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Wallace HL, Russell RS. Inflammatory Consequences: Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptosis. Viral Immunol 2024; 37:126-138. [PMID: 38593460 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2023.0138] [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] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV), despite the availability of effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that clear the virus from >95% of individuals treated, continues to cause significant health care burden due to disease progression that can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. The fact that some people who are treated with DAAs still go on to develop worsening liver disease warrants further study into the immunopathogenesis of HCV. Many viral infections, including HCV, have been associated with activation of the inflammasome/pyroptosis pathway. This inflammatory cell death pathway ultimately results in cell lysis and release of inflammatory cytokines, IL-18 and IL-1β. This review will report on studies that investigated HCV and inflammasome activation/pyroptosis. This includes clinical in vivo data showing elevated pyroptosis-associated cytokines in the blood of individuals living with HCV, studies of genetic associations of pyroptosis-related genes and development of liver disease, and in vitro studies aimed at understanding the mechanism of pyroptosis induced by HCV. Finally, we discuss major gaps in understanding and outstanding questions that remain in the field of HCV-induced pyroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Wallace
- Immunology and Infectious Diseases Group, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, Canada
| | - Rodney S Russell
- Immunology and Infectious Diseases Group, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, Canada
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Morihisa Y, Chung H, Towatari S, Yamashita D, Inokuma T. Autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis after direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus: A case report. World J Hepatol 2024; 16:286-293. [PMID: 38495284 PMCID: PMC10941733 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i2.286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global health concern that leads to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer. Regimens containing direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have become the mainstay of HCV treatment, achieving a high sustained virological response (SVR) with minimal adverse events. CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old woman with chronic HCV infection was treated with the DAAs ledipasvir, and sofosbuvir for 12 wk and achieved SVR. Twenty-four weeks after treatment completion, the liver enzyme and serum IgG levels increased, and antinuclear antibody became positive without HCV viremia, suggesting the development of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). After liver biopsy indicated AIH, a definite AIH diagnosis was made and prednisolone was initiated. The treatment was effective, and the liver enzyme and serum IgG levels normalized. However, multiple strictures of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts with dilatation of the peripheral bile ducts appeared on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography after 3 years of achieving SVR, which were consistent with primary sclerosing cholangitis. CONCLUSION The potential risk of developing autoimmune liver diseases after DAA treatment should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiki Morihisa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hobyung Chung
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan.
| | - Shuichiro Towatari
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamashita
- Department of Pathology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Inokuma
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
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Zou J, Li J, Zhong X, Tang D, Fan X, Chen R. Liver in infections: a single-cell and spatial transcriptomics perspective. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:53. [PMID: 37430371 PMCID: PMC10332047 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00945-z] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is an immune organ that plays a vital role in the detection, capture, and clearance of pathogens and foreign antigens that invade the human body. During acute and chronic infections, the liver transforms from a tolerant to an active immune state. The defence mechanism of the liver mainly depends on a complicated network of intrahepatic and translocated immune cells and non-immune cells. Therefore, a comprehensive liver cell atlas in both healthy and diseased states is needed for new therapeutic target development and disease intervention improvement. With the development of high-throughput single-cell technology, we can now decipher heterogeneity, differentiation, and intercellular communication at the single-cell level in sophisticated organs and complicated diseases. In this concise review, we aimed to summarise the advancement of emerging high-throughput single-cell technologies and re-define our understanding of liver function towards infections, including hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, Plasmodium, schistosomiasis, endotoxemia, and corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We also unravel previously unknown pathogenic pathways and disease mechanisms for the development of new therapeutic targets. As high-throughput single-cell technologies mature, their integration into spatial transcriptomics, multiomics, and clinical data analysis will aid in patient stratification and in developing effective treatment plans for patients with or without liver injury due to infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Zou
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Jie Li
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao Zhong
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Daolin Tang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xuegong Fan
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Ruochan Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
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Maretti-Mira AC, Salomon MP, Hsu AM, Matsuba C, Golden-Mason L. Chronic HCV infection promotes cytotoxicity in antigen-specific CD8 + T cells regardless of virus specificity. FRONTIERS IN VIROLOGY (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 3:1198361. [PMID: 37886042 PMCID: PMC10601542 DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2023.1198361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Despite advancements in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treatment, HCV still represents a significant public health burden. Besides progressive hepatic damage, viral persistence has lasting effects on innate and adaptive immune responses. Lack of a complete understanding of the factors driving an effective HCV response contributes to the failure to develop a vaccine for prevention. This study advances the existing knowledge on HCV-specific CD8+ T cells and describes the impact of current or past HCV infection on CD8+ T cells specific for other viruses. Methods We used barcoded-dextramers to identify and sort CD8+ T cells specific for HCV, cytomegalovirus, and influenza, and characterized them using single-cell RNA sequencing technology. Our cohort included chronic (cHCV), spontaneously resolved (rHCV), and subjects undergoing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Results We show that HCV-specific CD8+ T cells have cytotoxic features in patients with cHCV, which is progressively reduced with DAA therapy and persists 12 weeks after treatment completion. We also observe a shift in the CD8+ T cell phenotype on DAA treatment, with decreased effector memory and exhausted cell signatures. In rHCV, we also detected a smaller proportion of effector memory cells compared to cHCV. The proportion of CD8+ exhausted T cells in cHCV and rHCV subjects was comparable. Moreover, we also observed that non-HCV virus-specific CD8+ T cells exhibit robust cytotoxic traits during cHCV infection. Discussion Altogether, our findings suggest that cHCV infection promotes cytotoxicity in CD8+ T cells regardless of virus specificity. The immunological changes caused by cHCV infection in CD8+ T cells may contribute to worsening the ongoing hepatic damage caused by HCV infection or exacerbate the immune response to possible co-infections. Our data provide a resource to groups exploring the underlying mechanisms of HCV-specific T cell spontaneous and treatment-induced resolution to inform the development of effective vaccines against HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Maretti-Mira
- USC Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Matthew P. Salomon
- USC Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Angela M. Hsu
- USC Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Chikako Matsuba
- USC Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lucy Golden-Mason
- USC Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Ströh LJ, Krey T. Structural insights into hepatitis C virus neutralization. Curr Opin Virol 2023; 60:101316. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2023.101316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
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Diakite M, Shaw-Saliba K, Lau CY. Malignancy and viral infections in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review. FRONTIERS IN VIROLOGY (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 3:1103737. [PMID: 37476029 PMCID: PMC10358275 DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2023.1103737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The burden of malignancy related to viral infection is increasing in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In 2018, approximately 2 million new cancer cases worldwide were attributable to infection. Prevention or treatment of these infections could reduce cancer cases by 23% in less developed regions and about 7% in developed regions. Contemporaneous increases in longevity and changes in lifestyle have contributed to the cancer burden in SSA. African hospitals are reporting more cases of cancer related to infection (e.g., cervical cancer in women and stomach and liver cancer in men). SSA populations also have elevated underlying prevalence of viral infections compared to other regions. Of 10 infectious agents identified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, six are viruses: hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV, respectively), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV, also known as human herpesvirus type 8, HHV-8). Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) also facilitates oncogenesis. EBV is associated with lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinoma; HBV and HCV are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma; KSHV causes Kaposi's sarcoma; HTLV-1 causes T-cell leukemia and lymphoma; HPV causes carcinoma of the oropharynx and anogenital squamous cell cancer. HIV-1, for which SSA has the greatest global burden, has been linked to increasing risk of malignancy through immunologic dysregulation and clonal hematopoiesis. Public health approaches to prevent infection, such as vaccination, safer injection techniques, screening of blood products, antimicrobial treatments and safer sexual practices could reduce the burden of cancer in Africa. In SSA, inequalities in access to cancer screening and treatment are exacerbated by the perception of cancer as taboo. National level cancer registries, new screening strategies for detection of viral infection and public health messaging should be prioritized in SSA's battle against malignancy. In this review, we discuss the impact of carcinogenic viruses in SSA with a focus on regional epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahamadou Diakite
- University Clinical Research Center, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Kathryn Shaw-Saliba
- Collaborative Clinical Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Chuen-Yen Lau
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
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Mechanisms and Consequences of Genetic Variation in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 439:237-264. [PMID: 36592248 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15640-3_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important contributor to the global incidence of liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although common for single-stranded RNA viruses, HCV displays a remarkable high level of genetic diversity, produced primarily by the error-prone viral polymerase and host immune pressure. The high genetic heterogeneity of HCV has led to the evolution of several distinct genotypes and subtypes, with important consequences for pathogenesis, and clinical outcomes. Genetic variability constitutes an evasion mechanism against immune suppression, allowing the virus to evolve epitope escape mutants that avoid immune recognition. Thus, heterogeneity and variability of the HCV genome represent a great hindrance for the development of vaccines against HCV. In addition, the high genetic plasticity of HCV allows the virus to rapidly develop antiviral resistance mutations, leading to treatment failure and potentially representing a major hindrance for the cure of chronic HCV patients. In this chapter, we will present the central role that genetic diversity has in the viral life cycle and epidemiology of HCV. Incorporation errors and recombination, both the result of HCV polymerase activity, represent the main mechanisms of HCV evolution. The molecular details of both mechanisms have been only partially clarified and will be presented in the following sections. Finally, we will discuss the major consequences of HCV genetic diversity, namely its capacity to rapidly evolve antiviral and immunological escape variants that represent an important limitation for clearance of acute HCV, for treatment of chronic hepatitis C and for broadly protective vaccines.
