scholarly journals The Autophagosomal SNARE Protein Syntaxin 17 Is an Essential Factor for the Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (13) ◽  
pp. 5989-6000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huimei Ren ◽  
Fabian Elgner ◽  
Bingfu Jiang ◽  
Kiyoshi Himmelsbach ◽  
Regina Medvedev ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSyntaxin 17 is an autophagosomal SNARE (solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) protein required for the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes to form autolysosomes and thereby to deliver the enclosed contents for degradation. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) induces autophagy. In light of the observation that the number of viral particles formed by HCV-infected cells is much greater than the number of infectious viral particles finally released by HCV-infected cells, the regulation of fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes might fulfill a key function controlling the number of released virions. HCV-replicating cells possess a decreased amount of syntaxin 17 due to impaired expression and increased turnover of syntaxin 17. Overexpression of syntaxin 17 in HCV-replicating cells diminishes the number of released infectious viral particles and decreases the amount of intracellular retained viral particles by favoring the formation of autolysosomes, in which HCV particles are degraded. Inhibition of lysosomal acidification by bafilomycin rescues the decreased release of virions from syntaxin 17-overexpressing cells, while induction of autophagy by rapamycin enforces the impairment of release under these conditions. Vice versa, inhibition of syntaxin 17 expression by specific small interfering RNAs results in an elevated amount of intracellular retained viral particles and facilitates the release of HCV virions by impairment of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. HCV genome replication, however, is not affected by modulation of syntaxin 17 expression. These data identify syntaxin 17 to be a novel factor controlling the release of HCV. This is achieved by regulation of autophagosome-lysosome fusion, which affects the equilibrium between the release of infectious viral particles and lysosomal degradation of intracellular retained viral particles.IMPORTANCEHepatitis C virus (HCV) induces autophagy. Syntaxin 17 is an autophagosomal SNARE protein required for the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. In HCV-infected cells, a major fraction of thede novo-synthesized viral particles is not released but is intracellularly degraded. In this context, the effect of HCV on the amount and distribution of syntaxin 17 and the relevance of syntaxin 17 for the viral life cycle were investigated. This study demonstrates that the amount of syntaxin 17 decreased in HCV-replicating cells. In addition, syntaxin 17 is identified to be a novel factor controlling the release of HCV, and the relevance of autophagosome-lysosome fusion as a regulator of the amount of released viral particles is revealed. Taken together, these findings indicate that syntaxin 17 is involved in the regulation of autophagosome-lysosome fusion and thereby affects the equilibrium between the release of infectious viral particles and the lysosomal degradation of intracellularly retained viral particles.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chieko Matsui ◽  
Lin Deng ◽  
Nanae Minami ◽  
Takayuki Abe ◽  
Kazuhiko Koike ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is closely associated with type 2 diabetes. We reported that HCV infection induces the lysosomal degradation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha (HNF-1α) via interaction with HCV nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) protein, thereby suppressing GLUT2 gene expression. The molecular mechanisms of selective degradation of HNF-1α caused by NS5A are largely unknown. Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a selective lysosomal degradation pathway. Here, we investigated whether CMA is involved in the selective degradation of HNF-1α in HCV-infected cells and observed that the pentapeptide spanning from amino acid (aa) 130 to aa 134 of HNF-1α matches the rule for the CMA-targeting motif, also known as KFERQ motif. A cytosolic chaperone protein, heat shock cognate protein of 70 kDa (HSC70), and a lysosomal membrane protein, lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2A (LAMP-2A), are key components of CMA. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that HNF-1α was coimmunoprecipitated with HSC70, whereas the Q130A mutation (mutation of Q to A at position 130) of HNF-1α disrupted the interaction with HSC70, indicating that the CMA-targeting motif of HNF-1α is important for the association with HSC70. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that increasing amounts of NS5A enhanced the association of HNF-1α with HSC70. To determine whether LAMP-2A plays a role in the degradation of HNF-1α protein, we knocked down LAMP-2A mRNA by RNA interference; this knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) recovered the level of HNF-1α protein in HCV J6/JFH1-infected cells. This result suggests that LAMP-2A is required for the degradation of HNF-1α. Immunofluorescence study revealed colocalization of NS5A and HNF-1α in the lysosome. Based on our findings, we propose that HCV NS5A interacts with HSC70 and recruits HSC70 to HNF-1α, thereby promoting the lysosomal degradation of HNF-1α via CMA. IMPORTANCE Many viruses use a protein degradation system, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway or the autophagy pathway, for facilitating viral propagation and viral pathogenesis. We investigated the mechanistic details of the selective lysosomal degradation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha (HNF-1α) induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A protein. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we demonstrated that HNF-1α contains a pentapeptide chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA)-targeting motif within the POU-specific domain of HNF-1α. The CMA-targeting motif is important for the association with HSC70. LAMP-2A is required for degradation of HNF-1α caused by NS5A. We propose that HCV NS5A interacts with HSC70, a key component of the CMA machinery, and recruits HSC70 to HNF-1α to target HNF-1α for CMA-mediated lysosomal degradation, thereby facilitating HCV pathogenesis. We discovered a role of HCV NS5A in CMA-dependent degradation of HNF-1α. Our results may lead to a better understanding of the role of CMA in the pathogenesis of HCV.



