Inhibition of the hepatitis B virus replication in vitro by an oligodeoxynucleotide containing cytidine-guanosine motifs

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides within specific sequence contexts (CpG motifs) are known as potent activators of the immune system and inducers of several Th1-associated immunomodulatory cytokines. CpG ODNs show promise as vaccine adjuvants and immunoprotective agents in animals. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of D type CpG ODN on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in vitro. The experiments were performed in HepG2 2.2.15 cells, which contain an integrated tandem dimer of the HBV genome and are routinely used for anti-HBV study. HepG2 2.2.15 cells co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) plus CpG ODN for 3 days, remarkably reduced the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg, when compared to cells treated with PBMCs plus non-CpG ODN. The levels of intracellular HBV DNA and HBV mRNA were also decreased. Treatment of HepG2 2.2.15 cells with the culture supernatants of PBMCs activated by CpG ODN can remarkably suppress the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg as compared with that of PBMCs without CpG ODN activation under the same conditions. There were no inhibitory effects on the replication of HBV to be found for CpG ODN treatment alone. These results suggest that CpG ODN can inhibit indirectly HBV replication in vitro via activating the immune cells, and could contribute to the development of an immunoregulator against HBV infection.     

CpG-ODN体外抑制乙型肝炎病毒复制的研究

目的:探讨CpG-ODN体外对HBV复制和HBV抗原表达的抑制作用。方法:CpG-ODN体外刺激人外周血单个核细胞(PBMC),用ELISA检测培养液中IFN-α及IFN-γ的水平。将不同比例的PBMC培养上清与HepG2. 2. 15细胞共孵育 2、4、6、8d后,用ELISA和荧光定量PCR法,分别检测培养上清液中HB sAg、HBeAg和HBVDNA的水平。结果:CpG-ODN可诱导PB MC分泌IFN-α和IFN-γ。CpG-ODN本身虽不能直接抑制HBV的复制,但经刺激活的化的PBMC的培养上清,却能显著抑制 2. 2. 15细胞产生HBsAg、HBeAg和HBVDNA,在培养的第 8天,抑制率最高分别达 90. 8%、31. 3%和 32. 2%。结论:CpG-ODN作为一种新型的免疫调节剂,可诱发机体的免疫效应,抑制HBV复制和HBV抗原的表达。     

Hepatitis B core antigen stimulates interleukin-10 secretion by both T cells and monocytes from peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

In chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, immune responses to hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) are weak. Interleukin (IL)-10 is a potent immunosuppressive cytokine which we reported recently to be secreted in response to HBcAg by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with chronic HBV infection or healthy controls. Using an enzyme-linked immunospot assay, we compared the ability of HBcAg to stimulate IL-10 production by PBMC with that of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phytohaemagglutinin-P and hepatitis C virus-derived antigens in 16 patients with chronic HBV infection and six healthy controls. Frequencies of IL-10 spot-forming cells (SFC) in response to HBcAg were comparable to those obtained with LPS in patients with chronic HBV infection. Frequencies of IL-10 SFC in response to HBcAg or to LPS were significantly higher in patients with chronic HBV infection than in healthy controls. IL-10 SFC in response to HBcAg consisted of 26-35% T cells, 62-70% monocytes and less than 1% B cells in patients with chronic HBV infection. Only monocytes contributed to IL-10 production in controls. Frequencies of HBcAg stimulated IL-10 SFC representing T cells and monocytes were significantly higher in patients with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and detectable HBV DNA than in patients with normal ALT and undetectable HBV DNA. The potent ability of HBcAg to stimulate IL-10 production by PBMC may contribute importantly to immune tolerance toward HBV.     

CpG-ODN对慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞T-bet表达的影响

目的 探讨T-bet在乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染中的作用以CpD-ODN对其表达的调节作用。方法应用半定量RT-PCR，对22例慢性乙型肝炎活动期患者、10例HBsAg阳性无症状携带者和12例正常对照外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)T-bet的表达进行检测；同时用CpD-ODN体外刺激以上3组实验对象的PBMC，RT-PCR观察T-bet的表达情况。结果无症状携带者T-bet表达最低，慢性乙型肝炎活动期患者T-bet表达最高；经cpG-ODN刺激后，无症状携带者和正常对照的T-bet表达明显上调，结论T-bet在HBV感染的不同状态中具有差异表达，提示T-bet可能参与了机体抗HBV的免疫应答，具体的机制有待进一步研究。CpG-ODN作为一种新型的免疫调节剂，可在一定程度上恢复HBV感染者特别是无症状携带者的Th1型细胞免疫应答．     

