Role of La autoantigen and polypyrimidine tract-binding protein in HCV replication

To determine if the cellular factors La autoantigen (La) and polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB) are required for hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication, we used siRNAs to silence these factors and then monitored their effect on HCV replication using quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, we determined the influence of PTB on the activity of the 3' noncoding region (NCR) of HCV and investigated its interaction with the components of the HCV replicase complex. We found that La is essential for efficient HCV replication while PTB appears to partially repress replication. PTB does, however, block the binding of HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, NS5B) to the 3'NCR. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy showed co-localization of cytoplasmic PTB with the HCV RdRp in hepatoma cells (Huh-7) expressing HCV proteins, while in vitro translation of viral proteins from the HCV replicon revealed the interaction of PTB isoforms with NS5B polymerase and NS3.     

Viperin inhibits classical swine fever virus replication by interacting with viral nonstructural 5A protein

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is a single-stranded RNA flavivirus that can cause serious diseases in porcine species, including symptoms of infarction, systemic hemorrhage, high fever, or depression. Viperin is an important interferon-inducible antiviral gene that has been shown to inhibit CSFV, but the exact mechanisms by which it is able to do so remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we determined that CSFV infection led to viperin upregulation in PK-15 cells (porcine kidney cell). When viperin was overexpressed in these cells, this markedly attenuated CSFV replication, with clear reductions in viral copy number after 12 to 48 hours postinfection. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the viral NS5A protein colocalized with viperin in infected cells, and this was confirmed via confocal laser scanning microscopy using labeled versions of these proteins, and by co-immunoprecipitation which confirmed that NS5A directly interacts with viperin. When NS5A was overexpressed, this inhibited the replication of CSFV, and we determined that the radical SAM domain and N-terminal domain of viperin was critical for its ability to bind to NS5A, with the latter being most important for this interaction. Together, our in vitro results highlight a potential mechanism whereby viperin is able to inhibit CSFV replication. These results have the potential to assist future efforts to prevent or treat systemic CSFV-induced disease, and may also offer more general insights into the antiviral role of viperin in innate immunity.     

Phosphorylation of nonstructural 5A protein of hepatitis C virus: HCV group-specific hyperphosphorylation

We previously showed that two proteins with molecular weights of 56 and 58 kDa are produced from nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) derived from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-1b genotype. The 56-kDa protein is phosphorylated at serine residues in NS5A, including those located in the C-terminal region of NS5A, while the 58-kDa protein, the hyperphosphorylated form of the 56-kDa protein, is phosphorylated at serine residues in the central region. This hyperphosphorylation is dependent on the presence of HCV NS4A protein. To clarify whether NS4A-dependent phosphorylation also occurs in other HCV genotypes, phosphorylation of NS5A was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Here, we report that NS5A from the HCV-2a genotype was phosphorylated. However, hyperphosphorylation of NS5A occurs in the HCV-1b genotype but not in the -2a genotype. This result suggests that modification of NS5A phosphorylation reflects the virological features of HCV and that there are physiological differences in the roles of differently phosphorylated NS5A between HCV genotypes.     

The hepatitis C virus NS5A inhibitor (BMS-790052) alters the subcellular localization of the NS5A non-structural viral protein

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural (NS) 5A protein plays an essential role in the replication of the viral RNA by the membrane-associated replication complex (RC). Recently, a putative NS5A inhibitor, BMS-790052, exhibited the highest potency of any known anti-HCV compound in inhibiting HCV replication in vitro and showed a promising clinical effect in HCV-infected patients. The precise mechanism of action for this new class of potential anti-HCV therapeutics, however, is still unclear. In order to gain further insight into its mode of action, we sought to test the hypothesis that the antiviral effect of BMS-790052 might be mediated by interfering with the functional assembly of the HCV RC. We observed that BMS-790052 indeed altered the subcellular localization and biochemical fractionation of NS5A. Taken together, our data suggest that NS5A inhibitors such as BMS-790052 can suppress viral genome replication by altering the proper localization of NS5A into functional RCs.     

