scholarly journals Comparison of Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Activities of Lamivudine and Clevudine by a Quantitative Assay

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 324-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman M. Abdelhamed ◽  
Colleen M. Kelley ◽  
Thomas G. Miller ◽  
Phillip A. Furman ◽  
Edward E. Cable ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In this study, we used a quantitative assay to measure the concentration-dependent effects of antivirals on extracellular hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA as well as on different cytoplasmic and nuclear forms of HBV DNA that participate in HBV replication. HBV recombinant baculovirus, which efficiently delivers the HBV genome to HepG2 cells, was used for this study because (i) antivirals can be administered prior to initiation of HBV infection or after HBV infection and (ii) sufficiently high HBV replication levels are achieved that HBV covalently closed circular (CCC) DNA can be easily detected and individual HBV DNA species can be quantitatively analyzed separately from total HBV DNA. The results showed that the levels of HBV replicative intermediate and extracellular DNA decreased in a concentration-dependent fashion following antiviral treatment. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) and EC90 values and the Hill slopes differed for the different HBV DNA species analyzed. The data clearly indicated that (i) nuclear HBV DNAs are more resistant to antiviral therapy than cytoplasmic or extracellular HBV DNAs and (ii) nuclear HBV CCC DNA is more resistant than the nuclear relaxed circular form. This report presents the first in vitro comparison of the effects of two antivirals administered prior to initiation of HBV infection and the first thorough in vitro quantitative study of concentration-dependent antiviral effects on HBV CCC DNA.

1999 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 2017-2026 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Delaney ◽  
Thomas G. Miller ◽  
Harriet C. Isom

ABSTRACT (−)-β-2′,3′-Dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (lamivudine [3TC]) is a nucleoside analog which effectively interferes with the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in vitro and in vivo. We have investigated the antiviral properties of 3TC in vitro in HepG2 cells infected with recombinant HBV baculovirus. Different types of information can be obtained with the HBV baculovirus-HepG2 system because (i) experiments can be carried out at various levels of HBV replication including levels significantly higher than those that can be obtained from conventional HBV-expressing cell lines, (ii) cultures can be manipulated and/or treated prior to or during the initiation of HBV expression, and (iii) high levels of HBV replication allow the rapid detection of HBV products including covalently closed circular (CCC) HBV DNA from low numbers of HepG2 cells. The treatment of HBV baculovirus-infected HepG2 cells with 3TC resulted in an inhibition of HBV replication, evidenced by reductions in the levels of both extracellular HBV DNA and intracellular replicative intermediates. The effect of 3TC on HBV replication was both dose and time dependent, and the reductions in extracellular HBV DNA that we observed agreed well with the previously reported efficacy of 3TC in vitro. As expected, levels of HBV transcripts and extracellular hepatitis B surface antigen and e antigen were not affected by 3TC. Importantly, the HBV baculovirus-HepG2 system made it possible to observe for the first time that CCC HBV DNA levels are lower in cells treated with 3TC than in control cells. We also observed that the treatment of HepG2 cells prior to HBV baculovirus infection resulted in a slight increase in the efficacy of 3TC compared to treatments starting 24 h postinfection. The treatment of HepG2 cells with the highest concentration of 3TC tested in this study (2 μM) prior to the initiation of HBV replication markedly inhibited the accumulation of CCC DNA, whereas treatment with the same concentration of 3TC at a time when CCC HBV DNA pools were established within the cells was considerably less effective. In addition, our results suggest that in HepG2 cells, non-protein-associated relaxed circular HBV DNA and particularly CCC HBV DNA are considerably more resistant to 3TC treatment than other forms of HBV DNA, including replicative intermediates and extracellular DNA. We conclude from these studies that the HBV baculovirus-HepG2 system has specific advantages for drug studies and can be used to complement other in vitro model systems currently used for testing antiviral compounds.