Anti-SARS-CoV immunity induced by a novel CpG oligodeoxynucleotide

To develop CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) based therapy for prevention and treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), we selected a novel CpG ODN (BW001), which displays B-type CpG ODN structure feature at the 5' and A-type CpG ODN structure feature at the 3', and tested for its anti-SARS-CoV activity. We found that the supernatants of human PBMCs stimulated by BW001 significantly protected Vero cells from SARS-CoV infection. BW001 could stimulate human PBMCs and pDCs to secrete high level of IFN-alpha and promote human PBMCs and B cells to proliferate. Furthermore, we demonstrated that BW001 could activate CD19+ B cells and CD56+ NK cells in human PBMCs. In addition, BW001 could enhance NK cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma secretion in human PBMCs. Together, BW001 represents a novel type of CpG ODN and may have potential for the development of treatment and prevention for SARS as well as other viral associated diseases.     

乙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞凋亡的检测及意义

目的研究激活诱导细胞死亡 (AICD)现象在乙型肝炎慢性化和重型化机制中的意义。方法分离 2 0例慢性 /慢性重型乙型肝炎病人与 10例健康献血员外周血单个核细胞 (PBMC) ,在 PHA的刺激下培养 72 h后收集细胞 ,经流式细胞仪检测凋亡。结果 PBMC凋亡率乙型肝炎组明显高于正常对照组 [(2 5 .48± 14.0 7) % vs(11.45± 5 .2 7) % ,P<0 .0 1];慢性乙型肝炎组 [(30 .5 7± 13.43) % ]明显高于正常对照组 [(11.45± 5 .2 7) % ,P<0 .0 1]和慢性重型乙型肝炎组 [(13.5 9± 6 .44 ) % ,P<0 .0 1];PBMC凋亡率乙型肝炎 HBe Ag(+ )组明显高于正常对照组 [(2 9.5 0± 12 .5 4) % vs(11.45± 5 .2 7) % ,P<0 .0 1]。结论 AICD可能是形成 HBV慢性感染免疫耐受的一个重要机制。     

Flow cytometry CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived lymphocytes correlates with viral replication in chronic hepatitis B.

T lymphocytes have been assumed to play an essential role in tissue injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B. As hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered as a major factor controlling liver inflammation, we assessed whether a particular T lymphocyte subset could be preferentially detected in the liver in accordance with viral replication. Liver-derived lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes were analysed by flow cytometry in 21 patients with histologically confirmed chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis. Viral replication was quantified by hybridization of serum HBV DNA. Eleven patients exhibited an active viral replication with serum HBV DNA ranging from 10 to 388 pg/ml at the time of the liver biopsy, whereas 10 patients had no detectable serum HBV DNA. In patients exhibiting viral replication, CD4+/CD8+ ratios of liver-derived lymphocytes were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those obtained in patients without viral replication. In contrast, the percentage of T cells expressing the gamma/delta receptor and that of CD2+/CD57+ cells were similar in both groups of patients. Furthermore, in patients exhibiting viral replication, CD4+CD8+ ratios of liver-derived lymphocytes correlated with serum HBV DNA levels (P < 0.001). No relationship between CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived and peripheral blood lymphocytes was observed. Our data indicate that, in patients with chronic hepatitis B, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio of liver-derived lymphocytes correlates with viral replication. This suggests that in situ helper/inducer CD4+ T lymphocytes may positively regulate the cytotoxic T cell activity in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis.     

Hepatitis B virus infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells is common in acute and chronic hepatitis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been observed in all stages of liver disease. Thus far all information about the physical state of HBV in mononuclear blood cells comes from Southern blot analysis and in situ hybridization. In this study we focused our attention on the presence of HBV DNA sequences in PBMCs of 30 patients with acute type B hepatitis and 6 patients with chronic active hepatitis by utilizing both Southern blot analysis and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Southern blot analysis showed no HBV DNA sequences in PBMCs of the acute hepatitis patients, although the sensitivity of our method enabled us to detect as little as 1 pg of cloned HBV insert. As far as the chronic hepatitis patients are concerned Southern blot analysis revealed the presence of HBV DNA sequences in 5 out of 6 patients but intermittently at successive follow-up times. On the other hand we were able to demonstrate the presence of HBV related sequences in 14 out of 30 acute hepatitis patients (5 HBeAg positive, 9 antiHBe positive) and in all 6 chronic hepatitis patients by PCR. Our results indicate that the involvement of PBMCs with HBV during acute HBV infection occurs at a very low level, often below the detection limit of the Southern blot technique.     