Betanodavirus non-structural protein B1: A novel anti-necrotic death factor that modulates cell death in early replication cycle in fish cells

The functions of the Betanodavirus non-structural protein B1 is still unknown. We examined B1 expression patterns and investigated novel cell death regulatory functions for this viral protein following RGNNV infection in fish cells. The B1 gene (336 nt) was cloned from the redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) genome. B1 mRNA was rapidly expressed in the fish cells from viral RNA3 at 12 h post-infection (p.i.). At the protein level, expression was low at 12 h p.i., and then increased rapidly between 24 h and 72 h p.i. In RGNNV-infected, B1-containing fish cells, over expression of RGNNV B1 reduced Annexin-V positive cells by 50% and 65% at 48 h and 72 h p.i., respectively, and decreased loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) by 20% and 70% at 48 h and 72 h p.i., respectively. Finally, B1 knockdown during RGNNV infection using anti-sense RNA increased necrotic cell death and reduced cell viability during the early replication cycle (24 h p.i.). Our results suggest that B1 is an early expression protein that has an anti-necrotic cell death function which reduces the MMP loss and enhances viral host cell viability. This finding provides new insights into RNA viral pathogenesis and disease control.     

1b型丙型肝炎病毒NS3-4b重组腺相关病毒载体的构建及表达

目的 构建1b型丙型肝炎病毒(HCV) NS34b基因重组腺相关病毒载体并了解其在HEK 293细胞中的表达,为进一步研究HCV重组腺相关病毒疫苗及其树突状细胞疫苗奠定前期基础.方法 收集基因1b型的丙型肝炎病人血清,用RT-PCR的方法扩增NS3-4b全长片段,与腺相关病毒的表达载体pAAV.CMV.eGFP重组,构建pAAV.CMV.HCV.NS3-4b重组表达载体,转染HEK293细胞,检测其蛋白表达情况.结果 PCR扩增获得的NS3-4b条带与预期大小(2838 bp)一致,重组质粒经双酶切和测序证实NS3-4b基因已重组成功,重组质粒转染HEK 293细胞后Western Blot图可见有目的蛋白表达.结论 成功构建腺相关病毒重组HCV NS3-4b载体并且其能在真核细胞中表达.     

HCV非结构蛋白质5A基因全长和高免疫源区的表达及免疫活性检测

目的探讨HCV非结构蛋白质5A（NS5A）基因全长和高免疫源区的表达并比较其检测灵敏度。方法以含HCV全基因组的质粒pBR^tm／HCV-3011（1b型）为模板，采用PCR方法扩增出NS5A全长基因（以下用NS5AL代替）和高免疫源区基因（以下用NS5AS代替），与pET-32a载体相连接构建重组表达载体pET-NS5AL和pET-NS5AS，分别转化E.coli Rosetta（DE3）pLysS和BL21（DE3）感受态细胞，经异丙幕-β-D-硫代半乳糖苷（IPTG）诱导后，蛋白质印迹法检测其表达，镍螯合（Ni2^＋-NTA）琼脂糖亲和层析柱纯化重组NS5AL和NS5AS蛋白，最后通过ELISA法检测重组蛋白的免疫活性并对其榆测灵敏度进行比较。结果SDS—PAGE鉴定与蛋白质印迹验证结果表明，重组NS5AL和NS5AS蛋白均得到很好地表达；纯化的重组NS5AL和NS5AS蛋白浓度分别为0．146和0．426mg／ml，纯度均〉96％；ELISA检测结果表明，重组NS5AL和NS5AS蛋白均具有较好的免疫活性，且重组NS5AL蛋白的检测灵敏度明显高于NS5AS。结论成功地表达出重组NS5AL和NS5AS蛋白，均具有较高的免疫活性，将有助于提高HCV临床检测的灵敏度。     

Suppression of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway from HCV NS5A protein expressed by herpes simplex recombinant viruses

