HERC5 E3 ligase mediates ISGylation of hepatitis B virus X protein to promote viral replication

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rheza Gandi Bawono ◽  
Takayuki Abe ◽  
Mengting Qu ◽  
Daisuke Kuroki ◽  
Lin Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Protein Modification ◽  
E3 Ligase ◽  
Type I ◽  
X Protein ◽  
E3 Ligases ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
Hbv Genotypes ◽  
B Virus

Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like protein modification play important roles in modulating the functions of viral proteins in many viruses. Here we demonstrate that hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is modified by ISG15, which is a type I IFN-inducible, ubiquitin-like protein; this modification is called ISGylation. Immunoblot analyses revealed that HBx proteins derived from four different HBV genotypes accepted ISGylation in cultured cells. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that three lysine residues (K91, K95 and K140) on the HBx protein, which are well conserved among all the HBV genotypes, are involved in acceptance of ISGylation. Using expression plasmids encoding three known E3 ligases involved in the ISGylation to different substrates, we found that HERC5 functions as an E3 ligase for HBx-ISGylation. Treatment with type I and type III IFNs resulted in the limited suppression of HBV replication in Hep38.7-Tet cells. When cells were treated with IFN-α, silencing of ISG15 resulted in a marked reduction of HBV replication in Hep38.7-Tet cells, suggesting a role of ISG15 in the resistance to IFN-α. In contrast, the silencing of USP18 (an ISG15 de-conjugating enzyme) increased the HBV replication in Hep38.7-Tet cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the HERC5-mediated ISGylation of HBx protein confers pro-viral functions on HBV replication and participates in the resistance to IFN-α-mediated antiviral activity.

scholarly journals Hepatitis B virus X protein inhibits extracellular IFN-α-mediated signal transduction by downregulation of type I IFN receptor

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
IL-RAE CHO ◽  
MYUNGJU OH ◽  
SANG SEOK KOH ◽  
WARAPORN MALILAS ◽  
RATAKORN SRISUTTEE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type I Ifn ◽  
X Protein ◽  
B Virus

scholarly journals Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Induces Perinuclear Mitochondrial Clustering in Microtubule- and Dynein-Dependent Manners

2006 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 1714-1726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujeong Kim ◽  
Hye-Young Kim ◽  
Seungmin Lee ◽  
Sung Woo Kim ◽  
Seonghyang Sohn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Nuclear Periphery ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Atpase Inhibitor ◽  
X Protein ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus

ABSTRACT The hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is thought to play a key role in HBV replication and the development of liver cancer. It became apparent that HBx induces mitochondrial clustering at the nuclear periphery, but the molecular basis for mitochondrial clustering is not understood. Since mitochondria move along the cytoskeleton as a cargo of motor proteins, we hypothesized that mitochondrial clustering induced by HBx occurs by an altered intracellular motility. Here, we demonstrated that the treatment of HBx-expressing cells with a microtubule-disrupting drug (nocodazole) abrogated mitochondrial clustering, while the removal of nocodazole restored clustering within 30 to 60 min, indicating that mitochondrial transport is occurring in a microtubule-dependent manner. The addition of a cytochalasin D-disrupting actin filament, however, did not measurably affect mitochondrial clustering. Mitochondrial clustering was further studied by observations of HBV-related hepatoma cells and HBV-replicating cells. Importantly, the abrogation of the dynein activity in HBx-expressing cells by microinjection of a neutralizing anti-dynein intermediate-chain antibody, dynamitin overexpression, or the addition of a dynein ATPase inhibitor significantly suppressed the mitochondrial clustering. In addition, HBx induced the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and inhibition of the p38 kinase activity by SB203580-attenuated HBx-induced mitochondrial clustering. Taken together, HBx activation of the p38 MAPK contributed to the increase in the microtubule-dependent dynein activity. The data suggest that HBx plays a novel regulatory role in subcellular transport systems, perhaps facilitating the process of maturation and/or assembly of progeny particles during HBV replication. Furthermore, mitochondrion aggregation induced by HBx may represent a cellular process that underlies disease progression during chronic viral infection.

scholarly journals Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Facilitates Hepatitis B Virus Replication through Binding with Type I Interferon (IFN) Receptor 1 To Repress IFN/JAK/STAT Signaling

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junbo Chen ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Yanni Chen ◽  
Xueping Xie ◽  
Yecheng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ◽  
Host Immunity ◽  
Type I ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Metalloproteinase 9