慢性乙型肝炎,肝硬化患者外周血LAK细胞活性和sIL—2R测定的意义

采用＾３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ释放法测定５１例慢性肝病患者（ＣＰＨ１０例、ＣＡＨ２３例、ＬＣ１８例）外周血ＬＡＫ细胞活性，并用酶联法测定患者血清中ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ含量；与２９例正常对照组比较，发现肝病患者ＬＡＫ活性降低，ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性组ＬＡＫ活性较阴性组低（Ｐ〈０．０５），ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ增高，且慢性肝病组ＬＡＫ活性与ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ水平呈负相关，说明ＬＡＫ活性与机体免疫功能状态有关，ＨＢＶ的复制和高浓度的ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ     

Hepatitis C virus is frequently coinfected with serum marker-negative hepatitis B virus: Probable replication promotion of the former by the latter as demonstrated by in vitro cotransfection

Patients with hepatitis C have been reported occasionally to be coinfected with serum marker-negative (silent) hepatitis B virus (HBV). The frequency and significance of such coinfection were investigated. Thirty patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections (10 acute, 10 chronic, 10 cirrhotic) were selected randomly; the acute cases were without serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis B core IgM, and the chronic cases were without HBsAg. A nested polymerase chain reaction for the X open reading frame was used to amplify HBV DNA in serum, and immunoperoxidase staining was carried out on liver biopsy specimens. Nucleotide sequencing was carried out to characterize the amplified HBV DNAs. In order to clarify the possibility that the silent HBV mutant promotes HCV replication in the liver, the full-length HCV RNA and the cloned silent HBV DNA dimer were cotransfected into an established cell line, HuH-7, and the amount of secreted HCV RNA was quantified serially. The target HBV DNA was amplified in 26 (86.7%) of the 30 patients. Subsequent direct nucleotide sequencing in 9 selected patients revealed an 8-nucleotide deletion, characteristic of a silent HBV mutant. Immunostaining revealed hepatitis B surface antigen in 15 (50.0%). Cotransfected silent HBV DNA augmented the secretion of HCV RNA by up to 5-fold in comparison with HCV RNA transfection alone. In conclusion, HCV is coinfected frequently with the silent HBV mutant and the latter probably promotes the replication of the former in the liver. J. Med. Virol. 52:399–405, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

GP73 facilitates hepatitis B virus replication by repressing the NF-κB signaling pathway

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects approximately 350 million people worldwide, and 600 000 deaths are caused by HBV-related hepatic failure. Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is a serum biomarker for liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis B. Here, we determine the effect of HBV infection on GP73 production and characterized the role of GP73 in HBV replication. Initially, we show that GP73 is highly produced in the sera of HBV-positive patients with chronic liver diseases and in HBV-stimulated leukocytes. In addition, HBV stimulation promotes GP73 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from healthy donors and in macrophages derived from human acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1). Notably, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), but not HBV replication, is required for the activation of GP73 expression. Moreover, in HepG2 cells and Huh7 cells, GP73 facilitates HBV replication and represses nuclear factor kappa B p50 expression, which in turn represses HBV replication and GP73 expression. Finally, we demonstrate that GP73 facilitates HBV replication by repressing the innate immune response and the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway. Taken together, we revealed a distinct positive feedback mechanism between HBV replication and GP73 production and suggest that GP73 acts as a potential antiviral target for HBV infection.     

Characterization of three CpG oligodeoxynucleotide classes with distinct immunostimulatory activities

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) with unmethylated deoxycytidyl-deoxyguanosine (CpG) dinucleotides (CpG ODN) mimic the immunostimulatory activity of bacterial DNA and are recognized by the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). CpG ODN of the B-Class stimulate strong B cell and NK cell activation and cytokine production. The highest degrees of NK stimulation as well as IFN-alpha secretion by plasmacytoid DC were found to occur only with A-Class ODN. A third class of CpG ODN combines the immune effects of A- and B-Class CpG ODN. C-Class ODN strongly stimulate B cell or NK cell activation and IFN-alpha production. In contrast to the A-Class, the C-Class is wholly phosphorothioate, has no poly-G stretches, but has palindromic sequences combined with stimulatory CpG motifs. All classes stimulate TLR9-dependent signaling, but with strikingly different dose-response relationships that are quite in contrast to those observed for IFN-alpha. Effects similar to those on human cells were observed on mouse splenocytes. In contrast, splenocytes from TLR9-deficient mice did not show any response to the three CpG ODN classes. In vivo studies demonstrate that C-Class ODN are very potent Th1 adjuvants. C-Class ODN may represent new therapeutic drugs that combine the effects of A- and B-Class ODN for broad applications in infectious disease or cancer therapy.     

