Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by APOBEC3G in vitro and in vivo

AIM: To investigate the effect of APOBEC3G mediated antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in cell cultures and replication competent HBV vector-based mouse model. METHODS: The mammalian hepatoma cells Huh7 and HepG2 were cotransfected with various amounts of CMV-driven expression vector encoding APOBEC3G and replication competent 1.3 fold over-length HBV. Levels of HBsAg and HBeAg in the media of the transfected cells were determined by ELISA. The expression of HBcAg in transfected cells was detected by western blot. HBV DNA and RNA from intracellular core particles were examined by Northern and Southern blot analyses. To assess activity of the APOBEC3G in vivo, an HBV vector-based model was used in which APOBEC3G and the HBV vector were co-delivered via high-volume tail vein injection. Levels of HBsAg and HBV DNA in the sera of mice as well as HBV core-associated RNA in the liver of mice were determined by ELISA and quantitative PCR analysis respectively. RESULTS: There was a dose dependent decrease in the levels of intracellular core-associated HBV DNA and extracellular production of HBsAg and HBeAg. The levels of intracellular core-associated viral RNA also decreased, but the expression of HBcAg in transfected cells showed almost no change. Consistent with In vitro results, levels of HBsAg in the sera of mice were dramatically decreased. More than 1.5 log 10 decrease in levels of serum HBV DNA and liver HBV RNA were observed in the APOBEC3G-treated groups compared with the control groups. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that APOBEC3G could suppress HBV replication and antigen expression both in vivo and in vitro, promising an advance in treatment of HBV infection.     

载脂蛋白质B mRNA编辑酶催化多肽3G抑制乙型肝炎病毒和鸭乙型肝炎病毒复制

目的了解载脂蛋白质BmRNA编辑酶催化多肽3G（APOBEC3G）对乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）和鸭乙型肝炎炎病毒（DHBV）复制的抑制作用。方法从健康人外周血单个核细胞提取RNA，逆转录聚合酶链反应扩增APOBEC3G，将产物克隆到pXF3H载体的EcoRⅠ和Hind Ⅲ酶切位点以构建真核表达质粒；以ayw亚型HBV全长质粒构建具有复制能力的1．3倍HBV质粒（pHBV1．3）。不同剂量的APOBEC3G真核表达质粒与pHBV1．3共转染HepG2细胞；酶联免疫吸附法检测细胞培养上清液的乙型肝炎表面抗原和e抗原水平，Southernblot和Northernblot分析HBV核衣壳相关DNA和RNA的水平变化。不同剂量APOBEC3G真核表达质粒与头尾相接的2倍DHBV质粒共转染LMH鸡肝癌细胞，Southernblot分析DHBV核衣壳相关DNA水平变化。结果成功构建APOBEC3G真核表达质粒和具有复制能力的1．3倍HBV质粒。APOBEC3G抑制乙型肝炎表面抗原和e抗原的分泌，转染细胞内HBV核衣壳相关RNA表达水平下降，而对核心蛋白质的表达没有影响；APOBEC3G对转染细胞内HBV和DHBV核衣壳相关DNA水平具有剂量依赖的抑制效应。结论APOBEC3G对HBV和DHBV复制具有抑制作用。     

APOBEC3F剪接亚型与全长APOBEC3F、APOBEC3G对乙肝病毒作用的比较

目的比较APOBEC3F剪接亚型3F79与完整APOBEC3F以及APOBEC3G对HepG2.2.15细胞中HBV DNA复制及HBsAg、HBeAg抗原分泌的影响。方法用PCR合成法扩增人APOBEC3F剪接亚型3F79,构建真核表达载体pEGFPC1-3F79和原核表达质粒pET28a-3F79,将pEGFPC1-3F79与含有全长APOBEC3F和APOBEC3G的质粒Pflag-APOBEC3F、PC-APOBEC3G-HA转染入HepG2.2.15中,检测转染后细胞上清中HBV DNA以及HBsAg和HBeAg的水平。结果构建的重组载体经酶切和PCR鉴定,表明3F79基因正确地插入。将pEGFPC1-3F79与Pflag-APOBEC3F、PC-APOBEC3G-HA转染HepG2.2.15细胞后,pEGFPC1-3F79对细胞中HBV的复制及HBsAg和HBeAg的分泌无明显的抑制作用(P0.05),而转染含有完整APOBEC3F和APOBEC3G质粒的HepG2.2.15细胞与对照组相比,HBsAg、HBeAg、HBV DNA含量明显下降,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 3F79不能像完整APOBEC3F和APOBEC3G一样抑制HepG2.2.15细胞中HBV DNA复制以及抗原的分泌。     

