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Sumiyadorj A, Murai K, Shimakami T, Kuroki K, Nishikawa T, Kakuya M, Yamada A, Wang Y, Ishida A, Shirasaki T, Kawase S, Li YY, Okada H, Nio K, Kawaguchi K, Yamashita T, Sakai Y, Duger D, Mizukoshi E, Honda M, Kaneko S. A single hepatitis B virus genome with a reporter allows the entire viral life cycle to be monitored in primary human hepatocytes. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:2441-2454. [PMID: 35691027 PMCID: PMC9426382 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
For the development of antiviral agents to eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV), it is essential to establish an HBV cell culture system that can easily monitor HBV infection. Here, we created a novel HBV infection monitoring system using a luminescent 11-amino acid reporter, the high-affinity subunit of nano-luciferase binary technology (HiBiT). The HiBiT-coding sequence was inserted at the N-terminus of preS1 in a 1.2-fold plasmid encoding a genotype C HBV genome. After transfection of HepG2 cells with this HiBiT-containing plasmid, the supernatant was used to prepare a recombinant cell culture-derived virus (HiBiT-HBVcc). Primary human hepatocytes (PXB) were inoculated with HiBiT-HBVcc. Following inoculation, intracellular and extracellular HiBiT activity and the levels of various HBV markers were determined. Reinfection of naive PXB cells with HiBiT-HBVcc prepared from HiBiT-HBVcc-infected PXB cells was analyzed. When PXB cells were infected with HiBiT-HBVcc at several titers, extracellular HiBiT activity was detected in a viral titer-dependent manner and was correlated with intracellular HiBiT activity. Inhibitors of HBV entry or replication suppressed extracellular HiBiT activity. Viral DNA, RNA, and proteins were detectable, including covalently closed circular DNA, by Southern blot analysis. The synthesis of relaxed-circular DNA from single-stranded DNA in HiBiT-HBV decreased to one third of that of wild-type HBV, and the infectivity of HiBiT-HBVcc decreased to one tenth of that of wild-type HBVcc. HiBiT-HBVcc prepared from PXB cells harboring HiBiT-HBV was able to infect naive PXB cells. Conclusions: Recombinant HiBiT-HBV can undergo the entire viral life cycle, thus facilitating high-throughput screening for HBV infection in vitro using supernatants. This system will be a powerful tool for developing antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariunaa Sumiyadorj
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Murai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Shimakami
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Kuroki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Tomoki Nishikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Masaki Kakuya
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Atsumu Yamada
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Atsuya Ishida
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Shirasaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shotaro Kawase
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Ying-Yi Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hikari Okada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kouki Nio
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kazunori Kawaguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Taro Yamashita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yoshio Sakai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Davaadorj Duger
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Eishiro Mizukoshi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Masao Honda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shuichi Kaneko
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
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Gan CY, Cui J, Zhang WL, Wang YW, Huang AL, Hu JL. DNA Engineering and Hepatitis B Virus Replication. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:783040. [PMID: 34858381 PMCID: PMC8632529 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.783040] [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: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant DNA technology is a vital method in human hepatitis B virus (HBV), producing reporter viruses or vectors for gene transferring. Researchers have engineered several genes into the HBV genome for different purposes; however, a systematic analysis of recombinant strategy is lacking. Here, using a 500-bp deletion strategy, we scanned the HBV genome and identified two regions, region I (from nt 2,118 to 2,814) and region II (from nt 99 to 1,198), suitable for engineering. Ten exogenous genes, including puromycin N-acetyl transferase gene (Pac), blasticidin S deaminase gene (BSD), Neomycin-resistance gene (Neo), Gaussia luciferase (Gluc), NanoLuc (Nluc), copGFP, mCherry, UnaG, eGFP, and tTA1, were inserted into these two regions and fused into the open reading frames of hepatitis B core protein (HBC) and hepatitis B surface protein (HBS) via T2A peptide. Recombination of 9 of the 10 genes at region 99-1198 and 5 of the 10 genes at region 2118-2814 supported the formation of relaxed circular (RC) DNA. HBV DNA and HBV RNA assays implied that exogenous genes potentially abrogate RC DNA by inducing the formation of adverse secondary structures. This hypothesis was supported because sequence optimization of the UnaG gene based on HBC sequence rescued RC DNA formation. Findings from this study provide an informative basis and a valuable method for further constructing and optimizing recombinant HBV and imply that DNA sequence might be intrinsically a potential source of selective pressure in the evolution of HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yang Gan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Cui