2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 2199-2205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radhakrishnan P. Iyer ◽  
Yi Jin ◽  
Arlene Roland ◽  
John D. Morrey ◽  
Samir Mounir ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Several nucleoside analogs are under clinical development for use against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Lamivudine (3TC), a nucleoside analog, and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), an acyclonucleotide analog, are clinically approved. However, long-term treatment can induce viral resistance, and following the cessation of therapy, viral rebound is frequently observed. There continues to be a need for new antiviral agents with novel mechanisms of action. A library of more than 600 di- and trinucleotide compounds synthesized by parallel synthesis using a combinatorial strategy was screened for potential inhibitors of HBV replication using the chronically HBV-producing cell line 2.2.15. Through an iterative process of synthesis, lead optimization, and screening, three analogs were identified as potent inhibitors of HBV replication: dinucleotides ORI-7246 (drug concentration at which a 10-fold reduction of HBV DNA was observed [EC90], 1.4 μM) and ORI-9020 (EC90, 1.2 μM) and trinucleotide ORI-7170 (EC90, 7.2 μM). These analogs inhibited the replication of both strands of HBV DNA. No suppression of HBV protein synthesis or intracellular core particle formation by these analogs was observed. No inhibition of HBV DNA strand elongation by the analogs or their 5′-triphosphate versions was apparent in in vitro polymerase assays. Although the exact mechanism of action is not yet identified, present data are consistent with an inhibition of the HBV reverse transcriptase-directed priming step prior to elongation of the first viral DNA strand. In transient-transfection assays, these analogs inhibited the replication of 3TC-resistant HBV. Synergistic interactions in combination treatments between the analogs and either 3TC or ADV were observed. These compounds represent a novel class of anti-HBV molecules and warrant further investigation as potential therapeutic agents.


Author(s):  
Kemal Fariz Kalista ◽  
Maryati Surya ◽  
Silmi Mariya ◽  
Diah Iskandriati ◽  
Irsan Hasan ◽  
...  

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still one of the biggest health problems in the world, which could lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment for HBV infection has not yet achieved a functional cure. More studies are needed to investigate human HBV (HuHBV), but the scarcity of animal models for HuHBV infection became a barrier. Recently, many studies have shown that Tupaia are suitable for the study of HuHBV. The purpose of this study was to develop a primary tupaia hepatocyte (PTH) culture from T. javanica, a species of Tupaia found in Indonesia, and to prove that HuHBV can replicate in the PTH.Method: In vitro experimental study using PTH isolated from five wild adult T. javanica in Primate Research Center, IPB University. HuHBV was taken from humans with HBsAg and HBV-DNA (+). PTH cells then were infected with HuHBV after reaching 80% confluence. Observation on PTH cells was done everyday for 20 days. Qualitative and quantitative HBsAg were measured using a CMIA while HBV-DNA and cccDNA were measured by RT-PCR.Results: A cytopathic effect was seen on day post infection (DPI)-16. HBsAg and HBV-DNA were detected from DPI-2 until DPI-18, with HBV-DNA level peaked on DPI-12. cccDNA concentration was fluctuating from DPI-2 until DPI-20 with highest level on DPI-16.Conclusion: HuHBV could infect and replicate in PTH from T. javanica can be infected with HuHBV and HuHBV can replicate in the PTH from T. javanica.


2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (16) ◽  
pp. 8148-8160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman M. Abdelhamed ◽  
Colleen M. Kelley ◽  
Thomas G. Miller ◽  
Phillip A. Furman ◽  
Harriet C. Isom

ABSTRACT Treatment of patients with lamivudine (3TC) results in loss of detectable levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA from serum; however, the relapse rate, with regard to both reappearance of virus in the bloodstream and hepatic inflammation, is high when therapy is terminated. Although the rebound observed in patients has also been seen in animal hepadnavirus models, rebound has not been analyzed in an in vitro cell culture system. In this study, we used the HBV recombinant baculovirus/HepG2 system to measure the time course of antiviral agent-mediated loss of HBV replication as well as the time course and magnitude of HBV production after release from antiviral treatment. Because of the sensitivity of the system, it was possible to measure secreted virions, intracellular replicative intermediates, and nuclear non-protein-bound HBV DNA and separately analyze individual species of DNA, such as single-stranded HBV DNA compared to the double-stranded form and relaxed circular compared to covalently closed circular HBV DNA. We first determined that HBV replication in the HBV recombinant baculovirus/HepG2 system could proceed for at least 35 days, with a 30-day plateau level of replication, making it possible to study antiviral agent-mediated loss of HBV followed by rebound after cessation of drug treatment. All HBV DNA species decreased in a time-dependent fashion following antiviral treatment, but the magnitude of decline differed for each HBV DNA species, with the covalently closed circular form of HBV DNA being the most resistant to drug therapy. When drug treatment ceased, HBV DNA species reappeared with a pattern that recapitulated the initiation of replication, but with a different time course.


