湖南地区HBV患者MHC—I类链相关基因A第五外显子微卫星多态性研究

分别提取湖南汉族人群108例慢性乙肝病毒（hepatitis B virus,HBV）患者、96例HBV携带者和142例健康对照者外周血基因组DNA,利用聚合酶链反应和基因扫描技术分别对它们的主要组织相容性复合体I类链相关A（major histocompatibility complex class I chain related A, MICA）基因第5外显子进行微卫星多态性分析;应用DNA测序分析对不同的基因型进行验证,同时应用PCR／SSP技术进行MICA＊Del检测,确定MICA基因第5外显子基因型。发现本研究的三组中分别检出44、A5、A5．1、A6、A9五种等位基因,且以A5和A5．1为主;在HBV携带组和健康对照组中分别检出MICA＊Del基因。结果同时显示慢性HBV患者组MICA＊A5．1／A9基因型频率、慢性HBV患者组的MICA＊A9等位基因频率、慢性HBV患者组MICA＊A9表型频率和HBV携带组MICA＊A5．I／A9基因型频率均低于相应的健康对照组;而湖南地区汉族人群HBV携带者和慢性HBV患者问的基因型频率、等位基因频率和表型频率无显著性差异;因而推测MICA＊A5．1／A9基因型和MICA$A9等位基因可能是抗HBV感染的一种保护性等位基因。为今后进一步研究HBV的感染、预防和治疗提供参考依据。     

Interference of Hepatitis B Virus with Cellular Signaling

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) proteins leads to changes in the cellular gene expression. As a consequence, the cellular signaling processes are influenced by the actions of HBV proteins. It has been shown that HBV nucleocapsid protein and the amino-terminal part of polymerase termed as terminal protein (TP) could inhibit interferon signaling. Further, the global gene expression profiles differ in hepatoma cells with and without HBV gene expression and replication. The expression of interferon (IFN) stimulated genes (ISGs) was differently regulated in cells with HBV replication and could be modulated by antiviral treatments. The HBV TP has been found to modulate the ISG expression and enhance the HBV replication. The modulation of the cellular signaling processes by HBV may have significant implications for pathogenesis.     

Interference of hepatitis B virus with cellular signaling

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) proteins leads to changes in the cellular gene expression. As a consequence, the cellular signaling processes are influenced by the actions of HBV proteins. It has been shown that HBV nucleocapsid protein and the amino-terminal part of polymerase termed as terminal protein (TP) could inhibit interferon signaling. Further, the global gene expression profiles differ in hepatoma cells with and without HBV gene expression and replication. The expression of interferon (IFN) stimulated genes (ISGs) was differently regulated in cells with HBV replication and could be modulated by antiviral treatments. The HBV TP has been found to modulate the ISG expression and enhance the HBV replication. The modulation of the cellular signaling processes by HBV may have significant implications for pathogenesis.     

Entry of hepatitis B virus into immortalized human primary hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis

The lack of a suitable in vitro hepatitis B virus (HBV) infectivity model has limited examination of the early stages of the virus-cell interaction. In this study, we used an immortalized cell line derived from human primary hepatocytes, HuS-E/2, to study the mechanism of HBV infection. HBV infection efficiency was markedly increased after dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced differentiation of the cells. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of intact HBV particles in DMSO-treated HBV-infected HuS-E/2 cells, which could be infected with HBV for up to at least 50 passages. The pre-S1 domain of the large HBsAg (LHBsAg) protein specifically interacted with clathrin heavy chain (CHC) and clathrin adaptor protein AP-2. Short hairpin RNA knockdown of CHC or AP-2 in HuS-E/2 cells significantly reduced their susceptibility to HBV, indicating that both are necessary for HBV infection. Furthermore, HBV entry was inhibited by chlorpromazine, an inhibitor of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. LHBsAg also interfered with the clathrin-mediated endocytosis of transferrin by human hepatocytes. This infection system using an immortalized human primary hepatocyte cell line will facilitate investigations into HBV entry and in devising therapeutic strategies for manipulating HBV-associated liver disorders.     