Summary.  Two herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) recombinant viruses carrying the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A open reading frame under the control of the cytomegalovirus immediate early (IE) or a herpes simplex chimeric promoter (α4γ1UL19) were constructed and characterized. Expression studies showed that both HSV-NS5A recombinant viruses were able to express high levels of the NS5A protein in infected cells. Most importantly, using this system, we demonstrated that the NS5A protein interacts with the growth receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) and inhibits the phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in HeLa, NIH3T3 or liver infected cells. Thus, our studies confirm the ability of the NS5A protein to perturb the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in HeLa cells by the use of an alternative system for NS5A expression and extend this observation to additional cell lines. We conclude that HSV-based viral vectors may provide a useful system for studying the expression and selected functional properties of the HCV NS5A protein. Received July 11, 2002; accepted September 16, 2002     

Design and selection of an intrabody library produced de-novo for the non-structural protein NSP5 of rotavirus

Intracellular antibodies or intrabodies have great potential in protein knockout strategies for intracellular antigens. We applied the Intracellular Antibody Capture Technology for the direct selection in yeast of a mouse scFv library (V(L)-V(H) format) constructed from animals immunised with recombinant non-structural protein NSP5 of Rotavirus. We selected five different intracellular antibodies (ICAbs), which specifically recognize Delta2, an NSP5 deletion mutant used as bait. The anti-NSP5 ICAbs were well expressed both in yeast and mammalian cells as cytoplasmic or nuclear-tagged forms. By immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation assays we characterised the intracellular interaction of the five anti-NSP5 ICAbs with the co-expressed antigens.     

HCV LNAzyme对病毒5'非编码区基因调控的特异性抑制作用

目的 探讨针对丙肝病毒5 '非编码区内源性核糖体进入位点的锁核酸核酶(LNAzyme)对病毒基因复制与表达的特异性抑制作用.方法 设计合成能切割HCV-5'-NCR-IRES位点的DNAzyme、硫代DNAzyme和LNAzyme.实验设对照组和实验组.对照组包括空白对照组、脂质体对照组和无关LNAzyme对照组.实验组包括DNAzyme、硫代DNAzyme组和LNAzyme组.以阳离子脂质体介导转染hepG2.9706细胞,用荧光定量PCR和化学发光技术分别监测24、48和96 h细胞培养上清液中HCV RNA含量及荧光素酶基因表达;四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法监测细胞活性.结果 加入核酶后,LNAzyme对HCV RNA复制和荧光素酶基因表达的抑制作用最强(P＜0.05),平均抑制率分别为48.02％和53.05％,且随用药时间延长,抑制率呈增高趋势,96 h后,平均抑制率分别为81.21％和84.25％.LNAzyme对细胞活性无影响.结论 LNAzyme能特异性抑制丙型肝炎病毒5 '非编码区的基因调控,且优于硫代修饰的DNAzyme.     

Curcumin inhibits HCV replication by induction of heme oxygenase-1 and suppression of AKT

Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 130-170 million people worldwide, no vaccines are available. HCV is an important cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, leading to the need for liver transplantation. In this study, curcumin, a constituent used in traditional Chinese medicine, has been evaluated for its anti-HCV activity and mechanism, using a human hepatoma cell line containing the HCV genotype?1b subgenomic replicon. Below the concentration of 20% cytotoxicity, curcumin dose-dependently inhibited HCV replication by luciferase reporter gene assay, HCV RNA detection and HCV protein analysis. Under the same conditions, curcumin also dose-dependently induced heme oxygenase-1 with the highest induction at 24?h. Hemin, a heme oxygenase-1 inducer, also inhibited HCV protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. The knockdown of heme oxygenase-1 partially reversed the curcumin-inhibited HCV protein expression. In addition to the heme oxygenase-1 induction, signaling molecule activities of AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were inhibited by curcumin. Using specific inhibitors of PI3K-AKT, MEK-ERK and NF-κB, the results suggested that only PI3K-AKT inhibition is positively involved in curcumin-inhibited HCV replication. Inhibition of ERK and NF-κB was likely to promote HCV protein expression. In summary, curcumin inhibited HCV replication by heme oxygenase-1 induction and AKT pathway inhibition. Although curcumin also inhibits ERK and NF-κB activities, it slightly increased the HCV protein expression. This result may provide information when curcumin is used as an adjuvant in anti-HCV therapy.     