2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 2523-2530 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Matthes ◽  
A. Funk ◽  
I. Krahn ◽  
K. Gaertner ◽  
M. von Janta-Lipinski ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Novel N4-hydroxy- and 5-methyl-modified β-l-deoxycytidine analogues were synthesized and evaluated as anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) agents. Their in vitro efficiencies were investigated in HepG2.2.15 cells stably transfected with HBV. β-l-2′,3′-Didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxy-N4-hydroxycytidine (β-l-Hyd4C) was most effective in reducing secreted HBV DNA (50% effective concentration [EC50], 0.03 μM), followed by β-l-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thia-N4-hydroxycytidine (EC50, 0.51 μM), β-l-2′,3′-dideoxy-N4-hydroxycytidine (EC50, 0.55 μM), and β-l-5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (EC50, 0.9 μM). The inhibition of the presumed target, the HBV DNA polymerase, by the triphosphates of some of the β-l-cytidine derivatives was also assessed. In accordance with the cell culture data, β-l-Hyd4C triphosphate was the most active inhibitor, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 0.21 μM. The cytotoxicities of some of the 4-NHOH-modified β-l-nucleosides were dramatically lower than those of the corresponding cytidine analogues with the unmodified 4-NH2 group. The 50% cytotoxic concentrations for β-l-Hyd4C in HepG2 and HL-60 cells were 2,500 μM and 3,500 μM, respectively. In summary, our results demonstrate that at least β-l-Hyd4C can be recommended as a highly efficient and extremely selective inhibitor of HBV replication for further investigations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (11) ◽  
pp. e02007-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Tu ◽  
Magdalena A. Budzinska ◽  
Florian W. R. Vondran ◽  
Nicholas A. Shackel ◽  
Stephan Urban

ABSTRACTChronic infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the major contributor to liver disease worldwide. Though HBV replicates via a nuclear episomal DNA (covalently closed circular DNA [cccDNA]), integration of HBV DNA into the host cell genome is regularly observed in the liver in infected patients. While reported as a prooncogenic alteration, the mechanism(s) and timing of HBV DNA integration are not well understood, chiefly due to the lack ofin vitroinfection models that have detectable integration events. In this study, we have established anin vitrosystem in which integration can be reliably detected following HBV infection. We measured HBV DNA integration using inverse nested PCR in primary human hepatocytes, HepaRG-NTCP, HepG2-NTCP, and Huh7-NTCP cells after HBV infection. Integration was detected in all cell types at a rate of >1 per 10,000 cells, with the most consistent detection in Huh7-NTCP cells. The integration rate remained stable between 3 and 9 days postinfection. HBV DNA integration was efficiently blocked by treatment with a 200 nM concentration of the HBV entry inhibitor Myrcludex B, but not with 10 μM tenofovir, 100 U of interferon alpha, or a 1 μM concentration of the capsid assembly inhibitor GLS4. This suggests that integration of HBV DNA occurs immediately after infection of hepatocytes and is likely independent ofde novoHBV genome replication in this model. Site analysis revealed that HBV DNA integrations were distributed over the entire human genome. Further, integrated HBV DNA sequences were consistent with double-stranded linear HBV DNA being the major precursor. Thus, we have established anin vitrosystem to interrogate the mechanisms of HBV DNA integration.IMPORTANCEHepatitis B virus (HBV) is a common blood-borne pathogen and, following a chronic infection, can cause liver cancer and liver cirrhosis. Integration of HBV DNA into the host genome occurs in all known members of theHepadnaviridaefamily, despite this form not being necessary for viral replication. HBV DNA integration has been reported to drive liver cancer formation and persistence of virus infection. However, when and the mechanism(s) by which HBV DNA integration occurs are not clear. In this study, we have developed and characterized anin vitrosystem to reliably detect HBV DNA integrations that result from a true HBV infection event and that closely resemble those found in patient tissues. Using this model, we showed that integration occurs when the infection is first established. Importantly, we provide here a system to analyze molecular factors involved in HBV integration, which can be used to develop strategies to halt its formation.