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Badami E, Busà R, Douradinha B, Russelli G, Miceli V, Gallo A, Zito G, Conaldi PG, Iannolo G. Hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis C virus infection and miRNA involvement: Perspectives for new therapeutic approaches. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:2417-2428. [PMID: 35979260 PMCID: PMC9258280 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i22.2417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the principal etiology of cirrhosis and, ultimately, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At present, approximately 71 million people are chronically infected with HCV, and 10%–20% of these are expected to develop severe liver complications throughout their lifetime. Scientific evidence has clearly shown the causal association between miRNAs, HCV infection and HCC. Although it is not completely clear whether miRNA dysregulation in HCC is the cause or the consequence of its development, variations in miRNA patterns have been described in different liver diseases, including HCC. Many studies have analyzed the importance of circulating miRNAs and their effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis. In this Review, we aim to summarize current knowledge on the association between miRNA, HCV and HCC from a diagnostic point of view, and also the potential implications for therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Badami
- Regenerative Medicine and Immunotherapy Area, Fondazione Ri.MED, Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Rosalia Busà
- Department of Research, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS-ISMETT), Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Bruno Douradinha
- Regenerative Medicine and Immunotherapy Area, Fondazione Ri.MED, Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Giovanna Russelli
- Department of Research, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS-ISMETT), Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Vitale Miceli
- Department of Research, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS-ISMETT), Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Alessia Gallo
- Department of Research, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS-ISMETT), Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Giovanni Zito
- Department of Research, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS-ISMETT), Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Pier Giulio Conaldi
- Department of Research, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS-ISMETT), Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Gioacchin Iannolo
- Department of Research, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS-ISMETT), Palermo 90127, Italy
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Pihl AF, Feng S, Offersgaard A, Alzua GP, Augestad EH, Mathiesen CK, Jensen TB, Krarup H, Law M, Prentoe J, Christensen JP, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Inactivated whole hepatitis C virus vaccine employing a licensed adjuvant elicits cross-genotype neutralizing antibodies in mice. J Hepatol 2022; 76:1051-1061. [PMID: 34990750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A prophylactic vaccine is required to eliminate HCV as a global public health threat. We developed whole virus inactivated HCV vaccine candidates employing a licensed adjuvant. Further, we investigated the effects of HCV envelope protein modifications (to increase neutralization epitope exposure) on immunogenicity. METHODS Whole virus vaccine antigen was produced in Huh7.5 hepatoma cells, processed using a multistep protocol and formulated with adjuvant (MF-59 analogue AddaVax or aluminium hydroxide). We investigated the capacity of IgG purified from the serum of immunized BALB/c mice to neutralize genotype 1-6 HCV (by virus neutralization assays) and to bind homologous envelope proteins (by ELISA). Viruses used for immunizations were (i) HCV5aHi with strain SA13 envelope proteins and modification of an O-linked glycosylation site in E2 (T385P), (ii) HCV5aHi(T385) with reversion of T385P to T385, featuring the original E2 sequence determined in vivo and (iii) HCV5aHi(ΔHVR1) with deletion of HVR1. For these viruses, epitope exposure was investigated using human monoclonal (AR3A and AR4A) and polyclonal (C211 and H06) antibodies in neutralization assays. RESULTS Processed HCV5aHi formulated with AddaVax induced antibodies that efficiently bound homologous envelope proteins and broadly neutralized cultured genotype 1-6 HCV, with half maximal inhibitory concentrations of between 14 and 192 μg/ml (mean of 36 μg/ml against the homologous virus). Vaccination with aluminium hydroxide was less immunogenic. Compared to HCV5aHi(T385) with the original E2 sequence, HCV5aHi with a modified glycosylation site and HCV5aHi(ΔHVR1) without HVR1 showed increased neutralization epitope exposure but similar immunogenicity. CONCLUSION Using an adjuvant suitable for human use, we developed inactivated whole HCV vaccine candidates that induced broadly neutralizing antibodies, which warrant investigation in further pre-clinical studies. LAY SUMMARY A vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is needed to prevent the estimated 2 million new infections and 400,000 deaths caused by this virus each year. We developed inactivated whole HCV vaccine candidates using adjuvants licensed for human use, which, following immunization of mice, induced antibodies that efficiently neutralized all HCV genotypes with recognized epidemiological importance. HCV variants with modified envelope proteins exhibited similar immunogenicity as the virus with the original envelope proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Finne Pihl
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shan Feng
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Garazi Peña Alzua
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elias Honerød Augestad
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Kjaerulff Mathiesen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tanja Bertelsen Jensen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Krarup
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Aalborg University Hospital and Clinical Institute, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Jannick Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Pravsgaard Christensen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Wu S, Yuan H, Fan H, Xu Y, Liu Z, Wu X, Wu M, Zhang X, Shi T, Zhang T. Evolutionary characteristics and immune mutation of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b among intravenous drug users in mainland, China. J Viral Hepat 2022; 29:209-217. [PMID: 35075775 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
China is one of the countries with the heaviest burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide, especially subtype 1b. To better control hepatitis C, insights into the characteristics of dynamic spread and genomic mutations are urgently needed. We retrieved sequences of HCV-1b NS5B among intravenous drug users (IDUs) and general people (Non-IDUs) in China from 2000 to 2011 in NCBI. Bayesian phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were used to evaluate the transmission dynamics of HCV-1b. Non-synonymous substitutions were detected to illustrate immune adaptation. Evolutionary history demonstrated that HCV-1b effective population size experienced a sharp increase in 1990. HCV-1b sequences among IDUs had a higher estimated evolutionary rate (5.7185 × 10-3 substitutions/site/year) than overall (7.7332 × 10-4 ). 105/136 (77.2%) of HCV-1b sequences clustered into 38 networks. The average non-synonymous HCV-1b immune epitopes among IDUs were 0.211, higher than non-IDUs, especially in the HLA-A*02 molecular recognition region. All of these posed significant challenges for the prevention and treatment of HCV. Heterogeneity and genetic linkages of HCV-1b suggest that evolutionary surveillance of HCV in cities in east-central China and among IDUs could not be neglected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huangbo Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Fan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiyun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenqiu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefu Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingshan Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Shi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiejun Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety, Shanghai, China.,Yiwu Research Institute, Fudan University, Yiwu, China
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Di Marco L, La Mantia C, Di Marco V. Hepatitis C: Standard of Treatment and What to Do for Global Elimination. Viruses 2022; 14:505. [PMID: 35336911 PMCID: PMC8954407 DOI: 10.3390/v14030505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus infection has a substantial effect on morbidity and mortality worldwide because it is a cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation, and liver-related death. Direct acting antiviral drugs available today have high efficacy and excellent safety and can be used in all patients with clinically evident chronic liver disease and in groups that demonstrate risk behaviors to reduce the spread of infection. The Global Health Strategy of WHO to eliminate hepatitis infection by 2030 assumes "a 90% reduction in new cases of chronic hepatitis C, a 65% reduction in hepatitis C deaths, and treatment of 80% of eligible people with HCV infections". In this review effective models and strategies for achieving the global elimination of HCV infection are analyzed. The screening strategies must be simple and equally effective in high-risk groups and in the general population; fast and effective models for appropriate diagnosis of liver disease are needed; strategies for direct acting antiviral drug selection must be cost-effective; linkage to care models in populations at risk and in marginalized social classes must be specifically designed and applied; strategies for obtaining an effective vaccine against HCV infection have yet to be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza Di Marco
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medical Specialties, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy;
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy
| | - Claudia La Mantia
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Vito Di Marco
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
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12
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Zoldan K, Ehrlich S, Killmer S, Wild K, Smits M, Russ M, Globig AM, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Boettler T. Th1-Biased Hepatitis C Virus-Specific Follicular T Helper-Like Cells Effectively Support B Cells After Antiviral Therapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:742061. [PMID: 34659236 PMCID: PMC8514946 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.742061] [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: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating Th1-biased follicular T helper (cTfh1) cells have been associated with antibody responses to viral infection and after vaccination but their B cell helper functionality is less understood. After viral elimination, Tfh1 cells are the dominant subset within circulating Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-specific CD4 T cells, but their functional capacity is currently unknown. To address this important point, we established a clone-based system to evaluate CD4 T cell functionality in vitro to overcome experimental limitations associated with their low frequencies. Specifically, we analyzed the transcription factor expression, cytokine secretion and B cell help in co-culture assays of HCV- (n = 18) and influenza-specific CD4 T cell clones (n = 5) in comparison to Tfh (n = 26) and Th1 clones (n = 15) with unknown antigen-specificity derived from healthy donors (n = 4) or direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-treated patients (n = 5). The transcription factor expression and cytokine secretion patterns of HCV-specific CD4 T cell clones indicated a Tfh1 phenotype, with expression of T-bet and Bcl6 and production of IFN-γ and IL-21. Their B helper capacity was superior compared to influenza-specific or Tfh and Th1 clones. Moreover, since Tfh cells are enriched in the IFN-rich milieu of the HCV-infected liver, we investigated the impact of IFN exposure on Tfh phenotype and function. Type I IFN exposure was able to introduce similar phenotypic and functional characteristics in the Tfh cell population within PBMCs or Tfh clones in vitro in line with our finding that Tfh cells are elevated in HCV-infected patients shortly after initiation of IFN-α therapy. Collectively, we were able to functionally characterize HCV-specific CD4 T cells in vitro and not only confirmed a Tfh1 phenotype but observed superior Tfh functionality despite their Th1 bias. Furthermore, our results suggest that chronic type I IFN exposure supports the enrichment of highly functional HCV-specific Tfh-like cells during HCV infection. Thus, HCV-specific Tfh-like cells after DAA therapy may be a promising target for future vaccination design aiming to introduce a neutralizing antibody response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Zoldan
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sabine Ehrlich
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Saskia Killmer
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Wild
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maike Smits
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marissa Russ
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Globig
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maike Hofmann
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Boettler
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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13