Polymorphic APOBEC3 modulates chronic hepatitis B in Moroccan population

The cytidine deaminase apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic subunit‐3 (APOBEC3) induces G‐to‐A hypermutation in hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomes and operates as part of the innate antiviral immune system. We investigated the associations between the presence of APOBEC3 variants and HBV carriage in a case–control study in the Moroccan population. A polymorphic deletion affecting the APOBEC3B gene and the H186R variant of APOBEC3G were genotyped in 179 HBV chronic carriers and 216 healthy control subjects. In addition, to assess the overall impact of APOBEC3 deaminases on circulating HBV, we looked for hyperedited forms of the viral genome using the 3DPCR technique and analysed editing context. Data analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the frequencies of deleted APOBEC3B alleles (P = 0.261) or genotypes (P = 0.333) between patients with chronic hepatitis B and control subjects. By contrast, subjects bearing deleted genotype had a faster progression of liver disease than those with the insertion genotype (adjusted OR, 3.72; 95% CI, 0.38–36.12). The analysis of the APOBEC3G H186R polymorphism revealed that R/R genotype frequencies were not significantly different in HBV infected patients and in healthy subjects. 3DPCR was positive in 26 samples (14%) among 179. Amplified viral segments displayed monomorphic G>A transitions highly reminiscent of APOBEC3G activity. Most intriguingly, hemi/homozygous carriers of the APOBEC3B deletion had significantly lower virus loads than patients with the wild type (median 539 vs. 2213 IU/mL, P = 0.0023). This result suggests that genetic variations in APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases do not predispose to chronicity but may modulate the course of persistent HBV infection.     

Structural Characterization of a Minimal Antibody against Human APOBEC3B

APOBEC3B (A3B) is one of seven human APOBEC3 DNA cytosine deaminases that restrict viral infections as part of the overall innate immune response, but it also plays a major role in tumor evolution by mutating genomic DNA. Given the importance of A3B as a restriction factor of viral infections and as a driver of multiple human cancers, selective antibodies against A3B are highly desirable for its specific detection in various research and possibly diagnostic applications. Here, we describe a high-affinity minimal antibody, designated 5G7, obtained via a phage display screening against the C-terminal catalytic domain (ctd) of A3B. 5G7 also binds APOBEC3A that is highly homologous to A3Bctd but does not bind the catalytic domain of APOBEC3G, another Z1-type deaminase domain. The crystal structure of 5G7 shows a canonical arrangement of the heavy and light chain variable domains, with their complementarity-determining region (CDR) loops lining an antigen-binding cleft that accommodates a pair of α-helices. To understand the mechanism of A3Bctd recognition by 5G7, we used the crystal structures of A3Bctd and 5G7 as templates and computationally predicted the A3B-5G7 complex structure. Stable binding poses obtained by the simulation were further tested by site-directed mutagenesis and in vitro binding analyses. These studies mapped the epitope for 5G7 to a portion of C-terminal α6 helix of A3Bctd, with Arg374 playing an essential role. The same region of A3Bctd was used previously as a peptide antigen for generating a rabbit monoclonal antibody (mAb 5210-87-13), suggesting that this region is particularly immunogenic and that these antibodies from very different origins may share similar binding modes. Our studies provide a platform for the development of selective antibodies against A3B and other APOBEC3 family enzymes.     