Hepatitis B Virus with X Gene Mutation Is Associated with the Majority of Serologically “Silent” Non-B,Non-C Chronic Hepatitis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) with X gene mutations has been a putative pathogen of chronic hepatitis without serological markers of known hepatitis viruses. The aim of this study was to reconfirm whether the HBV with the X gene mutation is associated with these serologically “silent” non-B, non-C (NBNC) chronic hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). HBV DNA was amplified from serum and sequenced in 30 patients with NBNC chronic hepatitis in comparison with 20 patients with ALD and 5 patients with AIH. HBV DNA was identified in 21 patients (70%) in NBNC chronic hepatitis by nested polymerase chain reaction while only one patient (5%) in ALD and none in AIH showed HBV DNA. Eighteen (85.7%) of the 21 identified HBV DNAs had an identical 8-nucleotide deletion mutation at the distal part of the X region. This mutation affected the core promoter and the enhancer II sequence of HBV DNA and created a translational stop codon which truncated the X protein by 20 amino acids from the C-terminal end. All the HBV DNAs had a precore mutation at the 83rd nucleotide resulting in disruption of HBe antigen synthesis. These results indicate that HBV mutants are closely associated with the majority of serologically “silent” NBNC chronic hepatitis cases and the population of such mutant HBV DNAs is not uniform.     

乙醇在HBV DNA转染中对大鼠血睾屏障的影响及其机制探讨(英文)

目的:探讨机体摄入大量乙醇后,血睾屏障(blood-testis barrier,BTB)能否有效阻止含乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)DNA的质粒转染生精小管生精上皮细胞和影响BTB完整性的因素。方法:取20只Wistar成熟雄性大鼠随机分为实验组(A组)和对照组(B组),应用聚合酶链反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)和原位杂交(in situ hybridization,ISH)检测HBVDNA的存在和生精小管的转染情况,应用透射电子显微镜(transmission electron microscopy,TEM)技术检测BTB与生精内环境的超微结构形态学变化。结果:①PCR:A组样本可见特异的HBVDNA阳性条带;②原位杂交:A组发现阳性杂交信号弥散,可被广泛发现于生精上皮基底室和近腔室的生精细胞上;③TEM:A组大鼠睾的生精小管基膜厚薄不均,基膜组织疏松增厚,成波浪式皱褶,可见基膜断裂,精原细胞与支持细胞及生精小管的基膜之间出现较多空泡,生精小管、生精上皮、生精细胞及支持细胞与相邻细胞之间的间隙扩大。结论:BTB的完整性是其起保护功能的重要基础,乙醇可以破坏其完整性,会使全部生精细胞易受HBV的感染。     

Rearrangement of the surface antigen gene of hepatitis B virus integrated in the human hepatoma cell lines.

The rearrangement of integrated HBV DNA sequences in three different hepatoma cell lines, huH-1, huH-2, KG-55-T from Japanese patients, were studied by blot hybridization using whole HBV genome or a HBsAg or HBcAg DNA as a probe. The characteristic existence of multiple integration sites of HBV DNA sequences in each HindIII-restricted hepatoma cell DNA was revealed by the HBV genome probe. Detection of the isolated HBsAg gene in the HindIII fragment indicates that the integration of HBV DNA was not always related to the maintenance of the whole viral genome, and that movement of the HBsAg gene to another location occurred by rearrangement. On the other hand, the presence of the HBV DNA sequence without the intact HBcAg gene was shown in some of the HindIII fragments, when the HBcAg gene, probe was used, but a HindIII fragment, containing only the HBcAg gene, was not detected so far. The absence of the intact HBcAg gene suggests that the viral genome may lose a part of the HBcAg gene in the process of integration. This is consistent with recent findings of Ogston et al. (1982) that in Woodchuck hepatocellular carcinoma viral sequences are extensively rearranged.     

