构建基于Keima蛋白的细胞自噬评价体系

目的:构建表达Cyto-Keima蛋白的宫颈癌细胞系HeLa及小鼠原代神经元,作为新的细胞自噬评价体系。方法:包装pCDH-Cyto-Keima慢病毒,感染HeLa细胞和小鼠原代神经元,采用激光共聚焦荧光显微镜观察Cyto-Kei?ma蛋白在HeLa细胞和小鼠原代神经元中的表达情况,用已知自噬诱导剂和抑制剂处理细胞,检测该体系对自噬的响应。结果:感染Cyto-Keima慢病毒48 h后,通过激光共聚焦荧光显微镜观察,细胞表达Cyto-Keima蛋白;在Earle平衡盐溶液或自噬诱导剂雷帕霉素处理下,HeLa-Cyto-Keima细胞和Cyto-Keima原代神经元自噬水平明显增强;在自噬抑制剂巴弗洛霉素A1和氯喹处理下,细胞自噬水平明显降低。结论:构建了基于Cyto-Keima蛋白的细胞自噬评价体系。     

MiR-107对柯萨奇病毒B3感染细胞糖原合成酶激酶-3β蛋白及β-连环蛋白表达的影响

【背景】MiR-107异常表达可引起肿瘤细胞中Wnt/β-catenin信号通路主要蛋白表达发生改变,但其能否在柯萨奇病毒B3（coxsackievirus B3,CVB3）感染的人宫颈癌细胞（HeLa cells）中发挥同样作用却未见报道。【目的】探讨miR-107能否影响CVB3感染HeLa细胞中的糖原合成酶激酶-3β（GSK-3β）蛋白、P-GSK-3β蛋白和β连环蛋白（β-catenin）的表达水平。【方法】体外培养HeLa细胞,感染CVB3不同时间,通过显微镜观察HeLa细胞的形态学变化、实时荧光定量PCR实验检测HeLa细胞中miR-107表达量、免疫印迹实验检测HeLa细胞中的GSK-3β、P-GSK-3β、β-catenin蛋白及病毒衣壳蛋白（VP1）的表达水平。【结果】CVB3感染HeLa细胞6 h后,细胞病变效应明显,miR-107表达量及GSK-3β、P-GSK-3β和VP1蛋白的表达水平随CVB3感染时间（0—8 h）的延长逐渐增加,而β-catenin蛋白的表达水平逐渐减少。过表达miR-107的CVB3感染6 h的HeLa细胞死亡细胞增多,GSK-3β、P-GSK-3β和VP1蛋白表达水平增加（P<0.05）,β-catenin蛋白表达水平减少（P<0.001）;抑制miR-107的CVB3感染6 h的HeLa细胞GSK-3β、P-GSK-3β及VP1蛋白表达水平明显减少（P<0.05）,β-catenin蛋白表达水平明显增加（P<0.05）。【结论】MiR-107异常表达可影响CVB3感染HeLa细胞中Wnt/β-catenin信号通路蛋白和病毒衣壳蛋白的表达水平。     

SiRNA抑制柯萨奇B3病毒的复制和表达

目的 研究观察体外合成siRNA对培养HELA细胞中柯萨奇B3病毒（Coxsackievirus B3,CVB3）的影响。方法根据siRNA靶序列设计原则,针对编码CVB3病毒聚合酶、VP1蛋白和5’非编码区基因组,特异性地体外合成三对siRNA,同时合成一对与CVB基因组序列无关的阴性对照siRNA。利用脂质体转染进入Hela细胞,用CVB3感染培养HELA细胞,观察转染后HELA细胞病变;采用RT-PCR技术检测感染CVB3各组的病毒RNA;用免疫荧光技术检测各组CVB3蛋白的表达;并用培养细胞上清液再感染HELA细胞观察病毒滴度。结果针对CVB3病毒聚合酶的siR-NA能有效的抑制病毒的复制和CVB3蛋白的表达,并能抑制病毒的再感染;而针对VP1蛋白和5’非编码区的siRNA能部分抑制病毒的复制和CVB3蛋白的表达。结论我们设计合成针对编码CVB3病毒聚合酶基因组的siRNA能有效抑制CVB3病毒复制和表达。     