2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (22) ◽  
pp. 11074-11081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Gastaminza ◽  
Sharookh B. Kapadia ◽  
Francis V. Chisari

ABSTRACT The recent development of a cell culture infection model for hepatitis C virus (HCV) permits the production of infectious particles in vitro. In this report, we demonstrate that infectious particles are present both within the infected cells and in the supernatant. Kinetic analysis indicates that intracellular particles constitute precursors of the secreted infectious virus. Ultracentrifugation analyses indicate that intracellular infectious viral particles are similar in size (∼65 to 70 nm) but different in buoyant density (∼1.15 to 1.20 g/ml) from extracellular particles (∼1.03 to 1.16 g/ml). These results indicate that infectious HCV particles are assembled intracellularly and that their biochemical composition is altered during viral egress.



2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandrine Belouzard ◽  
Adeline Danneels ◽  
Lucie Fénéant ◽  
Karin Séron ◽  
Yves Rouillé ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) primarily infects hepatocytes, which are highly polarized cells. The relevance of cell polarity in the HCV life cycle has been addressed only in distantly related models and remains poorly understood. Although polarized epithelial cells have a rather simple morphology with a basolateral and an apical domain, hepatocytes exhibit complex polarization structures. However, it has been reported that some selected polarized HepG2 cell clones can exhibit a honeycomb pattern of distribution of the tight-junction proteins typical of columnar polarized epithelia, which can be used as a simple model to study the role of cell polarization in viral infection of hepatocytes. To obtain similar clones, HepG2 cells expressing CD81 (HepG2-CD81) were used, and clones were isolated by limiting dilutions. Two clones exhibiting a simple columnar polarization capacity when grown on a semipermeable support were isolated and characterized. To test the polarity of HCV entry and release, our polarized HepG2-CD81 clones were infected with cell culture-derived HCV. Our data indicate that HCV binds equally to both sides of the cells, but productive infection occurs mainly when the virus is added at the basolateral domain. Furthermore, we also observed that HCV virions are released from the basolateral domain of the cells. Finally, when polarized cells were treated with oleic acid and U0126, a MEK inhibitor, to promote lipoprotein secretion, a higher proportion of infectious viral particles of lower density were secreted. This cell culture system provides an excellent model to investigate the influence of cell polarization on the HCV life cycle. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C is a major health burden, with approximately 170 million persons infected worldwide. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) primarily infects hepatocytes, which are highly polarized cells with a complex organization. The relevance of cell polarity in the HCV life cycle has been addressed in distantly related models and remains unclear. Hepatocyte organization is complex, with multiple apical and basolateral surfaces. A simple culture model of HepG2 cells expressing CD81 that are able to polarize with unique apical and basolateral domains was developed to study HCV infection. With this model, we demonstrated that HCV enters and exits hepatocytes by the basolateral domain. Furthermore, lower-density viral particles were produced under conditions that promote lipoprotein secretion. This cell culture system provides a useful model to study the influence of cell polarization on HCV infection.



