Gene therapy strategies for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis

Inhibition effect produced by dominant negative mutant fusion protein PreS2-TLM-ScFv-HBcDN on HBV replication in vitro

A mammalian expression vector comprised of the PreS2-TLM (translocation motif), a single-chain variable fragment (ScFv) that binds to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the EGFP gene was constructed. A stably transformed cell line that could express and secrete the fusion protein (PreS2-TLM-ScFv-EGFP) was established. HBsAg-positive HepG2.2.15 cells and HepG2 and HeLa cells were incubated with the supernatant of the transformed cell line cultures for evaluating the cellular permeability of PreS2-TLM-ScFv-EGFP. The location of the fusion protein PreS2-TLM-ScFv-EGFP in HepG2.2.15 cells was observed with immunofluorescence staining. EGFP was next replaced by a dominant negative mutant of the hepatitis B virus core gene (HBcDN) for producing fusion protein PreS2-TLM-ScFv-HBcDN, which was detected by western blot. The supernatant containing fusion protein PreS2-TLM-ScFv-HBcDN was added to the cultures of HepG2.2.15 cells, and the packaged hepatitis B virus (HBV) pregenomic RNA expression levels in the cells were measured using qRT-PCR. The results of the in vitro study indicated that the packaged HBV pregenomic RNA expression levels in HepG2.2.15 cells significantly decreased when these cells were exposed to the supernatant at the dose of 25% for 24, 48 and 72 h, or at the dose of 12.5% for 72 h.

Demonstration of cooperative contribution of MET- and EGFR-mediated STAT3 phosphorylation to liver regeneration by exogenous suppressor of cytokine signalings

BACKGROUND/AIMS

As conditional knockout mice for stat3 are impaired in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy while those for gp130 have defects in early STAT3 phosphorylation but have normal DNA synthesis, late STAT3 phosphorylation induced independently of gp130 seems to be essential for liver regeneration. Since HGF and EGF can activate STAT3 via gp130-independent MET and EGFR, respectively, we assumed that these factors account for STAT3-dependent liver regeneration. Here, we investigated this hypothesis by introducing suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 and SOCS3, potent negative regulators of STAT3 signaling, selectively in hepatocytes.

METHODS

We generated recombinant adenoviruses expressing socs1 and socs3.

RESULTS

Hepatocytes infected with socs1-virus lacked STAT3 phosphorylation in response to IL-6 and HGF, while cells infected with socs3-virus lacked the response to all of IL-6, HGF and EGF, indicating that those SOCS proteins differently regulate EGFR signaling. Mice infected with socs3-virus exhibited severe and persistent impairment while those with socs1-virus showed only delayed regeneration, indicating requirement of both MET and EGFR signalings.

CONCLUSIONS

These results clearly demonstrated that MET- and EGFR-mediated STAT3 signalings cooperatively contribute to liver regeneration and could provide new insights into tissue homeostasis.

VP22 fusion protein-based dominant negative mutant can inhibit hepatitis B virus replication

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of VP22 fusion protein-based dominant negative (DN) mutant on Hepatitis Bvrus (HBV) replication.

METHODS: Full-length or truncated fragment of VP22 was fused to C terminal of HBV core protein (HBc), and subcloned into pcDNA3.1 (-) vector, yielding eukaryotic expression plasmids of DN mutant. After transfection into HepG2.2.15 cells, the expression of DN mutant was identified by immunofluorescence staining. The inhibitory effect of DN mutant on HBV replication was indexed as the supernatant HBsAg concentration determined by RIA and HBV-DNA content by fluorescent quantification-PCR (FQ-PCR). Meanwhile, metabolism of HepG2.2.15 cells was evaluated by MTT colorimetry.

RESULTS: VP22-based DN mutants and its truncated fragment were expressed in HepG2.2.15 cells, and had no toxic effect on host cells. DN mutants could inhibit HBV replication and the transduction ability of mutant-bearing protein had a stronger inhibitory effect on HBV replication. DN mutants with full length of VP22 had the strongest inhibitory effect on HBV replication, reducing the HBsAg concentration by 81.94%, and the HBV-DNA content by 72.30%. MTT assay suggested that there were no significant differences in cell metabolic activity between the groups.

CONCLUSION: VP22-based DN mutant can inhibit HBV replication effectively.

Anti-HBV activity of TRL mediated by recombinant adenovirus

AIM: To investigate the inhibitive effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-TRL on HBV replication.