肠道病毒A71型亚单位蛋白对RD细胞自噬活化的影响

肠道病毒A71型（Enterovirus-A71, EV-A71）能够活化宿主细胞的自噬并依赖自噬促进其复制,然而EV-A71的亚单位蛋白对自噬的活化目前仍不清楚。为探讨EV-A71亚单位蛋白对人横纹肌肉瘤（Human rhabdomyosarcoma, RD）细胞自噬活化的影响,将EV-A71的亚单位蛋白重组真核质粒转染至RD细胞,采用抑制剂MK-2206阻断PI3K/Akt途径,共聚焦显微镜和免疫印迹检测自噬活化。过表达EV-A71亚单位蛋白的RD细胞中PI3K/Akt途径、p38、JNK和ERK途径均呈现不同程度活化,同时RD细胞呈现出绿色荧光表明自噬发生活化,特别是EV-A71的VP2和2A。EV-A71亚单位蛋白使LC3-II/LC3-I的转化水平提升,EV-A71亚单位蛋白（VP2、VP3、VP4、2A、2B和2C）显著提升p62的表达水平,EV-A71 VP1显著下调p62的表达水平但显著上调LAMP-1和LAMP-2的表达水平。阻断PI3K/Akt途径后,过表达EV-A71亚单位蛋白的RD细胞绿色荧光强度显著减弱、自噬被阻断,同时LC3-II/LC3-I的转化水平显著降...     

丙泊酚对转化生长因子-β1诱导肝星状细胞激活的影响及其机制

目的: 观察丙泊酚对转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)诱导的肝星状细胞系HSC2-T6细胞激活的影响并探讨其可能的作用机制。方法: 实验分为对照组、TGF-β1组、丙泊酚组、TGF-β1+丙泊酚组、雷帕霉素组、TGF-β1+丙泊酚+雷帕霉素组。先用含雷帕霉素(5 μmol/L)DMEM培养液培养1 h,用丙泊酚(100 μmol/L)处理1 h,然后再加入TGF-β1(5 ng/ml)继续共同培养24 h。细胞的增殖水平通过MTT法测量,细胞培养液上清中透明质酸(HA)、IV型胶原(IV-C)和层粘连蛋白(LN)的浓度采用ELISA法测量,细胞的超微结构采用透射电镜观测,α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)、哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mTOR)、磷酸化mTOR(p-mTOR)及自噬相关基因Beclin 1、微管相关蛋白1轻链3(LC3)和p62的表达通过Western blot测量。结果: 与对照组比较,TGF-β1组细胞增殖、α-SMA蛋白的表达、培养液上清中HA、IV-C和LN的浓度、自噬体数量、Beclin-1和LC3-Ⅱ的蛋白表达及LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值显著性增加(P均＜0.05),p-mTOR蛋白的表达和p-mTOR/mTOR比值及p62的蛋白表达显著性降低(P均＜0.05)。与TGF-β1组比较,丙泊酚+TGF-β1组细胞增殖、α-SMA蛋白的表达、培养液上清中HA、IV-C和LN的浓度、自噬体数量、Beclin-1和LC3-Ⅱ的蛋白表达及LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值均显著性降低(P均＜0.05),p-mTOR蛋白表达和p-mTOR/TOR比值及p62的蛋白表达均显著性增加(P均＜0.05)。mTOR抑制剂雷帕霉素部分逆转丙泊酚的作用。结论: 丙泊酚抑制TGFβ1诱导的肝星状细胞激活,其机制涉及mTOR-自噬途径。     

