Detection of a 5' end subgenome of hepatitis C virus terminating at nucleotide 384 in patients' plasma and liver tissues

Quadri and Negro [Dig Liver Dis 2001; 33: 480] reported greater distribution of 5' end genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus (HCV) over its 3' end in the liver of patients with recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation. We not only confirmed their results by quantifying the 5' end subgenomes in various specimens by using dilution and real-time polymerase chain reaction methods, but also discovered that such subgenomes terminated at nucleotide (nt) 384 of the viral genome or in its immediate upstream. The subgenomes in the plasma uniformly, with a few exceptions, ended at this position, while those in the liver more heterogeneously at various points upstream of nt 384. Subgenome populations ending some points in the downstream of nt 384 were not detected. The amount of the 5' end subgenome, while fluctuating during the clinical course of the patients, exceeded that of the longer sized HCV genomes which included the intact genome, and, when the relative ratio of the 5' end subgenome increased, the amount of longer sized HCV RNA tended to decrease, suggesting a suppressive effect of the 5' end subgenome on viral replication.     

应用抑制性消减杂交技术筛选NS5ATP5的上调基因

目的 通过抑制性消减杂交(SSH)技术构建丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)NS5A反式激活蛋白5(NS5ATP5)的反式激活相关基因差异表达的cDNA消减文库，筛选HCV NS5ATP5蛋白反式激活靶基因。方法 以HCV NSSATP5表达质粒pcDNA3．1(-)-NSSATP5转染HepG2细胞，以空载体pcDNA3．1(-)为对照；制备转染后的细胞裂解液，从中提取mRNA并合成cDNA，经RsaⅠ酶切后将实验组cDNA分成两组，分别与两种不同的接头衔接，再与对照组cDNA进行两次消减杂交及两次抑制性PCR，将产物与T／A载体连接，构建cDNA消减文库，并转染大肠杆菌进行文库扩增，随机挑选克隆PCR后进行测序及同源性分析。结果 成功构建人HCV NSSATP5蛋白反式激活相关基因差异表达的cDNA消减文库。文库扩增后得到91个白色克隆，进行菌落PCR分析，其中86个均得到100～1000bp插入片段。挑取32个插入片段测序分析。其中包括结缔组织生长因子、纤维连接蛋白、胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白1等重要的基因。结论 成功筛选出HCV NS5ATP5的上调基因。     

Hepatocellular carcinoma: role of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses proteins in hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most important primary hepatic cancer, being a common cancer type worldwide. Many aetiological factors have been related with HCC development, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis viruses and alcohol. Chronic infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV) often results in cirrhosis and enhances the probability of developing HCC. The underlying mechanisms that lead to malignant transformation of infected cells, however, remain unclear. HBV is a DNA virus that integrates into the host genome, and this integration is believed, in part, to be carcinogenic. Besides, the virus encodes a 17 kDa protein, HBx, which is known to be a causative agent in the formation of HCC. On the contrary, HCV is a RNA virus that does not integrate into the host genome but likely induces HCC through host protein interactions or via the inflammatory response to the virus. Products encoded in the HCV genome interfere with and disturb intracellular signal transduction. Some HCV proteins, such as the core protein, NS3 and NS5A, have seen to have a regulatory effect on cellular promoters, to interact with a number of cellular proteins, and to be involved in programmed-cell death modulation under certain conditions. The identification of these proteins functions in HCC development and the subsequent development of strategies to inhibit protein-protein interactions may be the first step towards reducing the chronicity and/or of the carcinogenicity of these two viruses.     

抑制性消减杂交技术筛选NS5ATP13 蛋白的上调基因

目的 应用抑制性消减杂交(SSH)技术构建丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)NS5ATP13蛋白反式激活相关基因差异表达的cDNA消减文库，克隆HCV NS5ATP13蛋白反式激活靶基因。方法 以HCV NS5ATP13表达质粒pcDNA3．1(-)-NS5ATPl3转染HepG2细胞，以空载体pcDNA3．1(-)为对照；制备转染后的细胞裂解液，从中提取mRNA并合成cDNA，经RsaⅠ酶切后将实验组cDNA分成两组，分别与两种不同的接头衔接，再与对照组cDNA进行两次消减杂交及两次抑制性PCR，将产物与T／A载体连接，构建cDNA消减文库，并转染大肠杆菌进行文库扩增，随机挑选克隆PCR后进行测序及同源性分析。结果 成功构建人HCV-NS5ATPl3蛋白反式激活相关基因差异表达的cDNA消减文库。文库扩增后得到102个白色克隆，进行菌落PCR分析，其中96个均得到100～1000bp插入片段。挑取40个插入片段测序分析，其中2个cDNA片段为未知序列，通过生物信息学分析获得其全长序列，已被GenBank收录，另有34个为已知功能序列。结论成功筛选出2个新的cDNA序列，并获得其全长序列，可能为HCV NS5ATPl3蛋白反式激活相关靶基因。     

