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to an HBV mono-infection. Furthermore, HDV-associated HCC often manifests at a younger age and exhibits more aggressive characteristics. The intricate mechanisms driving the synergistic carcinogenicity of the HDV and HBV are not fully elucidated but are believed to involve chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and the direct oncogenic effects of the HDV. Indeed, recent data highlight that the molecular profile of HCC associated with HDV is unique and distinct from that of HBV-induced HCC. However, the question of whether the HDV is an oncogenic virus remains unanswered. In this review, we comprehensively examined several crucial aspects of the HDV, encompassing its epidemiology, molecular biology, immunology, and the associated risks of liver disease progression and HCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Teresa Pollicino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (D.L.); (M.S.F.); (G.C.)
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Chiou WC, Lyu YS, Hsia TL, Chen JC, Lin LC, Chang MF, Hsu MS, Huang C. Ergosterol peroxide blocks HDV infection as a novel entry inhibitor by targeting human NTCP receptor. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:116077. [PMID: 38154274 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis D virus (HDV), which co-infects or superinfects patients with hepatitis B virus, is estimated to affect 74 million people worldwide. Chronic hepatitis D is the most severe form of viral hepatitis and can result in liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, there are no efficient HDV-specific drugs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel HDV therapies that can achieve a functional cure or even eliminate the viral infection. In the HDV life cycle, agents targeting the entry step of HDV infection preemptively reduce the intrahepatic viral RNA. Human sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (hNTCP), a transporter of bile acids on the plasma membrane of hepatocytes, is an essential entry receptor of HDV and is a promising molecular target against HDV infection. Here, we investigated the effect of ergosterol peroxide (EP) on HDV infection in vitro and in vivo. EP inhibited HDV infection of hNTCP-expressing dHuS-E/2 hepatocytes by interrupting the early fusion/endocytosis step of HDV entry. Furthermore, molecular modeling suggested that EP hinders LHBsAg binding to hNTCP by blocking access to S267 and V263. In addition, we generated hNTCP-expressing transgenic (Tg) C57BL/6 mice using the Cre/loxP system for in vivo study. EP reduced the liver HDV RNA level of HDV-challenged hNTCP-Cre Tg mice. Intriguingly, EP downregulated the mRNA level of liver IFN-γ. We demonstrate that EP is a bona fide HDV entry inhibitor that acts on hNTCP and has the potential for use in HDV therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chung Chiou
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Syuan Lyu
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Lan Hsia
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Chieh Chen
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Chiayi University, Chiayi 600355, Taiwan
| | - Lie-Chwen Lin
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Fu Chang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100233, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Shiuan Hsu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Disease, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei 220216, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan.
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