乙型肝炎病毒感染者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群表达与其血清HBV-DNA水平的相关性分析

观察乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染者外周血T细胞亚群功能变化与其血清HBV-DNA水平,探讨病毒复制程度与细胞免疫功能的关系.应用流式细胞术直接荧光法检测142例HBV感染者和35名健康对照者外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群百分率,用荧光定量PCR法检测HBV感染者血清HBV-DNA.结果显示:与健康对照组比较,慢性乙型肝炎组CD4...     

Prevalence and association of human parvovirus B19V with hepatitis B and C viruses in Nigeria

Co-infection of parvovirus B19 with hepatitis B virus has been found in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis. The clinical significance of parvovirus B19 in hepatitis B co-infected patients is still controversial. In this study parvovirus B19 antibodies and DNA were investigated in serum samples from 76 patients with HBV infection, 17 with HBV/HCV co-infection and 44 healthy controls. In the sera from patients with HBV infection, anti-B19V IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 24/76 (32%) and 25/76 (33%), in 6/17 (35%) and 8/17 (47%) of HBV/HCV co-infected patients, and in 14/44 (32%) and 12/44 (12%) of a non-hepatitis healthy controls, respectively. B19V DNA was detected in 8/76 (11%) of patients with HBV infection and in 3/17 (18%) of patients with a HBV/HCV co-infection, and in 4/44 (9%) healthy controls. The occurrence of parvovirus B19 DNA was significantly higher in patients with symptomatic HBV 4/20 (20%) compared to asymptomatic HBV carrier 4/56 (7%) (P<0.05). Ten of the positive B19V DNA sequences belonged to B19V genotype 1 while two belonged to genotype 3. The results of this study showed a significant difference in the prevalence of parvovirus B19 DNA in symptomatic HBsAg positive as compared to asymptomatic HBsAg positive individuals; however, the conclusion that parvovirus B19 infection increased the frequency of liver disease was not supported. Long-term longitudinal studies are, however, required to determine the synergistic effect of parvovirus B19 infection in HBV or HBV and HCV co-infected persons.     

Downregulation of TLR7/9 leads to deficient production of IFN-α from plasmacytoid dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis B

Objective

To investigate whether Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR9-mediated interferon α (IFN-α) production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) is compromised in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Materials and methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were prepared from 32 chronic HBV patients and 13 healthy volunteers, and treated with loxoribine or cytidine phosphate guanosine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). Interferon α in the supernatant was measured by sandwich ELISA. PDC frequency and the expression levels of TLR7 and TLR9 in pDCs were quantified by flow cytometry. The serum viral load of HBV was quantified using a highly sensitive real-time PCR kit.

Results

Compared to cells from healthy control group, PBMCs and pDCs from the HBV group showed significantly decreased production of IFN-α in response to ligand for TLR7 (loxoribine) and TLR9 (CpG ODN, P?P?Conclusion Impaired IFN-α production from pDC may contribute to the immunopathogenesis of chronic HBV infection, which may be the result of a reduced amount of pDCs as well as decreased expression of TLR7 and TLR9 on pDCs.     

恩替卡韦治疗对慢性乙型肝炎患者特异性细胞免疫功能的影响及其与HBeAg血清学转换的关系

目的 探讨恩替卡韦治疗对慢性乙型肝炎患者特异性细胞免疫功能的影响及其与HBeAg血清学转换的关系.方法慢乙肝患者恩替卡韦治疗前后不同时间点检测转氨酶(ALT)、HBVDNA和HBeAg表达量,同期[3H]T-dR掺入法测定外周血特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应,采用ELISA测定HBV抗原特异性IFN-γ表达水平.结果与治疗前相比较,治疗一个月后的患者ALT、HBV DNA和HBeAg水平显著下降,而特异性T淋巴细胞增殖反应和特异性IFN-γ表达水平显著增高.结论恩替卡韦治疗过程中,伴随患者体内HBV复制水平的下降,患者HBV特异性细胞免疫功能增高.特异性免疫的增强与HBeAg血清学转换存在相关性.     