2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 3068-3076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Heipertz ◽  
Thomas G. Miller ◽  
Colleen M. Kelley ◽  
William E. Delaney ◽  
Stephen A. Locarnini ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Understanding the consequences of mutation in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome on HBV replication is critical for treating chronic HBV infection. In this study, HBV replication in HepG2 cells initiated by transduction with precore (PC), rtM204I, and wild-type (wt) HBV recombinant baculoviruses was compared. The pattern and magnitude of HBV replication initiated by the PC HBV recombinant baculovirus were similar to those observed for wt HBV throughout the time course examined. In contrast, when the rtM204I mutation was introduced into wt HBV, by day 10 postinfection the levels of intra- and extracellular HBV DNA were markedly reduced compared to those for wt HBV. Although the rtM204I mutation reduced the production of HBV replicative intermediates, no effect on the level of covalently closed circular DNA or HBV transcripts was observed at late time points. Coinfection studies with different ratios of wt and rtM204I baculoviruses showed that the rtM204I variant did not produce a product that inhibited HBV replication. However, the combination of the wt and rtM204I baculoviruses yielded HBV DNA levels at late time points that were greater than those for the wt alone, suggesting that wt polymerase may function in trans to boost rtM204I replication. We concluded that the rtM204I mutation generates a polymerase that is not only resistant to lamivudine but also replicates nucleic acids to lower levels in vitro.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Zahid Piracha ◽  
Hyeonjoong Kwon ◽  
Umar Saeed ◽  
Jumi Kim ◽  
Jaesung Jung ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSirtuin 2 (Sirt2), a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase, is overexpressed in many hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and can deacetylate many proteins, including tubulins and AKT, prior to AKT activation. Here, we found that endogenous Sirt2 was upregulated in wild-type hepatitis B virus (HBV WT)-replicating cells, leading to tubulin deacetylation; however, this was not the case in HBV replication-deficient-mutant-transfected cells and 1.3-mer HBV WT-transfected and reverse transcriptase inhibitor (entecavir or lamivudine)-treated cells, but all HBV proteins were expressed. In HBV WT-replicating cells, upregulation of Sirt2 induced AKT activation, which consequently downregulated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) and increased β-catenin levels; however, downregulation of Sirt2 in HBV-nonreplicating cells impaired AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling. Overexpression of Sirt2 isoform 1 stimulated HBV transcription and consequently HBV DNA synthesis, which in turn activated AKT and consequently increased β-catenin levels, possibly through physical interactions with Sirt2 and AKT. Knockdown of Sirt2 by short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), inhibition by 2-cyano-3-[5-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-furanyl]-N-5-quinolinyl-2-propenamide (AGK2), or dominant negative mutant expression inhibited HBV replication, reduced AKT activation, and decreased β-catenin levels. Through HBV infection, we demonstrated that Sirt2 knockdown inhibited HBV replication from transcription. Although HBx itself activates AKT and upregulates β-catenin, Sirt2-mediated signaling and upregulated HBV replication were HBx independent. Since constitutively active AKT inhibits HBV replication, the results suggest that upregulated Sirt2 and activated AKT may balance HBV replication to prolong viral replication, eventually leading to the development of HCC. Also, the results indicate that Sirt2 inhibition may be a new therapeutic option for controlling HBV infection and preventing HCC.IMPORTANCEEven though Sirt2, a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase, is overexpressed in many HCCs, and overexpressed Sirt2 promotes hepatic fibrosis and associates positively with vascular invasion by primary HCCs through AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling, the relationship between Sirt2, HBV, HBx, and/or HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis is unclear. Here, we show that HBV DNA replication, not HBV expression, correlates positively with Sirt2 upregulation and AKT activation. We demonstrate that overexpression of Sirt2 further increases HBV replication, increases AKT activation, downregulates GSK-3β, and increases β-catenin levels. Conversely, inhibiting Sirt2 decreases HBV replication, reduces AKT activation, and decreases β-catenin levels. Although HBx activates AKT to upregulate β-catenin, Sirt2-mediated effects were not dependent on HBx. The results also indicate that a Sirt2 inhibitor may control HBV infection and prevent the development of hepatic fibrosis and HCC.


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