乙型肝炎病毒基因型、YMDD变异与拉米夫定治疗后HBV DNA反弹关系的研究

目的探讨HBV基因型、YMDD变异与拉米夫定抗病毒治疗后HBV DNA反弹的关系。方法应用多引物对巢式PCR法、PCR-序列分析法检测拉米夫定治疗的27例乙型肝炎患者和19例从未用过抗病毒治疗的患者HBV基因型和P区（YMDD）的突变位点。结果在27例HBV DNA反弹的患者中，13例（48．15％）检出YMDD变异，而对照人群无YMDD变异（P〈0．05）。YMDD变异的位点为rtM204V／I（C区）±rtL180M（B区）；在治疗组YMDD变异的患者中，B、C基因型构成比（46．15％和59．26％）与对照组（53．85％和68．42％）比较无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论YMDD变异是拉米夫定治疗后出现耐药导致HBV DNA反弹的主要原因；YMDD变异的常见位点依然为rtM204V／I（C区）±rtL180M（B区）；YMDD变异在B、C基因型病人中无差别。     

Hepatitis B virus DNA is subject to extensive editing by the human deaminase APOBEC3C

APOBEC3G (A3G) and APOBEC3C (A3C), 2 members of the APOBEC family, are cellular cytidine deaminases displaying broad antiretroviral activity. A3G inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV) production by interfering with HBV replication without hypermutating the majority of HBV genomes. In contrast, A3C has little effect on HBV DNA synthesis. The aim of this study was to further dissect the mechanisms by which A3G and A3C interfere with the HBV life cycle. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that both A3G and A3C bind to the HBV core protein. A ribonuclease (RNase) treatment resulted in the nearly complete dissociation of the HBV core protein from A3G, whereas the HBV core-A3C complex was more stable. Interestingly, the majority of the newly synthesized HBV DNA genomes displayed extensive G-to-A mutations in the presence of A3C, whereas no A3C-induced HBV RNA mutations were detected. These findings support a model in which the RNA-dependent entrapment of A3G into the preassembly complex hampers subsequent steps in capsid formation. On the other hand, A3C is readily packaged into replication-competent capsids and efficiently deaminates newly synthesized HBV DNA. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that HBV is highly vulnerable to the editing activity of an endogenous human deaminase and suggest that A3C could contribute to innate anti-HBV host responses.     

体内与转染细胞中乙型肝炎病毒株复制特性的相关性

目的 比较不同乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）株在体内及转染细胞中复制特性是否相符。方法 以核酸杂交定量和聚合酶链反应-酶联免疫吸附试验（PCR-ELISA）测定5例孕妇血清中HBVDNA含量,并测定乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg)和乙型肝炎e抗原（HBeAg)含量,分别克隆血清中的HBV基因组转染细胞,检测培养上清液中HBsAg和HBeAg表达水平,并以Southern印迹及核酸杂交检测转染细胞内、外HBVDNA复制水平。结果 转染细胞内、外HBVDNA复制水平与相应血清HBVDNA量呈正相关趋势,转染细胞表达的病毒抗原水平与相应血清中病毒抗原含量也呈正相关趋势。结论 感染者血清中HBVDNA和病毒抗原的含量与毒株在细胞中复制和抗原表达水平有相符趋势。HBV不同毒株在转染细胞中的复制可基本反映体内毒株的复制特性。     

APOBEC3G体外抗乙型肝炎病毒的研究

目的探讨载脂蛋白B mRNA编辑酶催化多肽样蛋白3G（apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide like3G,APOBEC3G）（也称为CEM15）体外抗乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）的作用及其机制。方法脂质体转染pcDNA3.1 Human APOBEC3G-Myc-6Xhis、pcDAN3.1/His-C进入HepG2.2.15细胞,转染后,RT-PCR证实转染基因的表达,Western Blot证实蛋白的表达。通过ELISA方法检测细胞上清液中乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg）及乙型肝炎e抗原（HBeAg）,RT-PCR分析APOBEC3G对HBV mRNA转录的影响。结果APOBEC3G基因与蛋白在HepG2.2.15细胞都有表达,与空质粒转染组相比,pcDNA3.1 Human APOBEC3G-Myc-6Xhis转染组HBsAg含量下降70.38%,HBeAg含量下降62.88%,未转质粒细胞为空白对照组。结论APOBEC3G在体外可以抑制HBV复制,可以作为一种新型的抗病毒制剂治疗乙肝病毒感染。     

