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Nakanishi A, Okumura H, Hashita T, Yamashita A, Nishimura Y, Watanabe C, Kamimura S, Hayashi S, Murakami S, Ito K, Iwao T, Ikeda A, Hirose T, Sunazuka T, Tanaka Y, Matsunaga T. Ivermectin Inhibits HBV Entry into the Nucleus by Suppressing KPNA2. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112468. [PMID: 36366568 PMCID: PMC9695645 DOI: 10.3390/v14112468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) specifically infects human hepatocytes and increases the risks of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Currently, nucleic acid analogs are the main therapeutics for chronic hepatitis caused by HBV infection. Although nucleic acid analogs can eliminate HBV DNA by inhibiting HBV reverse transcriptase, they cannot lead to negative conversion of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). In this study, we revealed that the antifilarial drug ivermectin suppresses HBV production by a different mechanism from the nucleic acid analog entecavir or Na+ taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide-mediated entry inhibitor cyclosporin A. Ivermectin reduced the levels of several HBV markers, including HBsAg, in HBV-infected human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cells) and humanized mouse hepatocytes (PXB hepatocytes). In addition, ivermectin significantly decreased the expression of HBV core protein and the nuclear transporter karyopherin α2 (KPNA2) in the nuclei of HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cells. Furthermore, depletion of KPNA1-6 suppressed the production of cccDNA. These results suggest that KPNA1-6 is involved in the nuclear import of HBV and that ivermectin suppresses the nuclear import of HBV by inhibiting KPNA2. This study demonstrates the potential of ivermectin as a novel treatment for hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Nakanishi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroki Okumura
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Tadahiro Hashita
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
- Educational Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.H.); (Y.T.)
| | - Aya Yamashita
- Educational Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Yuka Nishimura
- Educational Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Chihiro Watanabe
- Educational Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Sakina Kamimura
- Educational Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Sanae Hayashi
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Shuko Murakami
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Kyoko Ito
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Takahiro Iwao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
- Educational Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Akari Ikeda
- Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Tomoyasu Hirose
- Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Sunazuka
- Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Tanaka
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.H.); (Y.T.)
| | - Tamihide Matsunaga
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
- Educational Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
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Makbul C, Khayenko V, Maric HM, Böttcher B. Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion Phenotype. Microorganisms 2021; 9:956. [PMID: 33946808 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus is a major human pathogen, which forms enveloped virus particles. During viral maturation, membrane-bound hepatitis B surface proteins package hepatitis B core protein capsids. This process is intercepted by certain peptides with an “LLGRMKG” motif that binds to the capsids at the tips of dimeric spikes. With microcalorimetry, electron cryo microscopy and peptide microarray-based screens, we have characterized the structural and thermodynamic properties of peptide binding to hepatitis B core protein capsids with different secretion phenotypes. The peptide “GSLLGRMKGA” binds weakly to hepatitis B core protein capsids and mutant capsids with a premature (F97L) or low-secretion phenotype (L60V and P5T). With electron cryo microscopy, we provide novel structures for L60V and P5T and demonstrate that binding occurs at the tips of the spikes at the dimer interface, splaying the helices apart independent of the secretion phenotype. Peptide array screening identifies “SLLGRM” as the core binding motif. This shortened motif binds only to one of the two spikes in the asymmetric unit of the capsid and induces a much smaller conformational change. Altogether, these comprehensive studies suggest that the tips of the spikes act as an autonomous binding platform that is unaffected by mutations that affect secretion phenotypes.
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Hou Y, Yan T, Cao H, Liu P, Zheng K, Li Z, Deng Q, Hu S. Chimeric hepatitis B virus core particles displaying Neisserial surface protein A confer protection against virulent Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in BALB/c mice. Int J Nanomedicine 2019; 14:6601-6613. [PMID: 31496701 PMCID: PMC6702424 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s206210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The primary goal of the present study was to explore and evaluate the highly conserved Neisserial surface protein A (NspA) molecule, fused with truncated HBV virus-like particles (VLPs), as a candidate vaccine against the virulent Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (NMB). Methods NspA was inserted into the major immunodominant region of the truncated hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc; amino acids 1–144). The chimeric protein, HBc-N144-NspA, was expressed from a prokaryotic vector and generated HBc-like particles, as determined by transmission electron microscopy. Further, the chimeric protein and control proteins were used to immunize mice and the resulting immune responses evaluated by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and analysis of serum bactericidal activity (SBA) titer. Results Evaluation of the immunogenicity of the recombinant HBc-N144-NspA protein showed that it elicited the production of high levels of NspA-specific total IgG. The SBA titer of HBc-N144-NspA/F reached 1:16 2 weeks after the last immunization in BALB/c mice, when human serum complement was included in the vaccine. Immunization of HBc-N144-NspA, even without adjuvant, induced high levels of IL-4 and a high IgG1 to IgG2a ratio, confirming induction of an intense Th2 immune response. Levels of IL-17A increased rapidly in mice after the first immunization with HBc-N144-NspA, indicating the potential for this vaccine to induce a mucosal immune response. Meanwhile, the immunization of HBc-N144-NspA without adjuvant induced only mild inflammatory infiltration into the mouse muscle tissue. Conclusion This study demonstrates that modification using HBc renders NspA a candidate vaccine, which can trigger protective immunity against NMB.
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Affiliation(s)
- YongLi Hou
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Yan
- Department of Health Services, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Cao
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Liu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Kang Zheng
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Deng
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - SiHai Hu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
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