Inhibition of pMAPK14 Overcomes Resistance to Sorafenib in Hepatoma Cells with Hepatitis B Virus

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) targets the liver and is a major driver for liver cancer. Clinical data suggest that HBV infection is associated with reduced response to treatment with the multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib, the first available molecularly targeted anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) drug. Given that Raf is one of the major targets of sorafenib, we investigated the activation state of the Raf-Mek-Erk pathway in the presence of HBV and in response to sorafenib. Here we show that hepatoma cells with replicating HBV are less susceptible to sorafenib inhibitory effect as compared to cells in which HBV expression is suppressed. However, although HBV replication is associated with increased level of pErk, its blockade only modestly augments sorafenib effect. In contrast, the phosphorylated form of the pro-oncogenic Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14 (pMAPK14), a protein kinase that was recently linked to sorafenib resistance, is induced in sorafenib-treated hepatoma cells in association with HBV X protein expression. Knocking down pMAPK14 results in augmentation of the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib and largely alleviates resistance to sorafenib in the presence of HBV. Thus, this study suggests that HBV promotes HCC resistance to sorafenib. Combining pMAPK14 inhibitors with sorafenib may be beneficial in patients with HBV-associated HCC.     

Cloning and expression of a novel hepatitis B virus-binding protein from HepG2 cells

A direct involvement of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS1-(21-47) sequence in virus attachment to cell membrane receptor(s) and the presence on the plasma membranes of HepG2 cells of protein(s) with receptor activity for HBV have been suggested by many previous experiments. In this study, by using a tetravalent derivative of the preS1-(21-47) sequence, we have isolated by affinity chromatography from detergent-solubilized HepG2 plasma membranes a 44-kDa protein (HBV-binding protein; HBV-BP), which was found to closely correspond to the human squamous cell carcinoma antigen 1 (SCCA1), a member of the ovalbumin family of serine protease inhibitors. Comparison of SCCA1 sequence with the sequence of the corresponding HBV-BP cDNA, cloned by polymerase chain reaction starting from RNA poly(A)(+) fractions extracted from HepG2 cells, indicated the presence of only four nucleotide substitutions in the coding region, leading to three amino acid changes. Intact recombinant HBV-BP lacked inhibitory activity for serine proteases such as alpha-chymotrypsin and trypsin but inhibited with high potency cysteine proteases such as papain and cathepsin L. Direct binding experiments confirmed the interaction of recombinant HBV-BP with the HBV preS1 domain. HepG2 cells overexpressing HBV-BP after transfection of corresponding cDNA showed a virus binding capacity increased by 2 orders of magnitude compared with untransfected cells, while Chinese hamster ovary cells, which normally do not bind to HBV, acquired susceptibility to HBV binding after transfection. Native HBV particle entry was enhanced in transfected cells. Both recombinant HBV-BP and antibodies to recombinant HBV-BP blocked virus binding and internalization in transfected cells as well as in primary human hepatocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that this protein plays a major role in HBV infection.     

Immunoadhesins containing pre-S domains of hepatitis B virus large envelope protein are secreted and inhibit virus infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication produces three envelope proteins (L, M, and S) that have a common C terminus. L, the largest, contains a domain, pre-S1, not present on M. Similarly M contains a domain, pre-S2, not present on S. The pre-S1 region has important functions in the HBV life cycle. Thus, as an approach to studying these roles, the pre-S1 and/or pre-S2 sequences of HBV (serotype adw2, genotype A) were expressed as N-terminal fusions to the Fc domain of a rabbit immunoglobulin G chain. Such proteins, known as immunoadhesins (IA), were highly expressed following transfection of cultured cells and, when the pre-S1 region was present, >80% were secreted. The IA were myristoylated at a glycine penultimate to the N terminus, although mutation studies showed that this modification was not needed for secretion. As few as 30 amino acids from the N terminus of pre-S1 were both necessary and sufficient to drive secretion of IA. Even expression of pre-S1 plus pre-S2, in the absence of an immunoglobulin chain, led to efficient secretion. Overall, these studies demonstrate an unexpected ability of the N terminus of pre-S1 to promote protein secretion. In addition, some of these secreted IA, at nanomolar concentrations, inhibited infection of primary human hepatocytes either by hepatitis delta virus (HDV), a subviral agent that uses HBV envelope proteins, or HBV. These IA have potential to be part of antiviral therapies against chronic HDV and HBV, and may help understand the attachment and entry mechanisms used by these important human pathogens.     