Application of the trak-C HCV core assay for monitoring antiviral activity in HCV replication systems

The Ortho trak-C immunoassay has recently established detection of the HCV core antigen as a viable indirect marker of HCV replication in clinical samples. In this study, trak-C is used to monitor HCV replication in three pre-clinical models: the cellular HCV replicon system, transient transfection of HCV genomes, and the murine Alb-uPa/SCID HCV infection model. All of these systems utilize full-length HCV genomes that direct the expression of core, facilitating its detection with monoclonal antibodies. When performed with purified protein, the assay detects HCV core with a lower limit of detection at 1.5pg, and exhibits linear detection up to 100pg. When assaying extracts prepared from Huh-7 clone 21-5 cells harboring a full-length HCV replicon, core is detectable from as few as 63 cell equivalents. The assay was used to determine the sensitivity of Huh 21-5 cells to the antiviral effects of interferon (IFN). Inhibition by IFN-alpha using core detection was comparable to that observed using branched-DNA (bDNA 3.0) detection of HCV RNA. Replication of transfected full-length HCV 1a Con1 genomes in Huh-7 cells was also detectable using the trak-C assay. Finally, in the transgenic murine HCV infection model, the course of viral amplification was detected from serum using trak-C with kinetics similar to those observed with RNA detection. Given its ease of use and the lack of requirement for RNA purification, the trak-C assay has several advantages over RNA-based methods of viral monitoring.     

Analysis of a non-structural gene reveals evidence of possible hepatitis C virus (HCV) compartmentalization

Viral diversity is a hallmark of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; however, only limited data are available regarding HCV variability in extrahepatic sites, and none have systematically compared diversity in non‐structural and structural genomic regions. Therefore, HCV diversity in the NS5B and envelope 1 (E1) hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) genes was evaluated in matched sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 13 HCV‐infected women. Multiple clonal sequences were compared to evaluate quasispecies diversity and viral compartmentalization in PBMCs. Genetic distances were higher for E1/HVR1 compared to NS5B in both the sera and PBMCs (P = 0.0511 and 0.0284). Genetic distances were higher in serum NS5B compared to PBMC NS5B (P = 0.0003); however, they were not different when comparing E1/HVR1 in sera to PBMCs. By phylogenetic analysis of NS5B, evidence of possible PBMC compartmentalization was observed for one woman, while statistical methods were consistent with PBMC compartmentalization for six women. Evidence of compartmentalization within a non‐structural genomic region may suggest that viral adaptation to a unique extracellular microenvironment(s) may be required for efficient replication and could contribute to HCV persistence. J. Med. Virol. 84:242–252, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Expression and characterisation of the influenza A virus non-structural protein NS1 in yeast

Summary The influenza A virus non-structural protein NS₁ was produced using a copper-inducible expression system in the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The protein produced had a molecular weight of 26 kDa by SDS-PAGE and was reactive with anti-NS₁ antisera. The recombinant NS₁ protein was targetted to the nucleolus/nuclear envelope fraction of the yeast cell nucleus, showing that its localisation signals remain functional in yeast. In addition, immune-electron microscopy detected cytoplasmic inclusions reminiscent of those seen in cells infected with some influenza strains. The NS₁ protein was shown to be capable of in vivo self-interaction which probably forms the basis of its propensity to form inclusions. Expression of the protein was found to be toxic to yeast cells expressing it, supporting a role for the protein in the shutdown of influenza virus-infected cells. Deletion mapping of NS₁ pointed to 2 regions of the molecule being important for this toxicity: a basic C-terminal stretch which has been shown to act as a nuclear localisation signal, and an N-terminal region implicated in RNA binding.     

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS2 protein up-regulates HCV IRES-dependent translation and down-regulates NS5B RdRp activity

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection often leads to liver cancer. The HCV NS2 protein is a hydrophobic transmembrane protein that associates with several cellular proteins in mammalian cells. In this report, we investigated the function of NS2 protein on HCV replication and translation by using a transient cell-based expression system. Cells co-transfected with pcDNA3.1 (−)-NS2 and the dual-luciferase reporter construct containing the HCV IRES were used to detect the effect of NS2 protein on HCV translation. Cells co-transfected with pcDNA3.1(−)-NS2, pcDNA-NS5B and a reporter plasmid were used to detect the effect of NS2 protein on HCV replication. The results showed that HCV NS2 protein up-regulated HCV IRES-dependent translation in a specific and dose-dependent manner in Huh7 cells but not in HeLa and HepG2 cells, and NS2 protein inhibited NS5B RdRp activity in a dose-independent manner in all three cell lines. These findings may suggest a novel mechanism by which HCV modulates its NS5B replication and IRES-dependent translation and facilitates virus persistence. Y. She and Q. Liao contributed equally to this work.     