2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliano G. Haddad ◽  
Yves Rouillé ◽  
Xavier Hanoulle ◽  
Véronique Descamps ◽  
Monzer Hamze ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoprotein complex is composed of E1 and E2 subunits. E2 is the receptor-binding protein as well as the major target of neutralizing antibodies, whereas the functions of E1 remain poorly defined. Here, we took advantage of the recently published structure of the N-terminal region of the E1 ectodomain to interrogate the functions of this glycoprotein by mutating residues within this 79-amino-acid region in the context of an infectious clone. The phenotypes of the mutants were characterized to determine the effects of the mutations on virus entry, replication, and assembly. Furthermore, biochemical approaches were also used to characterize the folding and assembly of E1E2 heterodimers. Thirteen out of 19 mutations led to viral attenuation or inactivation. Interestingly, two attenuated mutants, T213A and I262A, were less dependent on claudin-1 for cellular entry in Huh-7 cells. Instead, these viruses relied on claudin-6, indicating a shift in receptor dependence for these two mutants in the target cell line. An unexpected phenotype was also observed for mutant D263A which was no longer infectious but still showed a good level of core protein secretion. Furthermore, genomic RNA was absent from these noninfectious viral particles, indicating that the D263A mutation leads to the assembly and release of viral particles devoid of genomic RNA. Finally, a change in subcellular colocalization between HCV RNA and E1 was observed for the D263A mutant. This unique observation highlights for the first time cross talk between HCV glycoprotein E1 and the genomic RNA during HCV morphogenesis. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide. It encodes two envelope proteins, E1 and E2, which play a major role in the life cycle of this virus. E2 has been extensively characterized, whereas E1 remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated E1 functions by using site-directed mutagenesis in the context of the viral life cycle. Our results identify unique phenotypes. Unexpectedly, two mutants clearly showed a shift in receptor dependence for cell entry, highlighting a role for E1 in modulating HCV particle interaction with a cellular receptor(s). More importantly, another mutant led to the assembly and release of viral particles devoid of genomic RNA. This unique phenotype was further characterized, and we observed a change in subcellular colocalization between HCV RNA and E1. This unique observation highlights for the first time cross talk between a viral envelope protein and genomic RNA during morphogenesis.



2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (13) ◽  
pp. e02116-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jawed Iqbal ◽  
Mehuli Sarkar-Dutta ◽  
Steven McRae ◽  
Akshaya Ramachandran ◽  
Binod Kumar ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and assembly occur at the specialized site of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes and lipid droplets (LDs), respectively. Recently, several host proteins have been shown to be involved in HCV replication and assembly. In the present study, we demonstrated the important relationship among osteopontin (OPN), the ER, and LDs. OPN is a secreted phosphoprotein, and overexpression of OPN in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue can lead to invasion and metastasis. OPN expression is also enhanced in HCV-associated HCC. Our recent studies have demonstrated the induction, proteolytic cleavage, and secretion of OPN in response to HCV infection. We also defined the critical role of secreted OPN in human hepatoma cell migration and invasion through binding to receptors integrin αVβ3 and CD44. However, the role of HCV-induced OPN in the HCV life cycle has not been elucidated. In this study, we showed a significant reduction in HCV replication, assembly, and infectivity in HCV-infected cells transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) against OPN, αVβ3, and CD44. We also observed the association of endogenous OPN with HCV proteins (NS3, NS5A, NS4A/B, NS5B, and core). Confocal microscopy revealed the colocalization of OPN with HCV NS5A and core in the ER and LDs, indicating a possible role for OPN in HCV replication and assembly. Interestingly, the secreted OPN activated HCV replication, infectivity, and assembly through binding to αVβ3 and CD44. Collectively, these observations provide evidence that HCV-induced OPN is critical for HCV replication and assembly. IMPORTANCE Recently, our studies uncovered the critical role of HCV-induced endogenous and secreted OPN in migration and invasion of hepatocytes. However, the role of OPN in the HCV life cycle has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the importance of OPN in HCV replication and assembly. We demonstrated that endogenous OPN associates with HCV NS3, NS5A, NS5B, and core proteins, which are in close proximity to the ER and LDs. Moreover, we showed that the interactions of secreted OPN with cell surface receptors αVβ3 and CD44 are critical for HCV replication and assembly. These observations provide evidence that HCV-induced endogenous and secreted OPN play pivotal roles in HCV replication and assembly in HCV-infected cells. Taken together, our findings clearly demonstrate that targeting OPN may provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention of HCV pathogenesis.