雷帕霉素促进胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞分化

目的雷帕霉素是小分子mTOR抑制剂,可激活细胞自噬。本研究检测了雷帕霉素对胚胎干细胞(ES细胞)向心肌分化的影响。方法采用拟胚体(embryoid body, EB)加抗坏血酸诱导ES细胞向心肌分化。悬浮诱导阶段添加自噬激动剂雷帕霉素或抑制剂羟氯喹,通过免疫印迹检测LC3蛋白剪切以监测细胞自噬水平,通过检测EB球的心肌搏动百分比以及心肌分化标志物troponin-T和α-actinin的表达来评估细胞分化效率。采用real-time PCR检测心肌分化转录因子Mef2c和Isl1m RNA表达,免疫印迹法检测Oct4表达,进一步阐释雷帕霉素的效应机制。结果雷帕霉素能够诱导自噬,促进LC3剪切,促进EB球产生自发搏动,增强心肌分化标志基因表达。机制研究发现,雷帕霉素促进心肌转录因子Mef2c和Isl1 mRNA的表达和Oct4在分化细胞的下调。而自噬抑制剂羟氯喹能拮抗雷帕霉素的上述效应。结论雷帕霉素诱导自噬可以促进心肌转录因子表达和促进干性因子Oct4水平下调,从而促进心肌分化。     

塞内卡病毒A结构蛋白VP2诱导PK-15细胞自噬的研究

本研究在塞内卡病毒A(Senecavirus A,SVA)诱导自噬的基础上,着重探究VP2蛋白在细胞自噬过程中的作用。构建VP2基因真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-VP2,将其转染至PK-15细胞,通过检测自噬蛋白和相关基因的表达情况,明确VP2蛋白对细胞自噬的影响。结果显示,本研究成功构建了pcDNA3.1-VP2真核表达载体,且SVA VP2基因在PK-15细胞中正常表达;与对照组相比,VP2蛋白显著上调LC3蛋白的表达水平（P<0.01）;同时,自噬基因LC3、Beclin-1和ATG5转录水平均显著提高（P<0.01）。综上所述,本研究证实SVA VP2蛋白可诱导PK-15细胞自噬,且VP2蛋白与自噬蛋白和基因表达水平呈正相关,为进一步研究病毒感染与致病机制打下基础。     

RNA干扰在柯萨奇病毒致心肌炎小鼠模型中的抗病毒研究

为了研究慢病毒介导的shRNA(Short hairpin RNA,shRNA)在柯萨奇B组3型病毒(Coxsackievirus B3,CVB3)导致的心肌炎小鼠模型中的抗病毒作用,合成针对CVB3基因组3753～3771区域的慢病毒Lenti-sh3753,感染HeLa细胞后感染CVB3病毒,通过荧光显微镜观测shRNA的表达和病毒致细胞病变效应,并测定培养上清中的病毒滴度,将慢病毒Lenti-sh3753感染BALB/c小鼠后感染CVB3病毒,观察小鼠的存活率,心脏组织中的病毒滴度和病理变化。结果发现Lenti-sh3753能在HeLa细胞中表达shRNA,并能有效抑制细胞中病毒RNA的复制。在小鼠模型上,Lenti-sh3753能提高小鼠的存活率,降低心脏中的病毒含量,从而减轻病理反应。这些结果提示,Lenti-sh3753在细胞和动物模型中能针对性地降解CVB3病毒RNA,明显降低病毒滴度,有效控制病毒感染。     

GFP-LC3B真核表达载体的构建及表达鉴定

目的:构建人自噬相关基因LC3B的真核表达载体p EGFP-C1-LC3B,并鉴定其表达。方法:以乳腺文库为模板,PCR扩增LC3B全长基因,将其克隆至p EGFP-C1表达载体,得到p EGFP-C1-LC3B重组质粒,酶切和测序鉴定后,转染ZR75-1细胞,Western印迹检测真核细胞中GFP-LC3B融合蛋白的表达,用倒置荧光显微镜观察自噬诱导剂雷帕霉素处理和未处理ZR75-1细胞质中GFP-LC3B的分布。结果:Western印迹可见GFP-LC3B融合蛋白表达条带;在荧光显微镜下,ZR75-1细胞内可见绿色荧光,雷帕霉素刺激后有明显绿色荧光聚集体形成。结论:人自噬相关基因LC3B的真核表达载体p EGFP-C1-LC3B构建成功,为进一步研究自噬在乳腺癌细胞中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

柯萨奇病毒B组3型VP1基因的体外表达鉴定

将克隆的CVB3 VP1基因亚克隆至真核表达载体pCEP4构建CVB3 VP1的真核表达质粒pCEP4-CVB3VP1.pCEP4-CVB3VP1转染HeLa细胞,蛋白印迹试验证明该表达体系可以在体外表达能为CVB3中和抗体识别的VP1蛋白.本研究为CVB基因疫苗的研究提供了实验依据.     