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Woods E, Zaiatz-Bittencourt V, Bannan C, Bergin C, Finlay DK, Hoffmann M, Brown A, Turner B, Makvandi-Nejad S, Vassilev V, Capone S, Folgori A, Hanke T, Barnes E, Dorrell L, Gardiner CM. Specific human cytomegalovirus signature detected in NK cell metabolic changes post vaccination. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:117. [PMID: 34584101 PMCID: PMC8478984 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00381-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective vaccines for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) remain a significant challenge for these infectious diseases. Given that the innate immune response is key to controlling the scale and nature of developing adaptive immune responses, targeting natural killer (NK) cells that can promote a T-helper type 1 (Th1)-type immune response through the production of interferon-γ (IFNγ) remains an untapped strategic target for improved vaccination approaches. Here, we investigate metabolic and functional responses of NK cells to simian adenovirus prime and MVA boost vaccination in a cohort of healthy volunteers receiving a dual HCV-HIV-1 vaccine. Early and late timepoints demonstrated metabolic changes that contributed to the sustained proliferation of all NK cells. However, a strong impact of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) on some metabolic and functional responses in NK cells was observed in HCMV seropositive participants. These changes were not restricted to molecularly defined adaptive NK cells; indeed, canonical NK cells that produced most IFNγ in response to vaccination were equally impacted in individuals with latent HCMV. In summary, NK cells undergo metabolic changes in response to vaccination, and understanding these in the context of HCMV is an important step towards rational vaccine design against a range of human viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Woods
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Vanessa Zaiatz-Bittencourt
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | | | - David K Finlay
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Matthias Hoffmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Kantonsspital Olten, Olten, Switzerland
| | - Anthony Brown
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Bethany Turner
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Tomáš Hanke
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Eleanor Barnes
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lucy Dorrell
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Clair M Gardiner
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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14
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Shoukry NH. Towards a Systems Immunology Approach to Understanding Correlates of Protective Immunity against HCV. Viruses 2021; 13:1871. [PMID: 34578451 PMCID: PMC8473057 DOI: 10.3390/v13091871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in systems biology-based approaches to studying immunity to viral infections and responses to vaccines. These approaches that integrate multiple facets of the immune response, including transcriptomics, serology and immune functions, are now being applied to understand correlates of protective immunity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to inform vaccine development. This review focuses on recent progress in understanding immunity to HCV using systems biology, specifically transcriptomic and epigenetic studies. It also examines proposed strategies moving forward towards an integrated systems immunology approach for predicting and evaluating the efficacy of the next generation of HCV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naglaa H. Shoukry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Tour Viger, Local R09.414, 900 Rue St-Denis, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada;
- Département de Médecine, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada
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15
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Salinas E, Boisvert M, Upadhyay AA, Bédard N, Nelson SA, Bruneau J, Derdeyn CA, Marcotrigiano J, Evans MJ, Bosinger SE, Shoukry NH, Grakoui A. Early T follicular helper cell activity accelerates hepatitis C virus-specific B cell expansion. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:140590. [PMID: 33463551 DOI: 10.1172/jci140590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Early appearance of neutralizing antibodies during acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with spontaneous viral clearance. However, the longitudinal changes in antigen-specific memory B cell (MBCs) associated with divergent HCV infection outcomes remain undefined. We characterized longitudinal changes in E2 glycoprotein-specific MBCs from subjects who either spontaneously resolved acute HCV infection or progressed to chronic infection, using single-cell RNA-seq and functional assays. HCV-specific antibodies in plasma from chronically infected subjects recognized multiple E2 genotypes, while those from spontaneous resolvers exhibited variable cross-reactivity to heterotypic E2. E2-specific MBCs from spontaneous resolvers peaked early after infection (4-6 months), following expansion of activated circulating T follicular helper cells (cTfh) expressing interleukin 21. In contrast, E2-specific MBCs from chronically infected subjects, enriched in VH1-69, expanded during persistent infection (> 1 year), in the absence of significantly activated cTfh expansion. Early E2-specific MBCs from spontaneous resolvers produced monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with fewer somatic hypermutations and lower E2 binding but similar neutralization as mAbs from late E2-specific MBCs of chronically infected subjects. These findings indicate that early cTfh activity accelerates expansion of E2-specific MBCs during acute infection, which might contribute to spontaneous clearance of HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Salinas
- Division of Infectious diseases, Emory Vaccine Center, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maude Boisvert
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Amit A Upadhyay
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nathalie Bédard
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sydney A Nelson
- Yerkes NHP Genomics Core Laboratory, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Julie Bruneau
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Département de Médecine Familiale et de Médecine D'Urgence, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Cynthia A Derdeyn
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joseph Marcotrigiano
- Structural Virology Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew J Evans
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Steven E Bosinger
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Yerkes NHP Genomics Core Laboratory, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Naglaa H Shoukry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Département de Médecine, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Arash Grakoui
- Division of Infectious diseases, Emory Vaccine Center, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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16
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Gobran ST, Ancuta P, Shoukry NH. A Tale of Two Viruses: Immunological Insights Into HCV/HIV Coinfection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:726419. [PMID: 34456931 PMCID: PMC8387722 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.726419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly 2.3 million individuals worldwide are coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Odds of HCV infection are six times higher in people living with HIV (PLWH) compared to their HIV-negative counterparts, with the highest prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV coinfection has a detrimental impact on the natural history of HCV, including higher rates of HCV persistence following acute infection, higher viral loads, and accelerated progression of liver fibrosis and development of end-stage liver disease compared to HCV monoinfection. Similarly, it has been reported that HCV coinfection impacts HIV disease progression in PLWH receiving anti-retroviral therapies (ART) where HCV coinfection negatively affects the homeostasis of CD4+ T cell counts and facilitates HIV replication and viral reservoir persistence. While ART does not cure HIV, direct acting antivirals (DAA) can now achieve HCV cure in nearly 95% of coinfected individuals. However, little is known about how HCV cure and the subsequent resolution of liver inflammation influence systemic immune activation, immune reconstitution and the latent HIV reservoir. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of HIV/HCV coinfection, the effects of HCV coinfection on HIV disease progression in the context of ART, the impact of HIV on HCV-associated liver morbidity, and the consequences of DAA-mediated HCV cure on immune reconstitution and HIV reservoir persistence in coinfected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaa T Gobran
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Petronela Ancuta
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Naglaa H Shoukry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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17
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Burchill MA, Salomon MP, Golden-Mason L, Wieland A, Maretti-Mira AC, Gale M, Rosen HR. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses of T cells in chronic HCV-infected patients dominated by DAA-induced interferon signaling changes. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009799. [PMID: 34370798 PMCID: PMC8376199 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection with HCV is manifested by dysregulation of innate immune responses and impaired T cell function at multiple levels. These changes may impact susceptibility to other infections, responsiveness to antiviral therapies, vaccine responsiveness, and development of complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma. Highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has revolutionized the management of chronic HCV, with expected cure rates exceeding 95%. DAA treatment represents a unique opportunity to investigate to what extent elimination of viral replication and chronic antigen stimulation can restore immunologic phenotype. In this study we interrogated the global transcriptional profile of isolated peripheral blood T cells before, during and after IFN-free DAA therapy using single-cell mRNA sequencing. Our results demonstrate that T cells mapped at single-cell resolution have dramatic transcriptomic changes early after initiation of DAA and many of these changes are sustained after completion of DAA therapy. Specifically, we see a significant reduction in transcripts associated with innate immune activation and interferon signaling such as ISG15, ISG20, IFIT3, OAS and MX1 in many different T cell subsets. Furthermore, we find an early upregulation of a gene involved in suppression of immune activation, DUSP1, in circulating T cells. Conclusion: This study provides the first in-depth transcriptomic analysis at the single-cell level of patients undergoing DAA therapy, demonstrating that IFN-free antiviral therapy in chronic HCV infection induces hitherto unrecognized shifts in innate immune and interferon signaling within T cell populations early, during, and long-term after treatment. The present study provides a rich data source to explore the effects of DAA treatment on bulk T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Burchill
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Matthew P. Salomon
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Lucy Golden-Mason
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Research Center for Liver Disease (RCLD), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Amanda Wieland
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Ana C. Maretti-Mira
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Research Center for Liver Disease (RCLD), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Michael Gale
- Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Hugo R. Rosen
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Research Center for Liver Disease (RCLD), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Kardani K, Sadat SM, Kardani M, Bolhassani A. The next generation of HCV vaccines: a focus on novel adjuvant development. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:839-855. [PMID: 34114513 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1941895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Considerable efforts have been made to treat and prevent acute and chronic infections caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Current treatments are unable to protect people from reinfection. Hence, there is a need for development of both preventive and therapeutic HCV vaccines. Many vaccine candidates are in development to fight against HCV, but their efficacy has so far proven limited partly due to low immunogenicity. AREAS COVERED We explore development of novel and powerful adjuvants to achieve an effective HCV vaccine. The basis for developing strong adjuvants is to understand the innate immunity pathway, which subsequently stimulates humoral and cellular immune responses. We have also investigated immunogenicity of developed adjuvants that have been used in recent studies available in online databases such as PubMed, PMC, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, etc. EXPERT OPINION Adjuvants are used as a part of vaccine formulation to boost vaccine immunogenicity and antigen delivery. Several FDA-approved adjuvants are used in licensed human vaccines. Unfortunately, no adjuvant has yet been proven to boost HCV immune responses to the extent needed for an effective vaccine. One of the promising approaches for developing an effective adjuvant is the combination of various adjuvants to trigger several innate immune responses, leading to activation of adaptive immunity.[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Kardani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehdi Sadat
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Kardani
- Iranian Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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19
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From Structural Studies to HCV Vaccine Design. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050833. [PMID: 34064532 PMCID: PMC8147963 DOI: 10.3390/v13050833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious and growing public health problem despite recent developments of antiviral therapeutics. To achieve global elimination of HCV, an effective cross-genotype vaccine is needed. The failure of previous vaccination trials to elicit an effective cross-reactive immune response demands better vaccine antigens to induce a potent cross-neutralizing response to improve vaccine efficacy. HCV E1 and E2 envelope (Env) glycoproteins are the main targets for neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), which aid in HCV clearance and protection. Therefore, a molecular-level understanding of the nAb responses against HCV is imperative for the rational design of cross-genotype vaccine antigens. Here we summarize the recent advances in structural studies of HCV Env and Env-nAb complexes and how they improve our understanding of immune recognition of HCV. We review the structural data defining HCV neutralization epitopes and conformational plasticity of the Env proteins, and the knowledge applicable to rational vaccine design.