2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ja Yeon Kim ◽  
Jing-hsiung James Ou

ABSTRACTApolipoprotein E (ApoE) plays an important role in the maturation and infectivity of hepatitis C virus (HCV). By analyzing the subcellular localization of ApoE in Huh7 hepatoma cells that harbored an HCV subgenomic RNA replicon, we found that ApoE colocalized with autophagosomes. This colocalization was marginally detected in HCV-infected cells, apparently due to the depletion of ApoE by HCV, as treatment with bafilomycin A1 (BafA1), a vacuolar ATPase inhibitor that inhibits autophagic protein degradation, partially restored the ApoE level and enhanced its colocalization with autophagosomes in HCV-infected cells. The role of HCV-induced autophagy in the degradation of ApoE was further supported by the observations that nutrient starvation, which induces autophagic protein degradation, led to the loss of ApoE in HCV subgenomic RNA replicon cells and that the knockdown of ATG7, a protein essential for the formation of autophagic vacuoles, increased the ApoE level in cells with productive HCV replication. Interestingly, the inhibition of autophagy by ATG7 knockdown reduced the colocalization of ApoE with the HCV E2 envelope protein and the HCV titers released from cells. In contrast, the treatment of cells with BafA1 enhanced the colocalization of ApoE and HCV E2 and increased both intracellular and extracellular HCV titers. These results indicated that autophagy played an important role in the trafficking of ApoE in HCV-infected cells. While it led to autophagic degradation of ApoE, it also promoted the interaction between ApoE and HCV E2 to enhance the production of infectious progeny viral particles.IMPORTANCEHepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most important human pathogens. Its virion is associated with apolipoprotein E (ApoE), which enhances its infectivity. HCV induces autophagy to enhance its replication. In this report, we demonstrate that autophagy plays an important role in the trafficking of ApoE in HCV-infected cells. This leads to the degradation of ApoE by autophagy. However, if the autophagic protein degradation is inhibited, ApoE is stabilized and colocalized with autophagosomes. This leads to its enhanced colocalization with the HCV E2 envelope protein and increased production of infectious progeny viral particles. If autophagy is inhibited by suppressing the expression of ATG7, a gene essential for the formation of autophagosomes, the colocalization of ApoE with E2 is reduced, resulting in the reduction of progeny viral titers. These results indicate an important role of autophagy in the transport of ApoE to promote the production of infectious HCV particles.



2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (22) ◽  
pp. 11584-11602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Ting Wang ◽  
Tsung-Yuan Tsai ◽  
Chi-Hong Chao ◽  
Bo-Ying Lai ◽  
Yan-Hwa Wu Lee