Autophagosome supports coxsackievirus B3 replication in host cells

Recent studies suggest a possible takeover of host antimicrobial autophagy machinery by positive-stranded RNA viruses to facilitate their own replication. In the present study, we investigated the role of autophagy in coxsackievirus replication. Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), a picornavirus associated with viral myocarditis, causes pronounced intracellular membrane reorganization after infection. We demonstrate that CVB3 infection induces an increased number of double-membrane vesicles, accompanied by an increase of the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and an accumulation of punctate GFP-LC3-expressing cells, two hallmarks of cellular autophagosome formation. However, protein expression analysis of p62, a marker for autophagy-mediated protein degradation, showed no apparent changes after CVB3 infection. These results suggest that CVB3 infection triggers autophagosome formation without promoting protein degradation by the lysosome. We further examined the role of the autophagosome in CVB3 replication. We demonstrated that inhibition of autophagosome formation by 3-methyladenine or small interfering RNAs targeting the genes critical for autophagosome formation (ATG7, Beclin-1, and VPS34 genes) significantly reduced viral replication. Conversely, induction of autophagy by rapamycin or nutrient deprivation resulted in increased viral replication. Finally, we examined the role of autophagosome-lysosome fusion in viral replication. We showed that blockage of the fusion by gene silencing of the lysosomal protein LAMP2 significantly promoted viral replication. Taken together, our results suggest that the host's autophagy machinery is activated during CVB3 infection to enhance the efficiency of viral replication.     

Protein kinase B/Akt regulates coxsackievirus B3 replication through a mechanism which is not caspase dependent

The role of signaling pathways including the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) during viral infection has gained much recent attention. Our laboratory reported on an important regulatory role for extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2), subfamily members of the MAPKs, during coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection. However, the role of the PI3K pathway in CVB3 infection has not been well characterized. CVB3 is the most common known viral infectant of heart muscle that directly injures and kills infected cardiac myocytes during the myocarditic process. In the present study, we investigated the role of protein kinase B (PKB) (also known as Akt), a general downstream mediator of survival signals through the PI3K cascade, in regulating CVB3 replication and virus-induced apoptosis in a well-established HeLa cell model. We have demonstrated that CVB3 infection leads to phosphorylation of PKB/Akt on both Ser-473 and Thr-308 residues through a PI3K-dependent mechanism. Transfection of HeLa cells with a dominant negative mutant of Akt1 or pretreatment of wild-type HeLa cells with the specific PI3K inhibitor LY294002 significantly suppresses viral RNA expression, as reflected in diminished viral capsid protein expression and viral release. Dominant negative Akt1 and LY294002 also increase apoptosis in infected cells, which can be reversed by addition of the general caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (zVAD.fmk). Interestingly, blocking of apoptosis by zVAD.fmk does not reverse the viral RNA translation blockade, indicating that the inhibitory effect of dominant negative Akt1 on viral protein expression is not caspase dependent. In addition, we showed that the attachment of virus to its receptor-coreceptor complex is not sufficient for PKB/Akt activation and that postentry viral replication is required for Akt phosphorylation. Taken together, these data illustrate a new and imperative role for Akt in CVB3 infection in HeLa cells and show that the PI3K/Akt signaling is beneficial to CVB3 replication.     