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20
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The WHO has set ambitious targets for hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030. In this review, we explore the possibility of HCV micro-elimination in HIV-positive (+) MSM, discussing strategies for reducing acute HCV incidence and the likely interventions required to meet these targets. RECENT FINDINGS With wider availability of directly acting antivirals (DAAs) in recent years, reductions in acute HCV incidence have been reported in some cohorts of HIV+ MSM. Recent evidence demonstrates that treatment in early infection is well tolerated, cost effective and may reduce the risk of onward transmission. Modelling studies suggest that to reduce incidence, a combination approach including behavioural interventions and access to early treatment, targeting both HIV+ and negative high-risk groups, will be required. HCV vaccine trials have not yet demonstrated efficacy in human studies, however phase one and two studies are ongoing. SUMMARY Some progress towards the WHO HCV elimination targets has been reported. Achieving sustained HCV elimination is likely to require a combination approach including early access to DAAs in acute infection and reinfection, validated and reproducible behavioural interventions and an efficacious HCV vaccine.
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21
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CD8 + T Cell Responses during HCV Infection and HCC. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10050991. [PMID: 33801203 PMCID: PMC7957882 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10050991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (cHCV) infection is a major global health burden and the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Western world. The course and outcome of HCV infection is centrally influenced by CD8+ T cell responses. Indeed, strong virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses are associated with spontaneous viral clearance while failure of these responses, e.g., caused by viral escape and T cell exhaustion, is associated with the development of chronic infection. Recently, heterogeneity within the exhausted HCV-specific CD8+ T cells has been observed with implications for immunotherapeutic approaches also for other diseases. In HCC, the presence of tumor-infiltrating and peripheral CD8+ T cell responses correlates with a favorable prognosis. Thus, tumor-associated and tumor-specific CD8+ T cells are considered suitable targets for immunotherapeutic strategies. Here, we review the current knowledge of CD8+ T cell responses in chronic HCV infection and HCC and their respective failure with the potential consequences for T cell-associated immunotherapeutic approaches.
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22
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Meuleman TJ, Cowton VM, Patel AH, Liskamp RMJ. Design and Synthesis of HCV-E2 Glycoprotein Epitope Mimics in Molecular Construction of Potential Synthetic Vaccines. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020326. [PMID: 33672697 PMCID: PMC7924389 DOI: 10.3390/v13020326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus remains a global threat, despite the availability of highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs. With thousands of new infections annually, the need for a prophylactic vaccine is evident. However, traditional vaccine design has been unable to provide effective vaccines so far. Therefore, alternative strategies need to be investigated. In this work, a chemistry-based approach is explored towards fully synthetic peptide-based vaccines using epitope mimicry, by focusing on highly effective and conserved amino acid sequences in HCV, which, upon antibody binding, inhibit its bio-activity. Continuous and discontinuous epitope mimics were both chemically synthesized based on the HCV-E2 glycoprotein while using designed fully synthetic cyclic peptides. These cyclic epitope mimics were assembled on an orthogonally protected scaffold. The scaffolded epitope mimics have been assessed in immunization experiments to investigate the elicitation of anti-HCV-E2 glycoprotein antibodies. The neutralizing potential of the elicited antibodies was investigated, representing a first step in employing chemically synthesized epitope mimics as a novel strategy towards vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodorus J. Meuleman
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK;
- Enzytag, Daelderweg, 9 6361 HK Nuth, The Netherlands
| | - Vanessa M. Cowton
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, Sir Michael Stoker Building, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK;
| | - Arvind H. Patel
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, Sir Michael Stoker Building, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK;
- Correspondence: (A.H.P.); (R.M.J.L.)
| | - Rob M. J. Liskamp
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK;
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht UMC, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Cristal Therapeutics, Oxfordlaan 55, 6229 EV Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (A.H.P.); (R.M.J.L.)
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23
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Morishita A, Oura K, Tadokoro T, Fujita K, Tani J, Masaki T. MicroRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030514. [PMID: 33572780 PMCID: PMC7866004 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequently occurring cancers, and the prognosis for late-stage HCC remains poor. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of HCC is expected to improve outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding, single-stranded RNAs that regulate the expression of various target genes, including those in cancer-associated genomic regions or fragile sites in various human cancers. We summarize the central roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HCC and discuss their potential utility as valuable biomarkers and new therapeutic agents for HCC. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the seventh most frequent cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Despite substantial advances in therapeutic strategies, the prognosis of late-stage HCC remains dismal because of the high recurrence rate. A better understanding of the etiology of HCC is therefore necessary to improve outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded RNAs that modulate the expression of their target genes at the posttranscriptional and translational levels. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has frequently been detected in cancer-associated genomic regions or fragile sites in various human cancers and has been observed in both HCC cells and tissues. The precise patterns of aberrant miRNA expression differ depending on disease etiology, including various causes of hepatocarcinogenesis, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms and the association of miRNAs with the pathogenesis of HCC of various etiologies. In the present review, we summarize the key mechanisms of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HCC and emphasize their potential utility as valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as innovative therapeutic targets, in HCC diagnosis and treatment.
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Laidlaw SM, Dustin LB. An HCV Vaccine on the Fly. J Infect Dis 2021; 221:1216-1218. [PMID: 31074788 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Laidlaw
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and the Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, The University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn B Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and the Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, The University of Oxford, United Kingdom
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Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin-Conjugated Peptides from Hepatitis C Virus Glycoproteins Elicit Neutralizing Antibodies in BALB/c Mice. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:3108157. [PMID: 33532506 PMCID: PMC7834783 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3108157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is available. A major challenge in developing an HCV vaccine is the high diversity of HCV sequences. The purpose of immunization with viral glycoproteins is to induce a potent and long-lasting cellular and humoral immune response. However, this strategy only achieves limited protection, and antigen selection plays a crucial role in vaccine design. In this study, we investigated the humoral immune responses induced by intraperitoneal injection of keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugated with 4 highly conserved peptides, including amino acids [aa]317-325 from E1 and aa418-429, aa502-518, and aa685-693 from E2, or 3 peptides from hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of E2, including the N terminus of HVR1 (N-HVR1, aa384-396), C terminus of HVR1 (C-HVR1, aa397-410), and HVR1 in BALB/c mice. The neutralizing activity against HCV genotypes 1-6 was assessed using the cell culture HCV (HCVcc) system. The results showed that the 4 conserved peptides efficiently induced antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against 3 or 4 genotypes. Antibodies induced by aa685-693 conferred potent protection (>50%) against genotypes 2, 4, and 5. Peptide N-HVR1 elicited antibodies with the most potent neutralization activities against 3 HCV genotypes: TNcc(1a), S52(3a), and ED43(4a). These findings suggested that peptides within HCV glycoproteins could serve as potent immunogens for vaccine design and development.
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Thimme R. T cell immunity to hepatitis C virus: Lessons for a prophylactic vaccine. J Hepatol 2021; 74:220-229. [PMID: 33002569 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
There is consensus that HCV-specific T cells play a central role in the outcome (clearance vs. persistence) of acute infection and that they contribute to protection against the establishment of persistence after reinfection. However, these T cells often fail and the virus can persist, largely as a result of T cell exhaustion and the emergence of viral escape mutations. Importantly, HCV cure by direct-acting antivirals does not lead to a complete reversion of T cell exhaustion and thus HCV reinfections can occur. The current lack of detailed knowledge about the immunological determinants of viral clearance, persistence and protective immunity is a major roadblock to the development of a prophylactic T cell vaccine. This minireview highlights the basic concepts of successful T cell immunity, major mechanisms of T cell failure and how our understanding of these concepts can be translated into a prophylactic vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Germany.