商陆抗病毒蛋白不同结构域的抗乙型肝炎病毒活性

目的 比较全长和不同片段缺失型商陆抗病毒蛋白(PAP)基因真核表达质粒体外抗HBV作用及其细胞毒性作用.方法 将全长和不同片段缺失型PAP基因真核表达质粒用脂质体转染HepG2.2.15细胞,收获生长良好的HepG2.2.15细胞,转染前1 d,接种于24孔培养细胞板,培养20 h后,待细胞密度达到40%～50%时进行转染.细胞随机分为4组:pXF3H组,转染空质粒pXF3H作为对照;pXF3H-PAP_(12)组,转染全长PAP的真核表达质粒pXF3H-PAP_(12);pXF3H-PAP_(14)组,转染C端缺失25个氨基酸的PAP的真核表达质粒pXF3H-PAP_(14);pXF3H-PAP3_(34)组,转染既缺失N端69个氨基酸又缺失C端25个氨基酸的PAP的真核表达质粒pXF3H-PAP_(34).转染的质粒剂量为每孔1.0μg,终浓度为2.0μg/ml,质粒DNA(μg)和脂质体(μl)的比例为1:2.5,转染72 h后收集细胞及培养上清液.酶联免疫吸附法检测培养上清液HBsAg和HBeAg,荧光定量PCR检测HBV DNA水平,四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法检测各质粒对转染细胞的毒性作用.应用SPSS12.0软件包处理数据,两样本均数的比较采用t检验,率的比较采用χ~2检验.结果 对HBsAg、HBeAg、HBVDNA的抑制率,pXF3H-PAP_(14)组分别为56.3%、75.8%和61.7%,pXF3H-PAP_(12)组分别为61.4%、84.2%和63.2%,两组间差异无统计学意义.但pXF3H-PAP_(14)组细胞毒性 (抑制率为10.2%)明显低于pXF3H-PAP_(12)组(抑制率为27.1%),χ~2=7.7,P<0.01.pXF3H-PAP_(34)组无细胞毒性,但其抗HBV作用也丧失,对HBsAg、HBeAg、HBV DNA的抑制率分别为7.8%、11.0%、20.5%.结论 PAP的C端25个氨基酸与细胞毒性相关,与抗HBV活性无关;PAP的N端69个氨基酸与抗HBV活性相关.     

Hepatitis B viral DNA is methylated in liver tissues

The mechanisms that regulate hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication within the liver are poorly understood. Given that methylation of CpG islands regulates gene expression in human tissues, we sought to identify CpG islands in HBV-DNA and to determine if they are methylated in human tissues. In silico analysis demonstrated three CpG islands in HBV genotype A sequences, two of which were of particular interest because of their proximity to the HBV surface gene start codon (island 1) and to the enhancer 1/X gene promoter region (island 2). Human sera with intact virions that were largely unmethylated were used to transfect HepG2 cells and HBV-DNA became partially methylated at both islands 1 and 2 by day 6 following exposure of HepG2 to virus. Examination of three additional human sera and 10 liver tissues showed no methylation in sera but tissues showed methylation of island 1 in six of 10 cases and of island 2 in five of 10 cases. The cell line Hep3B, with integrated HBV, showed complete methylation of island 1 but no methylation of island 2. In conclusion, HBV-DNA can be methylated in human tissues and methylation may play an important role in regulation of HBV gene expression.     