Role of the myristoylation site in expressing exogenous functional proteins in coxsackieviral vector

We generated a cardiotropic replication-competent chimeric coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) to express alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Although exogenously expressed ADH was found by Western blot analysis, its enzyme function was repressed. To define the factor that inhibits the enzymatic function of ADH, we introduced a site-directed mutation at the second amino acid (MGAQEF···) of the CVB3 VP0 capsid protein, effectively changing glycine to alanine. This glycine is known to be a myristoylation site during viral capsid protein maturation in infected cells. In contrast to the unmodified virus, ADH expression and enzymatic function were readily detectable in the mutated rCVB3-ADH (G2A) virus. While expression of ADH required mutation of the CVB3 VP0 myristoylation site for proper function, another chimeric virus that expresses green fluorescent protein (rCVB3-GFP (G or A)) worked independently of the myristoylation site. Indeed, infected HeLa cells displayed GFP under a fluorescent microscope. These results indicate that the myristoylation site in the VP0 capsid protein inhibited the expression of enzymatically active ADH but not GFP. VP0 myristoylation is dispensable for chimeric CVB3 virus replication.     

Coxsackievirus B Exits the Host Cell in Shed Microvesicles Displaying Autophagosomal Markers

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), a member of the picornavirus family and enterovirus genus, causes viral myocarditis, aseptic meningitis, and pancreatitis in humans. We genetically engineered a unique molecular marker, “fluorescent timer” protein, within our infectious CVB3 clone and isolated a high-titer recombinant viral stock (Timer-CVB3) following transfection in HeLa cells. “Fluorescent timer” protein undergoes slow conversion of fluorescence from green to red over time, and Timer-CVB3 can be utilized to track virus infection and dissemination in real time. Upon infection with Timer-CVB3, HeLa cells, neural progenitor and stem cells (NPSCs), and C2C12 myoblast cells slowly changed fluorescence from green to red over 72 hours as determined by fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometric analysis. The conversion of “fluorescent timer” protein in HeLa cells infected with Timer-CVB3 could be interrupted by fixation, suggesting that the fluorophore was stabilized by formaldehyde cross-linking reactions. Induction of a type I interferon response or ribavirin treatment reduced the progression of cell-to-cell virus spread in HeLa cells or NPSCs infected with Timer-CVB3. Time lapse photography of partially differentiated NPSCs infected with Timer-CVB3 revealed substantial intracellular membrane remodeling and the assembly of discrete virus replication organelles which changed fluorescence color in an asynchronous fashion within the cell. “Fluorescent timer” protein colocalized closely with viral 3A protein within virus replication organelles. Intriguingly, infection of partially differentiated NPSCs or C2C12 myoblast cells induced the release of abundant extracellular microvesicles (EMVs) containing matured “fluorescent timer” protein and infectious virus representing a novel route of virus dissemination. CVB3 virions were readily observed within purified EMVs by transmission electron microscopy, and infectious virus was identified within low-density isopycnic iodixanol gradient fractions consistent with membrane association. The preferential detection of the lipidated form of LC3 protein (LC3 II) in released EMVs harboring infectious virus suggests that the autophagy pathway plays a crucial role in microvesicle shedding and virus release, similar to a process previously described as autophagosome-mediated exit without lysis (AWOL) observed during poliovirus replication. Through the use of this novel recombinant virus which provides more dynamic information from static fluorescent images, we hope to gain a better understanding of CVB3 tropism, intracellular membrane reorganization, and virus-associated microvesicle dissemination within the host.     

Coxsackievirus B3 infection induces cyr61 activation via JNK to mediate cell death

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), an enterovirus in the Picornavirus family, is the most common human pathogen associated with myocarditis and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. We found upregulation of the cysteine-rich protein gene (cyr61) after CVB3 infection in HeLa cells with a cDNA microarray approach, which is confirmed by Northern blot analysis. It is also revealed that the extracellular amount of Cyr61 protein was increased after CVB3 infection in HeLa cells. cyr61 is an early-transcribed gene, and the Cyr61 protein is secreted into the extracellular matrix. Its function is related to cell adhesion, migration, and neuronal cell death. Here, we show that activation of the cyr61 promoter by CVB3 infection is dependent on JNK activation induced by CVB3 replication and viral protein expression in infected cells. To explore the role of Cyr61 protein in infected HeLa cells, we transiently overexpressed cyr61 and infected HeLa cells with CVB3. This increased CVB3 growth in the cells and promoted host cell death by viral infection, whereas down-expression of cyr61 with short interfering RNA reduced CVB3 growth and showed resistance to cell death by CVB3 infection. In conclusion, we have demonstrated a new role for cyr61 in HeLa cells infected with CVB3, which is associated with the cell death induced by virus infection. These data thus expand our understanding of the physiological functions of cyr61 in virus-induced cell death and provide new insights into the cellular factors involved.     