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27
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Smith S, Honegger JR, Walker C. T-Cell Immunity against the Hepatitis C Virus: A Persistent Research Priority in an Era of Highly Effective Therapy. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:cshperspect.a036954. [PMID: 32205413 PMCID: PMC7778213 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a036954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 70% of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections become chronic, indicating that the virus is exceptionally well adapted to persist in humans with otherwise normal immune function. Robust, lifelong replication of this small RNA virus does not require a generalized failure of immunity. HCV effectively subverts innate and adaptive host defenses while leaving immunity against other viruses intact. Here, the role of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses in control of HCV infection and their failure to prevent virus persistence in most individuals are reviewed. Two issues of practical importance remain priorities in an era of highly effective antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C. First, the characteristics of successful T-cell responses that promote resolution of HCV infection are considered, as they will underpin development of vaccines that prevent HCV persistence. Second, defects in T-cell immunity that facilitate HCV persistence and whether they are reversed after antiviral cure to provide protection from reinfection are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Smith
- The Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43004, USA
| | - Jonathan R. Honegger
- The Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43004, USA
| | - Christopher Walker
- The Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43004, USA
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Chatterjee D, Priyadarshini P, Das DK, Mushtaq K, Singh B, Agrewala JN. Deciphering the Structural Enigma of HLA Class-II Binding Peptides for Enhanced Immunoinformatics-based Prediction of Vaccine Epitopes. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:4655-4669. [PMID: 33103906 PMCID: PMC7640962 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Vaccines remain the most efficacious means to avoid and eliminate morbid diseases associated with high morbidity and mortality. Clinical trials indicate the gaining impetus of peptide vaccines against diseases for which an effective treatment still remains obscure. CD4 T-cell-based peptide vaccines involve immunization with antigenic determinants from pathogens or neoplastic cells that possess the ability to elicit a robust T helper cell response, which subsequently activates other arms of the immune system. The available in silico predictors of human leukocyte antigen II (HLA-II) binding peptides are sequence-based techniques, which ostensibly have balanced sensitivity and specificity. Structural analysis and understanding of the cognate peptide and HLA-II interactions are essential to empirically derive a successful peptide vaccine. However, the availability of structure-based epitope prediction algorithms is inadequate compared with sequence-based prediction methods. The present study is an attempt to understand the structural aspects of HLA-II binders by analyzing the Protein Data Bank (PDB) complexes of pHLA-II. Furthermore, we mimic the peptide exchange mechanism and demonstrate the structural implication of an acidic environment on HLA-II binders. Finally, we discuss a structure-guided approach to decipher potential HLA-II binders within an antigenic protein. This strategy may accurately predict the peptide epitopes and thus aid in designing successful peptide vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepyan Chatterjee
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Pragya Priyadarshini
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Deepjyoti K. Das
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Khurram Mushtaq
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Balvinder Singh
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Javed N. Agrewala
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
- Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar 140001, India
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29
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Immune system control of hepatitis C virus infection. Curr Opin Virol 2020; 46:36-44. [PMID: 33137689 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a global public health problem even though more than 95% of infections can be cured by treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents. Resolution of viremia post antiviral therapy does not lead to protective immunity and therefore reinfections can occur. Immune cell detection of HCV activates signaling pathways that produce interferons and trigger the innate immune response against the virus, preventing HCV replication and spread. Cells in the innate immune system, including natural killer, dendritic, and Kupffer cells, interact with infected hepatocytes and present viral antigens to T and B cells where their effector responses contribute to infection outcome. Despite the immune activation, HCV can evade the host response and establish persistent infection. Plans to understand the correlates of protection and strategies to activate proper innate and adaptive immune responses are needed for development of an effective prophylactic vaccine that stimulates protective immunity and limits HCV transmission.
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Kardani K, Basimi P, Fekri M, Bolhassani A. Antiviral therapy for the sexually transmitted viruses: recent updates on vaccine development. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2020; 13:1001-1046. [PMID: 32838584 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2020.1814743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by viruses including human T cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1), human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), human simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human papillomavirus (HPV) are major public health issues. These infections can cause cancer or result in long-term health problems. Due to high prevalence of STIs, a safe and effective vaccine is required to overcome these fatal viruses. AREAS COVERED This review includes a comprehensive overview of the literatures relevant to vaccine development against the sexually transmitted viruses (STVs) using PubMed and Sciencedirect electronic search engines. Herein, we discuss the efforts directed toward development of effective vaccines using different laboratory animal models including mice, guinea pig or non-human primates in preclinical trials, and human in clinical trials with different phases. EXPERT OPINION There is no effective FDA approved vaccine against the sexually transmitted viruses (STVs) except for HBV and HPV as prophylactic vaccines. Many attempts are underway to develop vaccines against these viruses. There are several approaches for improving prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines such as heterologous prime/boost immunization, delivery system, administration route, adjuvants, etc. In this line, further studies can be helpful for understanding the immunobiology of STVs in human. Moreover, development of more relevant animal models is a worthy goal to induce effective immune responses in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Kardani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran, Iran
| | - Parya Basimi
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrshad Fekri
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran, Iran
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31
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Smits M, Zoldan K, Ishaque N, Gu Z, Jechow K, Wieland D, Conrad C, Eils R, Fauvelle C, Baumert TF, Emmerich F, Bengsch B, Neumann-Haefelin C, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Boettler T. Follicular T helper cells shape the HCV-specific CD4+ T cell repertoire after virus elimination. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:998-1009. [PMID: 31697649 DOI: 10.1172/jci129642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by a severe impairment of HCV-specific CD4+ T cell help that is driven by chronic antigen stimulation. We aimed to study the fate of HCV-specific CD4+ T cells after virus elimination.METHODSHCV-specific CD4+ T cell responses were longitudinally analyzed using MHC class II tetramer technology, multicolor flow cytometry, and RNA sequencing in a cohort of patients chronically infected with HCV undergoing therapy with direct-acting antivirals. In addition, HCV-specific neutralizing antibodies and CXCL13 levels were analyzed.RESULTSWe observed that the frequency of HCV-specific CD4+ T cells increased within 2 weeks after initiating direct-acting antiviral therapy. Multicolor flow cytometry revealed a downregulation of exhaustion and activation markers and an upregulation of memory-associated markers. Although cells with a Th1 phenotype were the predominant subset at baseline, cells with phenotypic and transcriptional characteristics of follicular T helper cells increasingly shaped the circulating HCV-specific CD4+ T cell repertoire, suggesting antigen-independent survival of this subset. These changes were accompanied by a decline of HCV-specific neutralizing antibodies and the germinal center activity.CONCLUSIONWe identified a population of HCV-specific CD4+ T cells with a follicular T helper cell signature that is maintained after therapy-induced elimination of persistent infection and may constitute an important target population for vaccination efforts to prevent reinfection and immunotherapeutic approaches for persistent viral infections.FUNDINGDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the European Union, the Berta-Ottenstein-Programme for Advanced Clinician Scientists, and the ANRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike Smits
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Zoldan
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Naveed Ishaque
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Center for Personalised Oncology (DKFZ-HIPO), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Zuguang Gu
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Center for Personalised Oncology (DKFZ-HIPO), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Jechow
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominik Wieland
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christian Conrad
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Center for Personalised Oncology (DKFZ-HIPO), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Catherine Fauvelle
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Inserm U1110, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Inserm U1110, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Pole Hépato-digestif, Institut Hopitalo-Universitaire, Hopitaux Universitaires Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Florian Emmerich
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Neumann-Haefelin
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maike Hofmann
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Boettler
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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The Role of the Liver-Specific microRNA, miRNA-122 in the HCV Replication Cycle. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165677. [PMID: 32784807 PMCID: PMC7460827 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication requires annealing of a liver specific microRNA, miR-122 to 2 sites on 5' untranslated region (UTR). While, microRNAs downregulate gene expression by binding to the 3' untranslated region of the target mRNA, in this case, the microRNA anneals to the 5'UTR of the viral genomes and upregulates the viral lifecycle. In this review, we explore the current understandings of the mechanisms by which miR-122 promotes the HCV lifecycle, and its contributions to pathogenesis. Annealing of miR-122 has been reported to (a) stimulate virus translation by promoting the formation of translationally active internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA structure, (b) stabilize the genome, and (c) induce viral genomic RNA replication. MiR-122 modulates lipid metabolism and suppresses tumor formation, and sequestration by HCV may influence virus pathogenesis. We also discuss the possible use of miR-122 as a biomarker for chronic hepatitis and as a therapeutic target. Finally, we discuss roles for miR-122 and other microRNAs in promoting other viruses.
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33
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Kemming J, Thimme R, Neumann-Haefelin C. Adaptive Immune Response against Hepatitis C Virus. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165644. [PMID: 32781731 PMCID: PMC7460648 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A functional adaptive immune response is the major determinant for clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, in the majority of patients, this response fails and persistent infection evolves. Here, we dissect the HCV-specific key players of adaptive immunity, namely B cells and T cells, and describe factors that affect infection outcome. Once chronic infection is established, continuous exposure to HCV antigens affects functionality, phenotype, transcriptional program, metabolism, and the epigenetics of the adaptive immune cells. In addition, viral escape mutations contribute to the failure of adaptive antiviral immunity. Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) can mediate HCV clearance in almost all patients with chronic HCV infection, however, defects in adaptive immune cell populations remain, only limited functional memory is obtained and reinfection of cured individuals is possible. Thus, to avoid potential reinfection and achieve global elimination of HCV infections, a prophylactic vaccine is needed. Recent vaccine trials could induce HCV-specific immunity but failed to protect from persistent infection. Thus, lessons from natural protection from persistent infection, DAA-mediated cure, and non-protective vaccination trials might lead the way to successful vaccination strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Kemming
- Department of Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79102 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (J.K.); (R.T.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79102 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (J.K.); (R.T.)
| | - Christoph Neumann-Haefelin
- Department of Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79102 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (J.K.); (R.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-761-270-32800
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Optimized Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) E2 Glycoproteins and their Immunogenicity in Combination with MVA-HCV. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030440. [PMID: 32764419 PMCID: PMC7563715 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030440] [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: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a major global health challenge and an efficient vaccine is urgently needed. Many HCV vaccination strategies employ recombinant versions of the viral E2 glycoprotein. However, recombinant E2 readily forms disulfide-bonded aggregates that might not be optimally suited for vaccines. Therefore, we have designed an E2 protein in which we strategically changed eight cysteines to alanines (E2.C8A). E2.C8A formed predominantly monomers and virtually no aggregates. Furthermore, E2.C8A also interacted more efficiently with broadly neutralizing antibodies than conventional E2. We used mice to evaluate different prime/boost immunization strategies involving a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing the nearly full-length genome of HCV (MVA-HCV) in combination with either the E2 aggregates or the E2.C8A monomers. The combined MVA-HCV/E2 aggregates prime/boost strategy markedly enhanced HCV-specific effector memory CD4+ T cell responses and antibody levels compared to MVA-HCV/MVA-HCV. Moreover, the aggregated form of E2 induced higher levels of anti-E2 antibodies in vaccinated mice than E2.C8A monomers. These antibodies were cross-reactive and mainly of the IgG1 isotype. Our findings revealed how two E2 viral proteins that differ in their capacity to form aggregates are able to enhance to different extent the HCV-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, either alone or in combination with MVA-HCV. These combined protocols of MVA-HCV/E2 could serve as a basis for the development of a more effective HCV vaccine.