Productive replication of hepatitis C virus in perihepatic lymph nodes in vivo: implications of HCV lymphotropism

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C is poorly understood. This study examines the ability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to infect, replicate in, and produce progeny virus from perihepatic lymph nodes in vivo. METHODS: Lymph node (LN) biopsy specimens were taken from 20 patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and end-stage liver disease and 20 noninfected negative controls. Sections were probed with HCV RNA strand-specific riboprobes and antibodies specific for HCV core and nonstructural region 3 antigens plus B-cell (CD20) and T-cell (CD2) antigens. In a selected case, HCV quasispecies in serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, liver, and perihepatic lymph nodes were analyzed by clonal frequency analysis and sequencing. RESULTS: HCV infection was confirmed in 17 of 20 (85%) of lymph node specimens by in situ hybridization, and HCV replication was confirmed in 50% of cases by detection of HCV replicative intermediate RNA. HCV core and nonstructural 3 antigens were detected in lymph nodes by immunocytochemistry. Infected cell phenotypes were primarily CD20 B cells, although other cell types were positive for HCV replication markers. Quasispecies analysis in one case indicated that 68% of variants circulating in serum were also present in lymphoid tissues, and only 40% of serum variants were identified in liver, documenting a major contribution of lymphoid replication to HCV viremia. CONCLUSIONS: HCV lymphotropism provides new insights into the complex pathobiology of chronic hepatitis C in humans. We demonstrate for the first time a major contribution of extrahepatic HCV replication to circulating virus in serum (viremia).     

Mutagenic effect of ribavirin on hepatitis C nonstructural 5B quasispecies in vitro and during antiviral therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Addition of ribavirin to interferon alfa treatment has substantially increased sustained virologic response rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Ribavirin acts as an RNA virus mutagen in vitro, thereby leading to error catastrophe. However, data in CHC are controversial. METHODS: The nonstructural (NS) 5B quasi-species heterogeneity was analyzed in Huh7 cells harboring a subgenomic hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicon system treated with ribavirin or levovirin. Accordingly, NS5B quasi-species were studied in 14 patients with CHC who received ribavirin alone or combined with pegylated interferon alfa both at baseline and during the first weeks of therapy. Analysis of NS3 quasi-species served as control. RESULTS: Cultivation of HCV replicon cells with ribavirin led to higher NS5B mutational frequencies compared with levovirin-treated or untreated cells (P < .05). Patients receiving ribavirin monotherapy showed higher overall mutational frequencies within NS3 and NS5B during therapy as compared with baseline (P < .01). Proportions of ribavirin-specific G-to-A and C-to-T transitions increased (P < .01). Paired analysis confirmed significant mean increases of mutational frequencies of approximately 5%. Ribavirin serum concentrations were positively correlated with mutational frequency changes (P < .05). In patients receiving combination therapy, a decrease of NS5B mutational frequencies ( approximately 10%) and lower proportions of G-to-A and T-to-C mutations (P < .01) were detectable. CONCLUSIONS: Ribavirin, but not its L-enantiomer levovirin, is a mutagen in HCV replicon cells. In patients with CHC, ribavirin monotherapy exhibits a moderate mutagenic effect early during therapy that is not detectable in combination with pegylated interferon alfa.     

Effect of mutation in the hepatitis C virus nonstructural 5B region on HCV replication

Background We have reported that the presence of a mutation at the hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B), defined as a change in amino acids at sites specific for a different reported genotype, was related to complete response (CR) to interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with genotype 1b. The present study assessed the impact of the NS5B mutation on the replication of HCV in these patients.Methods Genotype-specific mutations of HCV NS5B were determined by direct sequencing. We measured HCV-RNA titers in serum by real-time detected polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serum HCV core protein levels (as a marker of HCV-RNA replication) were measured using an enzyme immunoassay in patients with CHC genotype 1b. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity was measured by Behrens method in liver cirrhosis patients infected with HCV (n = 13) and in those infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV; n = 2).Results The titers of HCV-RNA (n = 44) and the levels of HCV core protein (n = 41) were significantly lower in patients with the HCV genotype 1b mutant compared with wild-type HCV (P < 0.05). RdRp activity in liver tissue did not show any correlation with the HCV NS5B mutation.Conclusions HCV NS5B genotype-specific mutations in HCV genotype 1b may influence HCV replication.     