针对HBV X基因的siRNA抑制HepG2细胞HBV的复制和表达

目的构建能转录产生针对乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）X基因转录体的小干扰RNA（siRNA）转录载体pSIH—BV／X,研究其在体外对HBV复制和抗原表达的抑制作用。方法将构建成功的pSIHBV／X与HBV1．3倍体真核表达质粒pHBV1．3共转染HepG2细胞，转染后24、48、72h检测上清液中HBsAg、HBeAg的变化，并检测72h时HBV DNA的变化。结果成功构建了针对HBVX基因转录体的siRNA表达载体pSIHBV／X，并发现它能抑制HBsAg、HBeAg的分泌，抑制高峰在72h．抑制率分别是64％和61％，而无关对照序列的siRNA无此作用。荧光定量PCR证实HBV DNA的复制亦受到抑制，抑制率31％。结论针对HBVX基因转录体的siRNA在体外具有抑制HBV复制和抗原表达的作用。     

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by pokeweed antiviral protein in vitro

AIM： To explore the inhibitory effects of pokeweed antiviral protein seed （PAP-S） and PAP encoded by a eukaryotic expression plasmid on hepatitis B virus （HBV） replication in vitro. METHODS： HepG2 2.2.15 cells in cultured medium were treated with different concentrations of PAP-S. HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA in supernatants were determined by ELISA and fluorescent quantitative PCR respectively. MTT method was used to assay for cytotoxicity. HepG2 were cotransfected with various amounts of PAP encoded by a eukaryotic expression plasmid and replication competent wild-type HBV 1.3 fold overlength plasmid. On d 3 after transfection, HBsAg and HBeAg were determined by using ELISA. Levels of HBV core-associated DNA and RNA were detected by using Southern and Northern blot, respectively. RESULTS： The inhibitory effects of PAP-S on HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA were gradually enhanced with the increase of PAP concentration. When the concentration of PAP-S was 10 μg/mL, the inhibition rates of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA were 20.9%, 30.2% and 50%, respectively. After transfection of 1.0 μg and 2.0 μg plasmid pXF3H-PAP, the levels of HBV nucleocapside- associated DNA were reduced by 38.0% and 74.0% respectively, the levels of HBsAg in the media by 76.8% and 99.7% respectively, and the levels of HBeAg by 72.7% and 99.3% respectively as compared with controls. Transfection with 2 μg plasmid pXF3H-PAP reduced the levels of HBV nucleocapside-associated RNA by 69.0%.CONCLUSION： Both PAP-S and PAP encoded by a eukaryotic expression plasmid could effectively inhibit HBV replication and antigen expression in vitro, and the inhibitory effects were dose-dependent.     

载脂蛋白B mRNA编辑酶催化多肽样3G在不同慢性乙型肝炎患者中的表达及其细胞内定位

目的 观察载脂蛋白B mRNA编辑酶催化多肽样3G(APOBEC3G)在不同慢性乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染类型患者的外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)及肝组织中的表达水平及其细胞内定位.方法 用Western blot及激光扫描共聚焦显微镜,以健康人为对照,检测不同慢性HBV感染类型患者(慢性乙型肝炎、慢性乙型重型肝炎、肝炎肝硬化、HBV相关性肝癌)的PBMC及肝组织中APOBEC3G的表达状况及其亚细胞定位.多组比较采用方差分析,两两比较采用q检验.结果 Western blot结果显示,健康人PBMC中APOBEC3G表达水平极低,慢性乙型肝炎、慢性乙型重型肝炎、肝炎肝硬化和HBV相关性肝癌患者PBMC中APOBEC3G蛋白相对表达水平倍数分别为4.12±0.21、4.07±0.28、4.16±0.36、4.21±0.39,均高于健康人.但不同慢性HBV感染类型患者之间两两比较,PBMC中APOBEC3G的表达水平差异无统计学意义(q值分别为0.931、0.744、1.675、1.675、2.606、0.931,尸值均>0.05).慢性乙型肝炎患者与HBV相关性肝癌患者比较,肝组织中APOBEC3G表达水平差异无统计学意义(4.40±0.34与4.34±0.43,q=0.588,P>0.05).激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察结果显示PBMC中或肝组织中APOBEC3G表达定位于胞质中,胞核中无表达.结论 慢性HBV感染患者虽有APOBEC3G的表达升高,可能只是HBV慢性感染的伴随表现,APOBEC3G是否参与机体抵御HBV感染的过程尚不清楚.