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SARS-CoV-2 will constantly sweep its tracks: a vaccine containing CpG motifs in 'lasso' for the multi-faced virus. Inflamm Res 2020; 69:801-812. [PMID: 32656668 PMCID: PMC7354743 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-020-01377-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the global ratio between the dead and the survivors is approximately 1 to 10, which has put humanity on high alert and provided strong motivation for the intensive search for vaccines and drugs. It is already clear that if we follow the most likely scenario, which is similar to that used to create seasonal influenza vaccines, then we will need to develop improved vaccine formulas every year to control the spread of the new, highly mutable coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In this article, using well-known RNA viruses (HIV, influenza viruses, HCV) as examples, we consider the main successes and failures in creating primarily highly effective vaccines. The experience accumulated dealing with the biology of zoonotic RNA viruses suggests that the fight against COVID-19 will be difficult and lengthy. The most effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 will be those able to form highly effective memory cells for both humoral (memory B cells) and cellular (cross-reactive antiviral memory T cells) immunity. Unfortunately, RNA viruses constantly sweep their tracks and perhaps one of the most promising solutions in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is the creation of 'universal' vaccines based on conservative SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences (antigen-presenting) and unmethylated CpG dinucleotides (adjuvant) in the composition of the phosphorothioate backbone of single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides (ODN), which can be effective for long periods of use. Here, we propose a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine based on a lasso-like phosphorothioate oligonucleotide construction containing CpG motifs and the antigen-presenting unique ACG-containing genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2. We found that CpG dinucleotides are the most rare dinucleotides in the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 and other known human coronaviruses, and hypothesized that their higher frequency could be responsible for the unwanted increased lethality to the host, causing a ‘cytokine storm’ in people who overexpress cytokines through the activation of specific Toll-like receptors in a manner similar to TLR9-CpG ODN interactions. Interestingly, the virus strains sequenced in China (Wuhan) in February 2020 contained on average one CpG dinucleotide more in their genome than the later strains from the USA (New York) sequenced in May 2020. Obviously, during the first steps of the microevolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population, natural selection tends to select viral genomes containing fewer CpG motifs that do not trigger a strong innate immune response, so the infected person has moderate symptoms and spreads SARS-CoV-2 more readily. However, in our opinion, unmethylated CpG dinucleotides are also capable of preparing the host immune system for the coronavirus infection and should be present in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as strong adjuvants.
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Han JW, Sung PS, Hong SH, Lee H, Koh JY, Lee H, White S, Maslow JN, Weiner DB, Park SH, Jeong M, Heo J, Ahn SH, Shin EC. IFNL3-adjuvanted HCV DNA vaccine reduces regulatory T cell frequency and increases virus-specific T cell responses. J Hepatol 2020; 73:72-83. [PMID: 32088322 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Although direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment results in a sustained virologic response (SVR) in most patients with chronic HCV infection, they are at risk of re-infection. Moreover, the immune system is not completely normalized even after SVR (e.g. increased regulatory T [Treg] cell frequency). We developed a DNA vaccine, GLS-6150, to prevent re-infection of patients with DAA-induced SVR and evaluated its safety and immunogenicity in individuals with chronic HCV infection. METHODS GLS-6150 consists of plasmids encoding HCV non-structural proteins (NS3-NS5A) and adjuvant IFNL3. The vaccine was administered 4 times at 4-weekly intervals to 3 groups (1, 3, or 6 mg/vaccination; n = 6 per group), followed by a 6 mg boost at 24 weeks (n = 14). Peripheral blood T cell responses were evaluated by interferon (IFN)-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assays, intracellular cytokine staining, and major histocompatibility complex class-I (MHC-I) dextramer staining. Treg cell frequency was assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Severe adverse events or vaccine discontinuation were not reported. The IFN-γ spot-forming cells specific to NS3-NS5A were increased by GLS-6150. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells produced multiple cytokines. However, the frequency and phenotype of HCV-specific MHC-I dextramer+CD8+ T cells were not changed. Interestingly, the frequency of Treg cells, particularly activated Treg cells, was decreased by GLS-6150, as expected from previous reports that IFNL3 adjuvants decrease Treg cell frequency. Ex vivo IFN-λ3 treatment reduced Treg frequency in pre-vaccination peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Finally, Treg cell frequency inversely correlated with HCV-specific, IFN-γ-producing T cell responses in the study participants. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that GLS-6150 decreases Treg cell frequency and enhances HCV-specific T cell responses without significant side effects. A phase I clinical trial of GLS-6150 is currently underway in patients with DAA-induced SVR. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER NCT02027116. LAY SUMMARY Although direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are successfully used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a prophylactic HCV vaccine needs to be developed, especially for patients who achieve a sustained virologic response. In the current study, we show that a DNA vaccine (GLS-6150) was safe and increased HCV-specific T cell responses. A clinical trial is underway to test this vaccine in patients with a sustained virologic response following DAA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Won Han
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Pil Soo Sung
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, 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
| | - Hoyoung Lee
- Biomedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - June Young Koh
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyojin Lee
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 06060, Republic of Korea
| | - Scott White
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, USA
| | - Joel N Maslow
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 06060, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Su-Hyung Park
- 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
| | - Moonsup Jeong
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 06060, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Heo
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang Hoon Ahn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, 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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Han JW, Sung PS, Kim KH, Hong SH, Shin EC, Jun Song M, Park SH. Dynamic Changes in Ex Vivo T-Cell Function After Viral Clearance in Chronic HCV Infection. J Infect Dis 2020; 220:1290-1301. [PMID: 31152667 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents can successfully treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the ex vivo HCV-specific T-cell function following viral clearance remains unknown. METHODS We investigated functional alterations and phenotypic changes in ex vivo HCV-specific CD8+ T cells with a longitudinal analysis of 41 patients with chronic HCV infection who were undergoing DAA treatment. RESULTS A patient subset exhibited a significantly increased T-cell response (mainly CD8+ T cells) at week 4 of treatment. However, this increased T-cell response diminished in later weeks. Relative to pretreatment levels, the ex vivo HCV-specific CD8+ T-cell frequency decreased at 12 weeks after the end of treatment, along with a decreased antigen-experienced CD8+ T-cell population. DAA treatment increased the proliferative capacity of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells, but this change was not correlated with ex vivo function. Patients experiencing viral breakthrough or relapse exhibited defective restoration of T-cell function. CONCLUSION Our present results indicated that DAA-mediated viral clearance only transiently restored ex vivo T-cell function, suggesting a need to enhance T-cell function in DAA-treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Won Han
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Pil Soo Sung
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,The Catholic University Liver Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hwan Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Hui Hong
- Biomedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Biomedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Jun Song
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Daejeon St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Hyung Park
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Biomedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Goto K, Roca Suarez AA, Wrensch F, Baumert TF, Lupberger J. Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: When the Host Loses Its Grip. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093057. [PMID: 32357520 PMCID: PMC7246584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Novel treatments with direct-acting antivirals achieve high rates of sustained virologic response; however, the HCC risk remains elevated in cured patients, especially those with advanced liver disease. Long-term HCV infection causes a persistent and accumulating damage of the liver due to a combination of direct and indirect pro-oncogenic mechanisms. This review describes the processes involved in virus-induced disease progression by viral proteins, derailed signaling, immunity, and persistent epigenetic deregulation, which may be instrumental to develop urgently needed prognostic biomarkers and as targets for novel chemopreventive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaku Goto
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Armando Andres Roca Suarez
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Florian Wrensch
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Pôle Hépato-digestif, Institut Hopitalo-Universitaire, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, F-75231 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (T.F.B.); (J.L.); Tel.: +33-3-68-85-37-03 (T.F.B. & J.L.); Fax: +33-3-68-85-37-24 (T.F.B. & J.L.)
| | - Joachim Lupberger
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Correspondence: (T.F.B.); (J.L.); Tel.: +33-3-68-85-37-03 (T.F.B. & J.L.); Fax: +33-3-68-85-37-24 (T.F.B. & J.L.)