A bacteriophage M13 based sandwich hybridization assay for the detection of hepatitis B virus in human blood.

A two step hybridization procedure was developed to detect the presence of hepatitis B virus in blood samples using bacteriophage M13 radiolabelled DNA as probe. During the first step of hybridization, single-stranded bacteriophage M13 tg 130 DNA, with 3.2 kb HBV DNA cloned into it, was hybridized to target HBV DNA immobilized on nitrocellulose membrane filter. In the second step of hybridization, M13 DNA annealed to HBV target is detected with the help of double stranded form of M13 DNA. The assay offers minimum 4- to 6-fold higher sensitivity in comparison to single-step conventional hybridization assays. Additionally M13 DNA offers itself as universal probe.     

Neutralization of hepatitis B virus surface antigen with immunoglobulin preparations

The in vitro experiments with immunoglobulin and blood plasma containing hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, revealed that the control of immunoglobulin preparations for the presence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), mandatory for Russia, was not sufficiently informative. The neutralization of HBsAg with specific antibodies to the level, not determined by the EIA method, reached not less than 24 ng/ ml in 2 hours of incubation and not less than 49 ng/ml in 24 hours of incubation, which, when evaluated in 1 lU of anti-HBs, was 34.6 +/- 0.9 ng and 70.7 +/- 1.8 ng of HBsAg respectively. The process of the formation of immune complexes depended mainly on the time of incubation of experimental samples and on the antibody--antigen proportion in the system. The neutralization of viruses by antibodies had no influence on the capacity of the polymerase chain reaction to detect HBV DNA.     

Intracellular expression of a cloned antibody fragment interferes with hepatitis B virus surface antigen secretion

We evaluated the potential of an intracellularly expressed antibody fragment to interfere with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Sequences coding for the immunoglobulin variable regions of the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) specific monoclonal antibody 5C3 were isolated and characterized. A secretory pathway-targeted, 5C3 derived single chain Fv (sFv) fragment was expressed in HuH-7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells together with HBsAg. Quantification of extracellular HBsAg levels in the cell culture supernatant demonstrated that the presence of the 5C3 sFv equipped with a secretory pathway retention signal SEKDEL reduced extracellular HBsAg levels by a mean of 85%. Co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed that the 5C3 sFv targeted to the secretory pathway physically interacted with its target antigen, HBsAg. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed the intracellular expression and colocalization of the 5C3 sFv and HBsAg. We conclude that certain intracellularly expressed antibody fragments will substantially interfere with HBV antigen secretion from the cell.     

Clinicopathologic features and genotyping of patients with chronic HBV infection in the Upper Egypt

The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathologic features and Hepatitis B virus genotypes in HBV-infected patients in the Upper Egypt. Eighty-three HBsAg-positive patients (28 carriers, 14 with chronic hepatitis, 32 with liver cirrhosis and 9 with hepatocellular carcinoma) were enrolled. Blood was collected and serum samples obtained were screened for Hepatitis markers genotyping was conducted for 6 HBV genotypes (A through F) using a method for genotyping HBV by primer specific polymerase chain reaction. Genotype D was the only genotype detected in different clinical forms of chronic HBV infection (carriers, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and, in all patients who had elevated or normal alanine aminotransferase levels and in all ages. HBeAg was absent in 78 patients suggesting the presence of pre-core or core mutations. Positive correlation was found among serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), histological activity index and grade of hepatitis. This study provides the first indication about the clinicopathologic features of HBV-infected patients in the Upper Egypt. It also reports the predominance of genotype D in this region.     