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may cause acute hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms by which HBV evades host immunity and maintains chronic infection are largely unknown. Here, we revealed that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is activated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HBV-infected patients, and HBV stimulates MMP-9 expression in macrophages and PBMCs isolated from healthy individuals. MMP-9 plays important roles in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix and in the facilitation of tumor progression, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. MMP-9 also regulates respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) replication, but the mechanism underlying such regulation is unknown. We further demonstrated that MMP-9 facilitates HBV replication by repressing the interferon (IFN)/Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, IFN action, STAT1/2 phosphorylation, and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) expression. Moreover, MMP-9 binds to type I IFN receptor 1 (IFNAR1) and facilitates IFNAR1 phosphorylation, ubiquitination, subcellular distribution, and degradation to interfere with the binding of IFANR1 to IFN-α. Thus, we identified a novel positive-feedback regulation loop between HBV replication and MMP-9 production. On one hand, HBV activates MMP-9 in infected patients and leukocytes. On the other hand, MMP-9 facilitates HBV replication through repressing IFN/JAK/STAT signaling, IFNAR1 function, and IFN-α action. Therefore, HBV may take the advantage of MMP-9 function to establish or maintain chronic infection. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may cause chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms by which HBV maintains chronic infection are largely unknown. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) plays important roles in the facilitation of tumor progression, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. However, the effects of MMP-9 on HBV replication and pathogenesis are not known. This study reveals that MMP-9 expression is activated in patients with CHB, and HBV stimulates MMP-9 production in PBMCs and macrophages. More interestingly, MMP-9 in turn promotes HBV replication through suppressing IFN-α action. Moreover, MMP-9 interacts with type I interferon receptor 1 (IFNAR1) to disturb the binding of IFN-α to IFNAR1 and facilitate the phosphorylation, ubiquitination, subcellular distribution, and degradation of IFNAR1. Therefore, these results discover a novel role of MMP-9 in viral replication and reveal a new mechanism by which HBV evades host immunity to maintain persistent infection.

scholarly journals Enhancement of Hepatitis B Virus Replication by Its X Protein in Transgenic Mice

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 2579-2584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenming Xu ◽  
T. S. Benedict Yen ◽  
Lanying Wu ◽  
Charles R. Madden ◽  
Wenjie Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Viral Gene Expression ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
X Protein ◽  
Multifunctional Protein ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X gene encodes a multifunctional protein that can regulate cellular signaling pathways, interact with cellular transcription factors, and induce hepatocellular oncogenesis. In spite of its diverse activities, the precise role of the X protein in the viral life cycle of HBV remains unclear. To investigate this question, we have produced transgenic mice that carry either the wild-type HBV genome or a mutated HBV genome incapable of expressing the 16.5-kDa X protein. Our results indicate that while the X protein is not absolutely essential for HBV replication or its maturation in transgenic mice, it can enhance viral replication, apparently by activating viral gene expression. These results demonstrate a transactivation role of the X protein in HBV replication in transgenic mice.

scholarly journals The Functional and Antiviral Activity of Interferon Alpha-Inducible IFI6 Against Hepatitis B Virus Replication and Gene Expression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sajid ◽  
Hafiz Ullah ◽  
Kun Yan ◽  
Miao He ◽  
Jiangpeng Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Interferon Alpha ◽  
Type I ◽  
Enhancer Activity ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Stimulation Of

Hepatitis B virus is an enveloped DNA virus, that infects more than three hundred and sixty million people worldwide and leads to severe chronic liver diseases. Interferon-alpha inducible protein 6 (IFI6) is an IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) whose expression is highly regulated by the stimulation of type I IFN-alpha that restricts various kinds of virus infections by targeting different stages of the viral life cycle. This study aims to investigate the antiviral activity of IFI6 against HBV replication and gene expression. The IFI6 was highly induced by the stimulation of IFN-α in hepatoma cells. The overexpression of IFI6 inhibited while knockdown of IFI6 elevated replication and gene expression of HBV in HepG2 cells. Further study determined that IFI6 inhibited HBV replication by reducing EnhII/Cp of the HBV without affecting liver enriched transcription factors that have significant importance in regulating HBV enhancer activity. Furthermore, deletion mutation of EnhII/Cp and CHIP analysis revealed 100 bps (1715-1815 nt) putative sites involved in IFI6 mediated inhibition of HBV. Detailed analysis with EMSA demonstrated that 1715-1770 nt of EnhII/Cp was specifically involved in binding with IFI6 and restricted EnhII/Cp promoter activity. Moreover, IFI6 was localized mainly inside the nucleus to involve in the anti-HBV activity of IFI6. In vivo analysis based on the hydrodynamic injection of IFI6 expression plasmid along with HBV revealed significant inhibition of HBV DNA replication and gene expression. Overall, our results suggested a novel mechanism of IFI6 mediated HBV regulation that could develop potential therapeutics for efficient HBV infection treatment.