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He L, Tzarum N, Lin X, Shapero B, Sou C, Mann CJ, Stano A, Zhang L, Nagy K, Giang E, Law M, Wilson IA, Zhu J. Proof of concept for rational design of hepatitis C virus E2 core nanoparticle vaccines. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz6225. [PMID: 32494617 PMCID: PMC7159917 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz6225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2 are responsible for cell entry, with E2 being the major target of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Here, we present a comprehensive strategy for B cell-based HCV vaccine development through E2 optimization and nanoparticle display. We redesigned variable region 2 in a truncated form (tVR2) on E2 cores derived from genotypes 1a and 6a, resulting in improved stability and antigenicity. Crystal structures of three optimized E2 cores with human cross-genotype NAbs (AR3s) revealed how the modified tVR2 stabilizes E2 without altering key neutralizing epitopes. We then displayed these E2 cores on 24- and 60-meric nanoparticles and achieved substantial yield and purity, as well as enhanced antigenicity. In mice, these nanoparticles elicited more effective NAb responses than soluble E2 cores. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) defined distinct B cell patterns associated with nanoparticle-induced antibody responses, which target the conserved neutralizing epitopes on E2 and cross-neutralize HCV genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linling He
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Netanel Tzarum
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Xiaohe Lin
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Benjamin Shapero
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Cindy Sou
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Colin J Mann
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Armando Stano
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kenna Nagy
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Erick Giang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ian A Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jiang Zhu
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Del-Rios NHA, de Araujo LA, Martins RMB, Guimarães RA, de Matos MAD, Caetano KAA, Pinheiro RS, da Silva França DD, da Silva LN, Teles SA, Dos Santos Carneiro MA. Molecular and epidemiological aspects of hepatitis C virus infection among crack cocaine users. J Med Virol 2019; 92:1239-1245. [PMID: 31746475 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25632] [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: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The aim is to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes/subtypes among crack users in-treatment in Central Brazil. A cross-sectional survey in which 600 in-treatment crack users were interviewed and tested for anti-HCV Ab by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted between August 2012 and April 2013. Anti-HCV-positive samples were also submitted for HCV RNA detection by polymerase chain reaction. Positive HCV RNA samples were genotyped by direct sequencing analysis of the NS5B region of the viral genome, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Of the total, 3.7% (95.0% CI, 2.4%-5.6%) were anti-HCV positive. Age over 40 years and history of injecting drugs were risk factors for HCV, while snorting cocaine was a protector variable. HCV RNA was detected in 14 of 22 anti-HCV-positive samples, and the genotypes 1 (n = 10) and 3 (n = 2), subtypes 1a (n = 7), 1b (n = 3), and 3a (n = 2) were identified. The HCV prevalence found among crack users is almost threefold that observed in the general population in Brazil supporting that this population is at higher risk for HCV. The findings of cocaine insufflation as a protective behavior for HCV infection in this population should be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rafael Alves Guimarães
- Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiás, Brazil
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Dawood RM, Moustafa RI, Abdelhafez TH, El-Shenawy R, El-Abd Y, Bader El Din NG, Dubuisson J, El Awady MK. A multiepitope peptide vaccine against HCV stimulates neutralizing humoral and persistent cellular responses in mice. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:932. [PMID: 31690267 PMCID: PMC6833294 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4571-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although DAAs hold promise to significantly reduce rates of chronic HCV infections, its eradication still requires development of an effective vaccine. Prolonged T cell responses and cross neutralizing antibodies are ideal for vaccination against the infection. We aimed to design and synthesize a 6 multi epitope peptide vaccine candidate and provide evidence for production of extended cellular and neutralizing Abs in mice. METHODS Six peptides derived from conserved epitopes in E1, E2 (n = 2),NS4B, NS5A and NS5B were designed, synthesized in a multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) form and administered w/o adjuvant to BALB/c mice as HCVp6-MAP at doses ranging from 800 ng to 16 μg. Humoral responses to structural epitopes were assayed by ELISA at different times after injection. ELISpot assay was used to evaluate IFN ɣ producing CD4+/ CD8+ T- lymphocytes at extended durations i.e. > 20 weeks. Viral neutralization by mice sera was tested for genotypes 2a (JFH1) and a chimeric 2a/4a virus (ED43/JFH1) in HCVcc culture. RESULTS HCVp6-MAP confers potent viral neutralization and specific cellular responses at > 1600 ng/ animal for at least 20 weeks. CONCLUSION We report on a promising anti HCV vaccine for future studies on permissive hosts and in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham M Dawood
- Micrbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, 33 Tahrir street, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt.
| | - Rehab I Moustafa
- Micrbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, 33 Tahrir street, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL- Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Tawfeek H Abdelhafez
- Micrbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, 33 Tahrir street, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Reem El-Shenawy
- Micrbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, 33 Tahrir street, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Yasmine El-Abd
- Micrbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, 33 Tahrir street, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Noha G Bader El Din
- Micrbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, 33 Tahrir street, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Jean Dubuisson
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL- Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Mostafa K El Awady
- Micrbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, 33 Tahrir street, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
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CD40 polymorphisms were associated with HCV infection susceptibility among Chinese population. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:840. [PMID: PMID: 31615434 PMCID: PMC6792238 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4482-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background CD40, encoded by TNFRSF5, participates in the survival of B cells, process of antigen presentation and generation of CD8+ T cell memory. It also has an important effect on HCV antiviral immune response. This study aims to investigate whether TNFRSF5 gene polymorphisms are associated with HCV infection outcomes among Chinese population. Methods Three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) (rs1535045, rs1883832, rs4810485) on TNFRSF5 were genotyped by TaqMan assay among Chinese population, including 1513 uninfected subjects, 496 spontaneous viral clearance subjects and 768 persistent HCV-infected subjects. Logistic analysis was used to compare these SNPs among different groups in this cross-sectional study. Functional annotations of the identified SNPs were further evaluated by bioinformatics analysis. Results After adjusted by age, gender and routes of infection, the results of logistic analysis indicated that individuals carrying rs1535045 T allele had a higher risk to infect HCV compared with C allele (in recessive model, adjusted OR = 1.368, 95%CI = 1.070-1.749, P = 0.012). Subjects carried rs1535045 TT genotype were more likely to infect HCV than wild CC genotype (adjusted OR = 1.397, 95%CI = 1.078-1.809, P = 0.011). For rs1883832, T allele was significantly associated with an increased risk of HCV infection (in recessive model, adjusted OR = 1.337, 95%CI = 1.069-1.673, P = 0.011). Subjects with TT genotype had more possibility to infect HCV (adjusted OR = 1.351, 95%CI = 1.060-1.702, P = 0.015). In the stratified analysis, rs1535045 and rs1883832 were remained in various subgroups and the heterogeneity test showed no pronounced heterogeneity in any pairwise comparison (all P > 0.05). In addition, the results of the cumulative effects showed a tendency of that the more risk alleles (rs1535045 T and rs1883832 T) subjects carried, the more possibility of HCV infection exhibited (P<0.001). In haplotype analyses, compared with the CC haplotype, CT, TC and TT was correlated with an increased risk to infect HCV (P = 0.029, P = 0.047 and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions In conclusion, CD40 polymorphisms were significantly associated with the susceptibility to HCV among Chinese populations.
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A DNA Vaccine Expressing Fusion Protein E2-NT(gp96) Induces Hepatitis C Virus Cross-Neutralizing Antibody in BALB/c Mice. HEPATITIS MONTHLY 2019. [DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.96347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
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Thomas E, Baumert TF. Hepatitis B Virus-Hepatocyte Interactions and Innate Immune Responses: Experimental Models and Molecular Mechanisms. Semin Liver Dis 2019; 39:301-314. [PMID: 31266064 PMCID: PMC7377277 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1685518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of liver disease and cancer worldwide. While current therapeutic approaches can efficiently control viral infection, efficient curative antivirals are absent. The understanding of virus-hepatocyte interactions and sensing of viral infection is an important prerequisite for the development of novel antiviral therapies for cure. Hepatocyte intrinsic innate immunity provides a rapid first line of defense to combat viral infection through the upregulation of antiviral and inflammatory genes. However, the functional relevance of many of these antiviral signaling pathways in the liver and their role in HBV pathogenesis is still only partially understood. The recent identification of intracellular RNA and DNA sensing pathways and their involvement in disease biology, including viral pathogenesis and carcinogenesis, is currently transforming our understanding of virus-host interactions. Here the authors review the current knowledge on intrinsic antiviral innate immune responses including the role of viral nucleic acid sensing pathways in the liver. Since HBV has been designated as a "stealth virus," the study of the impact of HBV on signaling pathways in the hepatocyte is of significant interest to understand viral pathogenesis. Characterizing the mechanism underlying these HBV-host interactions and targeting related pathways to enhance antiviral innate responses may open new strategies to trigger noncytopathic clearance of covalently closed circular DNA to ultimately cure patients with chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Thomas
- Schiff Center for Liver Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France,Laboratory of Excellence HEPSYS, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France,Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle hépato-digestif, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg, France
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Alizadeh S, Irani S, Bolhassani A, Sadat SM. Simultaneous use of natural adjuvants and cell penetrating peptides improves HCV NS3 antigen-specific immune responses. Immunol Lett 2019; 212:70-80. [PMID: 31254535 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
To improve an effective hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapeutic vaccine, induction of a strong and long term HCV antigen-specific immune response is an important parameter. HCV non-structural protein 3 (NS3) has antigenic properties and plays a major role in viral clearance. In this study, DNA constructs encoding HCV NS3 and heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27)-NS3 genes, and the recombinant (r) NS3 and rHsp27-NS3 proteins complexed with HR9 and Cady-2 cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) were utilized to evaluate antibody, cytokine and Granzyme B secretion in mice. Herein, the formation of NS3 and Hsp27-NS3 DNA/ HR9 CPP complexes were revealed by gel retardation assay and protection against DNase and protease. Cady-2 peptide was used to form the nanoparticles with rNS3 and rHsp27-NS3 proteins. The size and charge of the nanoparticles were confirmed by SEM and Zetasizer instruments. Next, in vitro transfection of the nanoparticles was assessed by flow cytometry and western blotting. Finally, humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated using different modalities in mice. Our data showed that HR9 and Cady-2 could form stable nanoparticles with DNA and proteins, respectively and enhance their delivery into HEK-293 T cells in a non-covalent approach. Furthermore, the heterologous Hsp27-NS3 DNA + HR9 prime/rHsp27-NS3+Cady-2 protein boost elicited a higher Th1 cellular immune response with a predominant IgG2a, IgG2b, IFN-γ profile and strong Granzyme B secretion than those induced by other groups. Briefly, the combination of a natural adjuvant (Hsp27) and CPPs (HR9 and Cady-2) could significantly stimulate effective immune responses as a promising approach for development of HCV therapeutic vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Alizadeh
- Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shiva Irani
- Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Seyed Mehdi Sadat
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Wu BR, Eltahla AA, Keoshkerian E, Walker MR, Underwood A, Brasher NA, Agapiou D, Lloyd AR, Bull RA. A method for detecting hepatitis C envelope specific memory B cells from multiple genotypes using cocktail E2 tetramers. J Immunol Methods 2019; 472:65-74. [PMID: 31226262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2019.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a rapidly mutating RNA virus, with a strong propensity to cause chronic infection and progressive liver disease. Recent evidence has shown that early appearance of neutralizing antibodies in primary infection is associated with clearance. Little is known about the characteristics of HCV-specific B cells and their correlation with outcomes in primary infection, as there is a lack of sensitive tools for HCV-specific B cells which are present at very low frequency. We describe the development and optimisation of tetramer staining for flow cytometric detection of HCV-specific B cells using a cocktail of two recombinant HCV Envelope-2 (rE2) glycoproteins (from genotype 1a and 3a; Gt1a and Gt3a) and streptavidin dyes. The optimal weight to weight (w/w) ratio of streptavidin-phycoerythrin (PE) and rE2 proteins were determined for sensitive detection using HCV E2-specific hybridoma cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HCV-infected individuals. In a cross-sectional set of PBMC samples collected from 33 subjects with either chronic infection or previous clearance, HCV E2-specific B cells (CD19+CD20+CD10-IgD-tetramer+) were detected in 29 subjects (87.8%), with a mean frequency of 0.45% (0.012-2.20%). To validate the specificity of tetramer staining, 367 HCV E2-specific B cells were single cell sorted from 9 PBMC samples before monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were synthesised, with 87.5% being reactive to E2 via ELISA. Of these mAbs, 284 and 246 clones were reactive to either Gt1a or Gt3a E2 proteins, respectively. This is a sensitive and robust method for future studies investigating B cell responses against the HCV Envelope protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Ru Wu
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Auda A Eltahla
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Keoshkerian
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Melanie R Walker
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Alex Underwood
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Brasher
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - David Agapiou
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Andrew R Lloyd
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Rowena A Bull
- School of Medical Sciences and the Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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Chigbu DI, Loonawat R, Sehgal M, Patel D, Jain P. Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Host⁻Virus Interaction and Mechanisms of Viral Persistence. Cells 2019; 8:cells8040376. [PMID: 31027278 PMCID: PMC6523734 DOI: 10.3390/cells8040376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease, in which a third of individuals with chronic HCV infections may develop liver cirrhosis. In a chronic HCV infection, host immune factors along with the actions of HCV proteins that promote viral persistence and dysregulation of the immune system have an impact on immunopathogenesis of HCV-induced hepatitis. The genome of HCV encodes a single polyprotein, which is translated and processed into structural and nonstructural proteins. These HCV proteins are the target of the innate and adaptive immune system of the host. Retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors and Toll-like receptors are the main pattern recognition receptors that recognize HCV pathogen-associated molecular patterns. This interaction results in a downstream cascade that generates antiviral cytokines including interferons. The cytolysis of HCV-infected hepatocytes is mediated by perforin and granzyme B secreted by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells, whereas noncytolytic HCV clearance is mediated by interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secreted by CTL and NK cells. A host-HCV interaction determines whether the acute phase of an HCV infection will undergo complete resolution or progress to the development of viral persistence with a consequential progression to chronic HCV infection. Furthermore, these host-HCV interactions could pose a challenge to developing an HCV vaccine. This review will focus on the role of the innate and adaptive immunity in HCV infection, the failure of the immune response to clear an HCV infection, and the factors that promote viral persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- DeGaulle I Chigbu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
- Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, Elkins Park, PA 19027, USA.