ABSTRACTReplication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is dependent on virus-encoded proteins and numerous cellular factors. DDX3 is a well-known host cofactor of HCV replication. In this study, we investigated the role of a DDX3-interacting protein, Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1), in the HCV life cycle. Both YB-1 and DDX3 interacted with the viral nonstructural protein NS5A. During HCV infection, YB-1 partially colocalized with NS5A and the HCV replication intermediate double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in HCV-infected Huh-7.5.1 cells. Despite sharing the same interacting partners, YB-1 participated in HCV RNA replication but was dispensable in steady-state HCV RNA replication, different from the action of DDX3. Moreover, knockdown of YB-1 in HCV-infected cells prevented infectious virus production and reduced the ratio of hyperphosphorylated (p58) to hypophosphorylated (p56) forms of NS5A, whereas DDX3 silencing did not affect the ratio of the p58 and p56 phosphoforms of NS5A. Interestingly, silencing of YB-1 severely reduced NS5A protein stability in NS5A-ectopically expressing, replicon-containing, and HCV-infected cells. Furthermore, mutations of serine 102 of YB-1 affected both YB-1–NS5A interaction and NS5A-stabilizing activity of YB-1, indicating that this Akt phosphorylation site of YB-1 plays an important role in stabilizing NS5A. Collectively, our results support a model in which the event of YB-1 phosphorylation-mediated interaction with NS5A results in stabilizing NS5A to sustain HCV RNA replication and infectious HCV production. Overall, our study may reveal a new aspect for the development of novel anti-HCV drugs.IMPORTANCEChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection induces liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The viral nonstructural protein NS5A co-opting various cellular signaling pathways and cofactors to support viral genome replication and virion assembly is a new strategy for anti-HCV drug development. NS5A phosphorylation is believed to modulate switches between different stages of the HCV life cycle. In this study, we identified the cellular protein YB-1 as a novel NS5A-interacting protein. YB-1 is a multifunctional protein participating in oncogenesis and is an oncomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that YB-1 protects NS5A from degradation and likely regulates NS5A phosphorylation through its phosphorylation-dependent interaction with NS5A, which might be controlled by HCV-induced signaling pathways. Our observations suggest a model in which HCV modulates NS5A level and the ratio of the p58 and p56 phosphoforms for efficient viral propagation via regulation of cellular signaling inducing YB-1 phosphorylation. Our finding may provide new aspects for developing novel anti-HCV drugs.



2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (24) ◽  
pp. 11181-11196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Elgner ◽  
Huimei Ren ◽  
Regina Medvedev ◽  
Daniela Ploen ◽  
Kiyoshi Himmelsbach ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles are described as lipoviroparticles which are released similarly to very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs). However, the release mechanism is still poorly understood; the canonical endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) pathway as well as endosome-dependent release has been proposed. Recently, the role of exosomes in the transmission of HCV has been reported. Only a minor fraction of the de novo -synthesized lipoviroparticles is released by the infected cell. To investigate the relevance of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) for viral morphogenesis and release, the MVB inhibitor U18666A was used. Intracellular trafficking was analyzed by confocal microscopy and electron microscopy. Moreover, an mCherry-tagged HCV variant was used. Conditions were established that enable U18666A-dependent inhibition of MVBs without affecting viral replication. Under these conditions, significant inhibition of the HCV release was observed. The assembly of viral particles is not affected. In U18666A-treated cells, intact infectious viral particles accumulate in CD63-positive exosomal structures and large dysfunctional lysosomal structures (multilamellar bodies). These retained particles possess a lower density, reflecting a misloading with lipids. Our data indicate that at least a fraction of HCV particles leaves the cell via the endosomal pathway. Endosomes facilitate the sorting of HCV particles for release or degradation. IMPORTANCE There are still a variety of open questions regarding morphogenesis and release of hepatitis C virus. The HCV-infected cell produces significant more viral particles that are released, raising the question about the fate of the nonreleased particles. Moreover, the relevance of the endosomal pathway for the release of HCV is under debate. Use of the MVB (multivesicular body) inhibitor U18666A enabled a detailed analysis of the impact of MVBs for viral morphogenesis and release. It was revealed that infectious, fully assembled HCV particles are either MVB-dependently released or intracellularly degraded by the lysosome. Our data indicate that at least a fraction of HCV particles leaves the cell via the endosomal pathway independent from the constitutive secretory pathway. Our study describes a so-far-unprecedented cross talk between two pathways regulating on the one hand the release of infectious viral particles and on the other hand the intracellular degradation of nonreleased particles.



2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. e270-e270 ◽  
Author(s):  
In Soo Oh ◽  
Kathrin Textoris-Taube ◽  
Pil Soo Sung ◽  
Wonseok Kang ◽  
Xenia Gorny ◽  
...  


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