METHODS: Based on previously constructed pcDNA3.1(-)/TRL, TR, TRmut, HBV core protein (HBVc) and hEDN, interest gene sequences TRL, TR, HBVc and hEDN were inserted into adenovirus shuttle plasmid pDC316 respectively and co-transfected HEK293 cells with rescue plasmid pBHGlox(delta)E1,3Cre to acquire RAd/TRL, TR, HBVc and hEDN. And then RAds were identified, amplified and the titers in HEK293 cells were determined. RAd/TRL and TR were named as the experimental groups, and others were control ones. After HepG2.2.15 cells were infected, RAd/TRL expression was identified by indirect immunofluorescence staining. Supernatant HBV-DNA content was determined by fluorescent quantification PCR. Meanwhile, metabolism of HepG2.2.15 cells was evaluated by MTT colorimetry.

RESULTS: RAd vectors with distinct interest gene sequence were successfully constructed. Effective expression of RAd/TRL in HepG2.2.15 cells resulted in a significant decrease of supernatant HBV-DNA content compared to RAd/TR (0.63±0.14 vs 1.60±0.47, P = 0.0266, <0.05) and other control groups (0.63±0.14 vs 8.50±2.78, 8.25±2.26, 8.25±2.29, 8.50±1.51, 8.57±1.63, P<0.01). MTT assay suggested that there were no significant differences in cell metabolic activity between groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The construction and expression of RAd/TRL has been achieved and it could inhibit HBV replication successfully, which has laid the foundation for further research on anti-HBV activity in vivo.

Preclinical safety testing of biotechnology-derived pharmaceuticals: understanding the issues and addressing the challenges

The unique and complex nature of biotechnology-derived pharmaceuticals has meant that it is often not possible to follow the conventional safety testing programs used for chemicals, and hence they are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Nonclinical safety testing programs must be rationally designed with a strong scientific understanding of the product, including its method of manufacture, purity, sequence, structure, species specificity, pharmacological and immunological effects, and intended clinical use. This knowledge, coupled with a firm understanding of the regulatory requirements for particular product types, will ensure that the most sensitive and regulatory-compliant test systems are used to optimize the chances of gaining regulatory approval for clinical testing or marketing authorization in the shortest possible time frame.

Inhibition of HBV targeted ribonuclease enhanced by introduction of linker

AIM: To construct human eosinophil-derived neurotoxin(hEDN) and HBV core protein (HBVc) eukaryotic fusion expression vector with a linker (Gly₄Ser)₃ between them to optimize the molecule folding, which will be used to inhibit HBV replication in vitro.

METHODS: Previously constructed pcDNA3.1(-)/TR was used as a template. Linker sequence was synthesized and annealed to form dslinker, and cloned into pcDNA3.1(-)/TR to produce plasmid pcDNA3.1(-)/HBc-linker. Then the hEDN fragment was PCR amplified and inserted into pcDNA3.1(-)/HBc-linker to form pcDNA3.1(-)/TNL in which the effector molecule and the target molecule were separated by a linker sequence. pcDNA3.1(-)/TNL expression was identified by indirect immunofluorescence staining. Radioimmunoassay was used to analyse anti-HBV activity of pcDNA3.1(-)/TNL. Meanwhile, metabolism of cells was evaluated by MTT colorimetry.

RESULTS: hEDN and HBVc eukaryotic fusion expression vector with a linker (Gly4Ser)3 between them was successfully constructed. pcDNA3.1(-)/TNL was expressed in HepG2.2.15 cells efficiently. A significant decrease of HBsAg concentration from pcDNA3.1(-)/TNL transfectant was observed compared to pcDNA3.1(-)/TR (P = 0.036, P < 0.05). MTT assay suggested that there were no significant differences between groups (P = 0.08, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Linker introduction enhances the inhibitory effect of HBV targeted ribonuclease significantly.

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Construction of replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vector carrying HBV S and C region gene by homologous recombination in bacteria and its expression in vitro

AIM

To construct recombinant adenoviral vector carrying HBV S and C region gene by homologous recombination in bacteria and to detect its expression in vitro.

METHODS

HBV pre-S2/S genes and pre-C/C genes were amplified by PCR and were cloned to adenoviral shuttle plasmid pAdTrack-CMV, respectively. Then the resultant pAd Track-CMV-HBs or pAdTrack-CMV-HBe was cotransfected into BJ5183 bacteria with the plasmid pAdeasy-1. The adenoviral plasmid carrying HBV S and C gene (pAd-HBs and pAd-HBe) was generated with homologous recombination in bacteria and the adenoviruses were produced in 293 cells. Both 293 and Vero cells were infected with adenoviruses and the expression of HBsAg and HBeAg was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA in vitro.

RESULTS

The titer of Ad-HBs and Ad-HBe adenoviruses was up to 5×10¹² pfu/L after proliferation in 293 cells. HBsAg and HBeAg were expressed efficiently in 293 and Vero cells after infection.

CONCLUSION

The recombinant adenoviruses expressing HBsAg or HBeAg were constructed successfully and can be used further in gene therapy of HBV.