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen-Lu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu-Wei Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Ai-Long Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie-Li Hu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Shen Z, Wu J, Gao Z, Wang J, Zhu H, Mao R, Wang X, Zhang J, Xie Y, Liu J. Characterization of IL-21-expressing recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) as a therapeutic agent targeting persisting HBV infection. Theranostics 2020; 10:5600-5612. [PMID: 32373234 PMCID: PMC7196313 DOI: 10.7150/thno.44715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with high risks of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In mouse models of HBV persistence, interleukin 21 (IL-21) has been identified as a potent inducer of viral clearance. Strict hepatotropism makes recombinant HBV (rHBV) vectors ideal for liver-targeting gene delivery. Previously, we established an rHBV vector termed 5c3c, which is highly replicative by itself, but requires HBV envelope proteins provided in trans to produce virions. 5c3c-based rHBV virions are capable of delivering cargo gene expression driven by HBV Sp1 promoter into infected hepatocytes. In this work, we explore the feasibility of using 5c3c-derived rHBV for liver-specific delivery of IL-21 as treatment of chronic HBV infection. Methods: 5c3c-derived rHBV replicons harboring mouse or human IL-21 genes (termed 5c3c-mIL-21 and 5c3c-hIL-21 respectively) were constructed and then tested for the production of rHBV virions in vitro and in vivo. 5c3c-mIL-21's anti-HBV effects were determined in chronic HBV mouse model. Furthermore, superinfection by rHBV virions was analysed using HBV-infected HepG2/NTCP cells and human liver chimeric mice. Results: 5c3c-mIL-21 and 5c3c-hIL-21 were efficiently replicative and produced enveloped virions when provided with envelope proteins, both in vitro and in vivo. In mouse model of HBV persistence, IL-21 expressed from injected 5c3c-mIL-21 replicon induced complete viral clearance. 5c3c-mIL-21 and 5c3c-hIL-21 virions could infect HepG2/NTCP cells and engender sustained IL-21 expression. Most importantly, IL-21-expressing rHBV virions could superinfect HBV-infected HepG2/NTCP cells and human hepatocytes in human liver chimeric mice, and engender sustained IL-21 expression and rHBV production. Conclusion: These data suggest the high potential of 5c3c-derived IL-21-expressing rHBV as a novel therapeutic against chronic HBV infection.
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The effects of MAPK p38α on AZT resistance against reactivating HIV-1 replication in ACH2 cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2019; 462:41-50. [PMID: 31432386 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-019-03608-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has remarkably decreased HIV-related mortality. However, drug-resistant HIV variants pose a potential threat to the long-term success of ART. Both HIV mutants and host factors can cause HIV drug resistance. Using susceptible ACH2 cells chronically infected with HIV-1, we examined the effects of MAPK p38α on AZT resistance against reactivating HIV-1 replication that can be activated by HIV-1 superinfection. We found that HIV-1 superinfection induced more viral production, which was diminished by p38 inhibitor, SB203580, and by AZT in cells infected with non-AZT-resistant HIV-1 strain MN. p38α expression can resist action of AZT in inhibition of HIV-1 replication with increased expression of transcription factor, NF-ĸBp65, SP1, and c-Fos through activation of TCR-related pathways with upregulation of CD3, TCRα, TCRβ, Zap-70, PKC, PLCγ1, GRB2, and PI3K/Akt expression. In HIV-1 MN superinfection under AZT treatment, expression of p38α led to HIV vif expression and inhibited APOBEC3G expression. We also investigated effects of p38α on gp130/JAK-STAT pathways, in which p38α increased expression of protein, gp130, EGFR, Jak2, STAT1, STAT3, STAT5, ras, and TF. p38α could induce apoptotic pathways with upregulation of Fas, FADD, Caspase-8, p53, and Bax, and downregulation of Bcl2 expression. These results indicate that p38α plays a positive role in reactivation of viral replication from HIV-1 latent infection and leads to HIV-1 AZT resistance. In conclusion, MAPKp38α can activate HIV-1 replication inhibited by AZT from HIV-1 latent infection and may be used as a latency reversal agent. The activation involves induction of several cell signaling pathways that are required for HIV-1 replication, which may be integrated into future viral remission strategies.
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