| | - Ronak Loonawat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
| | - Mohit Sehgal
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Dip Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
| | - Pooja Jain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
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Hepatitis C Virus Genetic Variability, Human Immune Response, and Genome Polymorphisms: Which Is the Interplay? Cells 2019; 8:cells8040305. [PMID: 30987134 PMCID: PMC6523096 DOI: 10.3390/cells8040305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the main cause of chronic hepatitis, affecting an estimated 150 million people worldwide. Initial exposure to HCV is most often followed by chronic hepatitis, with only a minority of individuals spontaneously clearing the virus. The induction of sustained and broadly directed HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, together with neutralizing antibodies (nAb), and specific genetic polymorphism have been associated with spontaneous resolution of the infection. However, due to its high variability, HCV is able to overwhelm the host immune response through the rapid acquisition of mutations in the epitopes targeted by T cells and neutralizing antibodies. In this context, immune-mediated pressure represents the main force in driving HCV evolution. This review summarizes the data on HCV diversity and the current state of knowledge about the contributions of antibodies, T cells, and host genetic polymorphism in driving HCV evolution in vivo.
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Vergara C, Thio CL, Johnson E, Kral AH, O'Brien TR, Goedert JJ, Mangia A, Piazzolla V, Mehta SH, Kirk GD, Kim AY, Lauer GM, Chung RT, Cox AL, Peters MG, Khakoo SI, Alric L, Cramp ME, Donfield SM, Edlin BR, Busch MP, Alexander G, Rosen HR, Murphy EL, Latanich R, Wojcik GL, Taub MA, Valencia A, Thomas DL, Duggal P. Multi-Ancestry Genome-Wide Association Study of Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus. Gastroenterology 2019; 156:1496-1507.e7. [PMID: 30593799 PMCID: PMC6788806 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurs in approximately 30% of infected persons and less often in populations of African ancestry. Variants in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and in interferon lambda genes are associated with spontaneous HCV clearance, but there have been few studies of these variants in persons of African ancestry. We performed a dense multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of spontaneous clearance of HCV, focusing on individuals of African ancestry. METHODS We performed genotype analyses of 4423 people from 3 ancestry groups: 2201 persons of African ancestry (445 with HCV clearance and 1756 with HCV persistence), 1739 persons of European ancestry (701 with HCV clearance and 1036 with HCV persistence), and 486 multi-ancestry Hispanic persons (173 with HCV clearance and 313 with HCV persistence). Samples were genotyped using Illumina (San Diego, CA) arrays and statistically imputed to the 1000 Genomes Project. For each ancestry group, the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms with HCV clearance was tested by log-additive analysis, and then a meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS In the meta-analysis, significant associations with HCV clearance were confirmed at the interferon lambda gene locus IFNL4-IFNL3 (19q13.2) (P = 5.99 × 10-50) and the MHC locus 6p21.32 (P = 1.15 × 10-21). We also associated HCV clearance with polymorphisms in the G-protein-coupled receptor 158 gene (GPR158) at 10p12.1 (P = 1.80 × 10-07). These 3 loci had independent, additive effects of HCV clearance, and account for 6.8% and 5.9% of the variance of HCV clearance in persons of European and African ancestry, respectively. Persons of African or European ancestry carrying all 6 variants were 24-fold and 11-fold, respectively, more likely to clear HCV infection compared with individuals carrying none or 1 of the clearance-associated variants. CONCLUSIONS In a meta-analysis of data from 3 studies, we found variants in MHC genes, IFNL4-IFNL3, and GPR158 to increase odds of HCV clearance in patients of European and African ancestry. These findings could increase our understanding of immune response to and clearance of HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chloe L Thio
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Eric Johnson
- Research Triangle Institute International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California
| | - Alex H Kral
- Research Triangle Institute International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California
| | - Thomas R O'Brien
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - James J Goedert
- Liver Unit Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Mangia
- Liver Unit Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Valeria Piazzolla
- Liver Unit Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Shruti H Mehta
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gregory D Kirk
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Arthur Y Kim
- Liver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Georg M Lauer
- Liver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Raymond T Chung
- Liver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrea L Cox
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Marion G Peters
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Salim I Khakoo
- University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
| | - Laurent Alric
- Department of Internal Medicine and Digestive Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Purpan, UMR 152, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement Toulouse 3 University, France
| | | | | | - Brian R Edlin
- State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Michael P Busch
- University of California and Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California
| | - Graeme Alexander
- University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, The Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Edward L Murphy
- University of California and Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California
| | - Rachel Latanich
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Genevieve L Wojcik
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Margaret A Taub
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ana Valencia
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin, Colombia
| | - David L Thomas
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Priya Duggal
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
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50
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Potent Anti-hepatitis C Virus (HCV) T Cell Immune Responses Induced in Mice Vaccinated with DNA-Launched RNA Replicons and Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara-HCV. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.00055-19. [PMID: 30674625 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00055-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) affecting 71 million people worldwide with no licensed vaccines that prevent infection. Here, we have generated four novel alphavirus-based DNA-launched self-amplifying RNA replicon (DREP) vaccines expressing either structural core-E1-E2 or nonstructural p7-NS2-NS3 HCV proteins of genotype 1a placed under the control of an alphavirus promoter, with or without an alphaviral translational enhancer (grouped as DREP-HCV or DREP-e-HCV, respectively). DREP vectors are known to induce cross-priming and further stimulation of immune responses through apoptosis, and here we demonstrate that they efficiently trigger apoptosis-related proteins in transfected cells. Immunization of mice with the DREP vaccines as the priming immunization followed by a heterologous boost with a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector expressing the nearly full-length genome of HCV (MVA-HCV) induced potent and long-lasting HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune responses that were significantly stronger than those of a homologous MVA-HCV prime/boost immunization, with the DREP-e-HCV/MVA-HCV combination the most immunogenic regimen. HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were highly polyfunctional, had an effector memory phenotype, and were mainly directed against E1-E2 and NS2-NS3, respectively. Additionally, DREP/MVA-HCV immunization regimens induced higher antibody levels against HCV E2 protein than homologous MVA-HCV immunization. Collectively, these results provided an immunization protocol against HCV by inducing high levels of HCV-specific T cell responses as well as humoral responses. These findings reinforce the combined use of DREP-based vectors and MVA-HCV as promising prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against HCV.IMPORTANCE HCV represents a global health problem as more than 71 million people are chronically infected worldwide. Direct-acting antiviral agents can cure HCV infection in most patients, but due to the high cost of these agents and the emergence of resistant mutants, they do not represent a feasible and affordable strategy to eradicate the virus. Therefore, a vaccine is an urgent goal that requires efforts to understand the correlates of protection for HCV clearance. Here, we describe for the first time the generation of novel vaccines against HCV based on alphavirus DNA replicons expressing HCV antigens. We demonstrate that potent T cell immune responses, as well as humoral immune responses, against HCV can be achieved in mice by using a combined heterologous prime/boost immunization protocol consisting of the administration of alphavirus replicon DNA vectors as the priming immunization followed by a boost with a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara vector expressing HCV antigens.
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