丙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白NS3反式激活基因1的克隆化研究

目的 应用抑制性消减杂交技术(SSH)及生物信息学技术(bioinformatics)筛选并克隆丙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白3(NS3)反式激活新型靶基因，进一步阐明HCV感染相关疾病的发病机制。方法 以HCVNS3蛋白表达质粒pcDNA3．1(-)-NS3转染HepG2细胞，以空载体pcDNA3．1(-)为平行对照，提取mRNA并进行抑制性消减杂交分析。并应用分子生物学技术，结合生物信息学技术，克隆HCVNS3反式激活作用的新的靶基因。结果 对于所获基因片段序列分析表明，其中之一为新型基因片段。从HepG2细胞提取总RNA，以逆转录多聚酶链反应(RT—PCR)技术扩增获得该新基因的全长序列，并测序证实，因其可以被NS3蛋白反式激活，故命名为NS3TP1，已在GenBank中注册，注册号为AYll6969。NS3评1基因的编码序列全长为1932个核昔酸(nt)，编码产物由眺个氨基酸残基(aa)组成。结论 HCVNS3是一种典型的病毒基因组编码的具有反式激活作用的蛋白，HCVNS3反式激活作用的新靶基因的发现，为进一步研究HCVNS3蛋白反式激活作用的分子生物学机制和探索新型治疗技术奠定基础。     

Relationship between histological prognosis of chronic hepatitis C and amount of hepatitis C virus core protein in serum

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) viraemia is one of the factors for histological prognosis of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five patients who received hepatic biopsies twice at intervals of 5 years or longer were followed up for a mean of 9.7 +/- 4.0 years were studied retrospectively. The amount of HCV viraemia present was measured as the concentration of HCV core protein by using the fluorescence enzyme immunoassay method. RESULTS: Multiple-regression analysis, using deterioration of the histological stage as a dependent variable, showed that greater age (P = 0.041), higher stage of hepatic histology at the start of follow up (P = 0.029), and higher serum concentration of core protein (P < 0.001) were independent factors affecting the deterioration of the liver's histological stage. At follow up, no significant difference in histological stage was seen between patients with serum HCV core protein > or = 100 pg/mL (n = 60) and those with serum core protein < 100 pg/mL (n = 75). The histological grade in patients with high serum core-protein levels tended to be significantly worse and the deterioration rate of the histological stage was significantly higher than in those with low HCV core protein levels (68 vs 35%, P < 0.001). The mutation rate of the HCV envelope-2/non-structural 1 (E2/NS1) nucleotide region was compared in two patients who had high serum concentrations of HCV core protein and whose histological stage had deteriorated with two patients who had low serum concentrations of the core protein and whose histological stages remained unchanged. No significant difference in E2/NS1 mutation was found. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of HCV viraemia was suggested to be a significant factor for determining histological outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The mutation rate in the E2/NS1 region did not seem to be associated with the prognosis of chronic hepatitis C.     

Genetic diversity of the hepatitis C virus： Impact and issues in the antiviral therapy

The hepatitis C Virus (HCV) presents a high degree of genetic variability which is explained by the combination of a lack of proof reading by the RNA dependant RNA polymerase and a high level of viral replication. The re- sulting genetic polymorphism defines a classification in clades, genotypes, subtypes, isolates and quasispecies. This diversity is known to reflect the range of responses to Interferon therapy. The genotype is one of the pre- dictive parameters currently used to define the antiviral treatment strategy and the chance of therapeutic suc- cess. Studies have also reported the potential impact of the viral genetic polymorphism in the outcome of antivi- ral therapy in patients infected by the same HCV geno- type. Both structural and non structural genomic regions of HCV have been suggested to be involved in the Inter- feron pathway and the resistance to antiviral therapy. In this review, we first detail the viral basis of HCV diversity. Then, the HCV genetic regions that may be implicated in resistance to therapy are described, with a focus on the structural region encoded by the E2 gene and the non- structural genes NS3, NS5A and NS5B. Both mechanisms of the Interferon resistance and of the new antiviral drugs are described in this review.     

Quasispecies evolution in NS5A region of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b during interferon or combined interferon-ribavirin therapy

AIM: To evaluate the implication of substitutions in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural 5A (NS5A) protein in the resistance of HCV during mono-interferon (IFN) or combined IFN-ribavirin (IFN-R) therapy. Although NS5A has been reported to interact with the HCV RNA- dependent RNA polymerase, NS5B, as well as with many cellular proteins, the function of NS5A in the life cycle of HCV remains unclear. METHODS: HCV quasispecies were studied by clon- ing and sequencing of sequential isolates from patients infected by HCV genotype 1b. Patients were treated by IFN-α2b for 3 mo followed by IFN-α2b alone or com- bined IFN-R therapy for 9 additional months. Patients were categorized intro two groups based on their re- sponse to the treatments: 7 with sustained virological re- sponse (SVR) (quasispecies = 150) and 3 non-respond- ers (NR) to IFN-R (quasispecies = 106). RESULTS: Prior to treatment, SVR patients displayed a lower complexity of quasispecies than NR patients. Most patients had a decrease in the complexity of quasispe- cies during therapy. Analysis of amino acids substitu- tions showed that the degree of the complexity of the interferon sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) and the V3 domain of NS5A protein was able to discriminate thetwo groups of patients. Moreover, SVR patients displayed more variability in the NS5A region than NR patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that detailed mo- lecular analysis of the NS5A region may be important for understanding its function in IFN response during HCV 1b infection.