Enterovirus 71-induced autophagy increases viral replication and pathogenesis in a suckling mouse model

Background

We previously reported that Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection activates autophagy, which promotes viral replication both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study we further investigated whether EV71 infection of neuronal SK-N-SH cells induces an autophagic flux. Furthermore, the effects of autophagy on EV71-related pathogenesis and viral load were evaluated after intracranial inoculation of mouse-adapted EV71 (MP4 strain) into 6-day-old ICR suckling mice.

Results

We demonstrated that in EV71-infected SK-N-SH cells, EV71 structural protein VP1 and nonstructural protein 2C co-localized with LC3 and mannose-6-phosphate receptor (MPR, endosome marker) proteins by immunofluorescence staining, indicating amphisome formation. Together with amphisome formation, EV71 induced an autophagic flux, which could be blocked by NH₄Cl (inhibitor of acidification) and vinblastine (inhibitor of fusion), as demonstrated by Western blotting. Suckling mice intracranially inoculated with EV71 showed EV71 VP1 protein expression (representing EV71 infection) in the cerebellum, medulla, and pons by immunohistochemical staining. Accompanied with these infected brain tissues, increased expression of LC3-II protein as well as formation of LC3 aggregates, autophagosomes and amphisomes were detected. Amphisome formation, which was confirmed by colocalization of EV71-VP1 protein or LC3 puncta and the endosome marker protein MPR. Thus, EV71-infected suckling mice (similar to EV71-infected SK-N-SH cells) also show an autophagic flux. The physiopathological parameters of EV71-MP4 infected mice, including body weight loss, disease symptoms, and mortality were increased compared to those of the uninfected mice. We further blocked EV71-induced autophagy with the inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), which attenuated the disease symptoms and decreased the viral load in the brain tissues of the infected mice.

Conclusions

In this study, we reveal that EV71 infection of suckling mice induces an amphisome formation accompanied with the autophagic flux in the brain tissues. Autophagy induced by EV71 promotes viral replication and EV71-related pathogenesis.     

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate reduces coxsackievirus B3 replication through inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is one of the most common pathogens for viral myocarditis. The lack of effective therapeutics for CVB3-caused viral diseases underscores the importance of searching for antiviral compounds. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is an antioxidant and is recently reported to inhibit ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Previous studies have shown that PDTC inhibits replication of rhinovirus, influenza virus, and poliovirus. In the present study, we report that PDTC is a potent inhibitor of CVB3. Coxsackievirus-infected HeLa cells treated with PDTC showed a significant reduction of CVB3 viral RNA synthesis, viral protein VP1 expression, and viral progeny release. Similar to previous observation that divalent ions mediate the function of PDTC, we further report that serum-containing copper and zinc are required for its antiviral activity. CVB3 infection resulted in massive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although PDTC alleviated ROS generation, the antiviral activity was unlikely dependent on its antioxidant effect because the potent antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, failed to inhibit CVB3 replication. Consistent with previous reports that PDTC inhibits ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated protein degradation, we found that PDTC treatment led to the accumulation of several short-lived proteins in infected cells. We further provide evidence that the inhibitory effect of PDTC on protein degradation was not due to inhibition of proteasome activity but likely modulation of ubiquitination. Together with our previous findings that proteasome inhibition reduces CVB3 replication (H. Luo, J. Zhang, C. Cheung, A. Suarez, B. M. McManus, and D. Yang, Am. J. Pathol. 163:381-385, 2003), results in this study suggest a strong antiviral effect of PDTC on coxsackievirus, likely through inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.     