Identification of CpG oligonucleotide sequences with high induction of IFN-alpha/beta in plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

The immature plasmacytoid dendritic cell (PDC) is identical with the principal type I IFN-producing cell upon viral infection. Oligodeoxynucleotides which contain unmethylated CpG motifs (CpG ODN) are recognized by the vertebrate immune system. Previously, we described CpG ODN that strongly activate human B cells and human blood dendritic cells. Here we describe distinct CpG-containing oligonucleotide sequences which, in contrast to previously described CpG ODN, induced high amounts of IFN-alpha and IFN-beta in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Intracellular staining for IFN-alpha revealed that within PBMC CpG ODN-induced IFN-alpha is produced exclusively by PDC. Unlike IFN-alpha, TNF-alpha is up-regulated in PDC by all CpG ODN tested. Purified PDC responded to CpG ODN, demonstrating direct activation of PDC by CpG ODN. The most active sequence induced the production of up to 5 pg IFN-alpha per single PDC, resulting in more than 400 ng/ml IFN-alpha in the supernatant of PBMC enriched for PDC. The potency of CpG ODN to stimulate IFN-alpha correlated with their ability to stimulate NK cell lytic activity, while purified NK cells did not respond to CpG ODN. IFNgamma production in PBMC was dependent on CpG ODN-induced IFN-alpha/beta as demonstrated by IFN-alpha/beta blocking antibodies. IFN-alpha-inducing CpG ODN strongly supported IFN-gamma production of TCR-triggered CD4 T cells but were less active than other CpG ODN in stimulating B cells. In conclusion our results demonstrate that particular CpG ODN sequences exist which, due to high IFN-alpha/beta induction in PDC, induce a set of immune responses typical for viral infection.     

链球菌CpG DNA对寻常型银屑病患者T细胞活化的影响

研究链球菌核酸成分对寻常型银屑病患者T细胞活化的影响。利用层析法去除A型β溶血型链球菌超声粉碎产物中的核酸成分,分别用链球菌全菌抗原(streptococcal antigen,SA)和去除核酸的链球菌抗原(nucleic acid depleted-streptococ-cal antigen,non-NASA)刺激寻常型银屑病患者(20例)和正常人(12例)外周血单个核细胞(PBMC);同时non-NASA联合人工合成的CpG ODN(CpG-A和CpG-B)以及单用CpG ODN刺激患者PBMC(12例),24 h后采用流式细胞术检测并比较总T细胞及皮肤淋巴细胞抗原阳性(CLA+)T细胞活化表达CD69+及患者B细胞活化表达CD86+的百分率的差异。结果显示,在银屑病患者中,SA刺激后总T细胞和CLA+T细胞活化表达CD69+的百分率均高于non-NASA(P=0.012和0.042),而在正常人中两者无统计学差异,且均不激活T细胞表达CD69+(P>0.05);同时non-NASA联合CpG-A刺激患者PBMCs后总T细胞及CLA+T细胞表达CD69+的百分率亦高于non-NASA单独刺激(P=0.031和0.022),但联合CpG-B未发现差异(P>0.05),且CpG-A和B单独刺激对T细胞活化表达CD69+的百分率无影响(P>0.05)。另一方面,SA、non-NASA以及后者联合CpG-A刺激患者B细胞活化表达CD86+的百分率无统计学差异(P>0.05),但non-NASA联合CpG-B刺激可显著增加B细胞CD86+的表达率(P<0.01),同时CpG-B可激活B细胞表达CD86+,CpG-A无此作用。研究表明,去除核酸的链球菌抗原降低银屑病患者总T细胞以及CLA+T细胞的活化,但对B细胞活化无影响,提示链球菌CpG DNA可协同菌体蛋白诱导病理性T细胞的活化,参与银屑病的发生。     

Imbalance in the ratio of CpG and polyG contributes to impaired interferon-α expression

The secretion of interferon-α (IFN-α) is impaired during hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. DNA sequences purified from distinct viruses, for example, HBV versus members of Herpesviridae, have been shown to differ in their IFN-α signaling properties. The present study found that DNA from HBV inhibited, while DNA from members of Herpesviridae induced, the expression of IFN-α. Furthermore, stimulatory cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) sequences derived from these DNA viruses could induce the secretion of IFN-α, while inhibitory guanosine-rich oligodeoxynucleoti (polyG) oligonucleotide sequences derived from these DNA viruses could inhibit CpG-induced IFN-α secretion. Using a computational analysis of genomic DNA sequences, the discrimination between the genomes of HBV and those of other DNA viruses that can also cause inflammation of the liver is based on different frequencies of the CpG and polyG motifs. The underrepresentation of stimulatory CpG motifs and overrepresentation of inhibitory polyG motifs were documented in HBV genomes, whereas the DNA from other viral genomes displayed the opposite trend. Moreover, it was demonstrated that HBV could suppress the activation of IFN-α via its own DNA through the high proportion of polyG motifs. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a specific role for polyG motifs in the inhibition of the IFN-α response following DNA virus infection.