HCV非结构蛋白NS5A基因的斑马鱼肝脏表达模型

目的建立HCV非结构蛋白NS5A基因在斑马鱼肝脏特异表达的模型,研究HCVNS5A的体内作用机制并初步探讨HCVNS5A对肝病理标志基因表达的影响。方法克隆肝基因表达调控序列——斑马鱼脂肪酸结合蛋白基因增强子序列（eFABP）和HCV非结构蛋白基因NS5A序列,利用CMV启动子序列,构建HCVNS5A基因和报告基因绿色荧光蛋白基因eGFP在肝脏共表达的基因构件pFC-5AiR。经细胞转染实验验证所建构件的报告基因DsRed表达红色荧光蛋白后,将该基因构件线性化并经显微注射导入斑马鱼胚胎;通过荧光显微镜观察和整体原位杂交技术对目的基因NS5A的表达进行定位,验证其肝脏特异性表达。采用RT-PCR方法和westernblot方法对HCVNS5A基因的转录和翻译水平进行检测;并检测肝脏病理相关的标志基因的转录水平变化。结果细胞转染实验证明基因构件pFC一5AiR的报告基因DsRed能够在肝癌细胞Huh7中表达;斑马鱼胚胎注射该基因构件后在肝脏能够观察到红色荧光蛋白基因DsRed的表达;RT-PCR和westemblot结果显示HCV基因NS5A能够在斑马鱼体内正确表达;原位杂交结果进一步证明了NS5A的表达集中在斑马鱼肝脏内。进一步RT-PCR检测表明HCVNS5A在斑马鱼体内的表达可导致一些肝代谢和纤维化相关基因的上调,如Adiponectin、LDLR、Argsyn、TGF-β和HMGR等,推测NS5A在肝脏脂肪病变和纤维化中具有一定作用。结论成功建立了斑马鱼肝脏表达HCVNS5A的模型;初步数据表明HCVNS5A在斑马鱼体内的表达与部分肝代谢和纤维化标志基因的异常表达相关;该模型可以用于HCVNS5A的体内病理机制的研究。     

Multiple cyclophilins involved in different cellular pathways mediate HCV replication

Three cyclophilin inhibitors (DEBIO-025, SCY635, and NIM811) are currently in clinical trials for hepatitis C therapy. The mechanism of action of these, however, is not completely understood. There are at least 16 cyclophilins expressed in human cells which are involved in a diverse set of cellular processes. Large-scale siRNA experiments, chemoproteomic assays with cyclophilin binding compounds, and mRNA profiling of HCV replicon containing cells were used to identify the cyclophilins that are instrumental to HCV replication. The previously reported cyclophilin A was confirmed and additional cyclophilin containing pathways were identified. Together, the experiments provide strong evidence that NIM811 reduces viral replication by inhibition of multiple cyclophilins and pathways with protein trafficking as the most strongly and persistently affected pathway.     

膜结合表达对HCV C基因免疫的影响

目的：探讨膜结合表达对基因免疫的影响。方法：流感病毒跨膜蛋白基因修饰带HBV preC分泌型信号肽的HCV C69基因,构建pc69TM质粒,^35S-甲硫氨酸代谢标记和免疫沉淀检测质粒体外瞬时表达蛋白;肌肉免疫Balb/c小鼠。结果 pc69TM基因表达出的蛋白存在于膜上。免疫鼠淋巴细胞对特异性抗原刺激的增殖能力pc69TM较分泌表达型质粒pc69显著增强（P=0.03）,而2种质粒诱导小鼠产生抗体效价差异不显著（P=0.765）。结论 膜结合表达能增强HCV C69基因免疫的淋巴细胞增殖能力。