Cleavage and degradation of EDEM1 promotes coxsackievirus B3 replication via ATF6a‐mediated unfolded protein response signalling

Our previous study of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)‐induced unfolded protein responses (UPR) found that overexpression of ATF6a enhances CVB3 VP1 capsid protein production and increases viral particle formation. These findings implicate that ATF6a signalling benefits CVB3 replication. However, the mechanism by which ATF6a signalling is transduced to promote virus replication is unclear. In this study, using a Tet‐On inducible ATF6a HeLa cell line, we found that ATF6a signalling downregulated the protein expression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) degradation‐enhancing α‐mannosidase‐like protein 1 (EDEM1), resulting in accumulation of CVB3 VP1 protein; in contrast, expression of a dominant negative ATF6a had the opposite effect. Furthermore, we found that EDEM1 was cleaved by both CVB3 protease 3C and virus‐activated caspase and subsequently degraded via the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway. However, overexpression of EDEM1 caused VP1 degradation, likely via a glycosylation‐independent and ubiquitin‐lysosome pathway. Finally, we demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated knockout of EDEM1 increased VP1 accumulation and thus CVB3 replication. This is the first study to report the ER protein quality control of non‐enveloped RNA virus and reveals a novel mechanism by which CVB3 evades host ER quality control pathways through cleavage and degradation of the UPR target gene EDEM1, to ultimately benefit its own replication.     

Development of a enterovirus diagnostic assay system for diagnosis of viral myocarditis in humans

The coxsackieviruses type B3 (CVB3) are members of the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae. They are the commonest cause of chronic myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. However, there is still no effective method for diagnosing CVB3 infection in humans. Here, a fast and accurate system that uses a capsid‐protein‐specific peptide sequence to detect CVB3 in the sera of patients with viral myocarditis was established. The peptide sequence was selected from the whole CVB3 capsid protein sequence by computationally predicting fragments with high antigenicity and low hydrophobicity. Two of eight possible peptide sequences were selected and commercially synthesized. The synthesized peptides encoded either the VP2 or VP1 capsid protein and induced immunoglobulin G antibody expression in immunized rabbits. Anti‐VP2 and anti‐VP1 sera detected the viral proteins extracted from CVB3‐infected HeLa cells. The newly synthesized peptides successfully induced antibody production. These peptides, applied in an ELISA system, detected anti‐CVB3 antibodies in virus‐infected mouse serum. Moreover, an ELISA system based on the VP2 peptide detected CVB3 infection in patients with positively identified CVB3‐induced fulminant myocarditis. These results indicate that these new peptides specifically interact with anti‐CVB3 IgG antibodies in mouse and human sera. This ELISA system should be useful for the clinical diagnosis of enterovirus‐induced myocarditis.     

Dengue virus infection induces autophagy: an in vivo study

Background

We and others have reported that autophagy is induced by dengue viruses (DVs) in various cell lines, and that it plays a supportive role in DV replication. This study intended to clarify whether DV infection could induce autophagy in vivo. Furthermore, the effect of DV induced autophagy on viral replication and DV-related pathogenesis was investigated.

Results and conclusions

The physiopathological parameters were evaluated after DV2 was intracranially injected into 6-day-old ICR suckling mice. Autophagy-related markers were monitored by immunohistochemical/immunofluorescent staining and Western blotting. Double-membrane autophagic vesicles were investigated by transmission-electron-microscopy. DV non-structural-protein-1 (NS1) expression (indicating DV infection) was detected in the cerebrum, medulla and midbrain of the infected mice. In these infected tissues, increased LC3 puncta formation, LC3-II expression, double-membrane autophagosome-like vesicles (autophagosome), amphisome, and decreased p62 accumulation were observed, indicating that DV2 induces the autophagic progression in vivo. Amphisome formation was demonstrated by colocalization of DV2-NS1 protein or LC3 puncta and mannose-6-phosphate receptor (MPR, endosome marker) in DV2-infected brain tissues. We further manipulated DV-induced autophagy by the inducer rapamycin and the inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3MA), which accordingly promoted or suppressed the disease symptoms and virus load in the brain of the infected mice.We demonstrated that DV2 infection of the suckling mice induces autophagy, which plays a promoting role in DV replication and pathogenesis.