scholarly journals The Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Modulates Hepatocyte Proliferation Pathways To Stimulate Viral Replication

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 2675-2686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tricia L. Gearhart ◽  
Michael J. Bouchard
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Hepatocyte Proliferation ◽  
X Protein ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Worldwide, there are over 350 million people who are chronically infected with the human hepatitis B virus (HBV); chronic HBV infections are associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The results of various studies suggest that the HBV X protein (HBx) has a role in the development of HBV-associated HCC. HBx can regulate numerous cellular signal transduction pathways, including those that modulate cell proliferation. Many previous studies that analyzed the impact of HBx on cell proliferation pathways were conducted using established or immortalized cell lines, and when HBx was expressed in the absence of HBV replication, and the precise effect of HBx on these pathways has often differed depending on experimental conditions. We have studied the effect of HBx on cell proliferation in cultured primary rat hepatocytes, a biologically relevant system. We demonstrate that HBx, both by itself and in the context of HBV replication, affected the levels and activities of various cell cycle-regulatory proteins to induce normally quiescent hepatocytes to enter the G1 phase of the cell cycle but not to proceed to S phase. We linked HBx regulation of cell proliferation to cytosolic calcium signaling and HBx stimulation of HBV replication. Cumulatively, our studies suggest that HBx induces normally quiescent hepatocytes to enter the G1 phase of the cell cycle and that this calcium-dependent HBx activity is required for HBV replication. These studies identify an essential function of HBx during HBV replication and a mechanism that may connect HBV infections to the development of HCC.

scholarly journals Anti-Hepatitis B Virus X Protein in Sera Is One of the Markers of Development of Liver Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer Mediated by HBV

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Zhang ◽  
Lian-Ying Wu ◽  
Shuai Zhang ◽  
Li-Yan Qiu ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
X Protein ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Circulating Antibody

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays a crucial role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the significance of circulating antibody to hepatitis B virus X antigen (anti-HBx) in sera remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the titers of anti-HBx (IgG) in the sera from 173 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 106 liver cirrhosis (LC), and 61 HCC by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Our data showed that the positive rates of anti-HBx were higher in sera of LC (40.6%) and HCC (34.4%) than those of CHB (10.4%),P<.05. In all 40 patients with anti-HBx+ out of 340 patients, 39 (97.5%) were HBsAg/HBeAg/anti-HBc+ and 1 (2.5%) was anti-HBs+ (P<.01), suggesting that anti-HBx in sera is a marker of HBV replication rather than a protective antibody. Thus, our findings reveal that circulating anti-HBx in sera is one of the markers of development of LC and HCC mediated by HBV.

scholarly journals STING Agonists Induce an Innate Antiviral Immune Response against Hepatitis B Virus

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 1273-1281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Guo ◽  
Yanxing Han ◽  
Xuesen Zhao ◽  
Jianghua Wang ◽  
Fei Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Cytokine Response ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Stable Cell Line ◽  
Type I ◽  
Antiviral Immune Response ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus

ABSTRACTChronicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is due to the failure of a host to mount a sufficient immune response to clear the virus. The aim of this study was to identify small-molecular agonists of the pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-mediated innate immune response to control HBV infection. To achieve this goal, a coupled mouse macrophage and hepatocyte culture system mimicking the intrahepatic environment was established and used to screen small-molecular compounds that activate macrophages to produce cytokines, which in turn suppress HBV replication in a hepatocyte-derived stable cell line supporting HBV replication in a tetracycline-inducible manner. An agonist of the mouse stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING), 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA), was found to induce a robust cytokine response in macrophages that efficiently suppressed HBV replication in mouse hepatocytes by reducing the amount of cytoplasmic viral nucleocapsids. Profiling of cytokines induced by DMXAA and agonists of representative Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in mouse macrophages revealed that, unlike TLR agonists that induced a predominant inflammatory cytokine/chemokine response, the STING agonist induced a cytokine response dominated by type I IFNs. Moreover, as demonstrated in an HBV hydrodynamic mouse model, intraperitoneal administration of DMXAA significantly induced the expression of IFN-stimulated genes and reduced HBV DNA replication intermediates in the livers of mice. This study thus proves the concept that activation of the STING pathway induces an antiviral cytokine response against HBV and that the development of small-molecular human STING agonists as immunotherapeutic agents for treatment of chronic hepatitis B is warranted.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document