Functional expression of anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS2 antigen scFv by <Emphasis Type="Italic">cspA</Emphasis> promoter system in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> and application as a recognition molecule for single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) field effect transistor (FET)

The preS2 antigens of hepatitis B virus (HBV), which causes a serious health problem in the world, have been implicated in hepatocyte cell binding and viral penetration. Therefore, the importance of antibody production against preS2 antigen for early diagnosis of HBV has been well established. In this study, the recombinant HBV preS2 single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody was successfully expressed in E. coli with the novel cold shock vector (pCold) under the cspA promoter, and its expression level was compared with the pET vector under the T7 promoter. Additionally, a host with an oxidizing cytoplasm, E. coli trxB/gor double mutant, was used to improve the soluble expression. The anti-HBV preS2 scFv using pCold vector was successfully expressed in a soluble and functional form in both wild type and double mutant E. coli, while the scFv using the pET vector was expressed in an insoluble form in spite of using a double mutant providing an oxidizing environment. The induction with 0.05 mM IPTG showed a 2-fold higher functional expression compared to induction with 1 mM IPTG, and the functional expression at the induction temperature (15°C), which is optimal temperature for pCold vector, was improved 2-fold and 3- fold at 4 and 25°C, respectively. The efficacy of anti-HBV preS2 scFv for detecting HBV preS2 antigen was tested and verified by using Ni-decorated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) field effect transistors.     

乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原基因在墨西哥酸浆中的表达及其免疫原性的初步研究

以墨西哥酸浆子叶作为外植体,与农杆菌EHA105（含质粒p130HBs)共培养3天,通过延迟筛选的方法用潮霉素加压直接诱导成芽,抗性芽经诱导生根获得转化植株。经PCR、Southern点杂交等分子检测,证实目的基因已整合到墨西哥酸浆基因组中。ELISA检测证实了在墨西哥酸浆中表达的HBsAg具有较好的活性。初步比较了目的基因在转化植株、不同器官的表达水平差异。取注射注免1次但抗体水平明显下降的Babl/c小鼠,口服饲喂加强免疫,有明显的特异性抗体回升反应。表明转基因墨西哥酸浆疫苗作为口服加强免疫具有重要的理论和实用价值。     

两种前S蛋白与HBV复制关系的初步研究

乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)前S基因及其产物的发现有助于认识HBV复制规律。一些研究提示:前S_1蛋白是完整病毒颗粒表面的必要成分,其存在与HBV复制密切相关,前S_1检测能敏感和特异地反映HBV复制状态。另一些研究则认为:前S_2蛋白含有人多聚白蛋白的结合位点,并提出前S_2蛋白为HBV复制的新标志。为探讨HBV复制与两种前S蛋白之间的联系,本研究应用原位分子杂交分析一组慢性肝炎患者肝细胞内HBV DNA,同时检测肝细胞内HBsAg、HBcAg与两种前S蛋白,综合分析两种前S蛋白在HBV复制中的地位和作用。     

Evidence for supercoiled hepatitis B virus DNA in chimpanzee liver and serum Dane particles: possible implications in persistent HBV infection

In chimpanzee hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, the mechanism of viral persistence has been examined by analyzing viral DNA molecules in liver and serum. Chimpanzee liver DNA contained two extrachromosomal HBV DNA molecules migrating on hybridization blots at 4.0 kb and 2.3 kb. There was no evidence for integration of HBV DNA into the host genome. The extrachromosomal molecules were distinct from Dane particle DNA and were converted to linear 3.25 kb full-length double-stranded HBV DNA on digestion with Eco RI. Nucleases S1 and Bal 31 converted "2.3 kb" HBV DNA to 3.25 kb via an intermediate of "4.0 kb" apparent length. The HBV DNA molecule that migrated at 2.3 kb represents a supercoiled form I of the HBV genome, and the molecule that migrated at 4.0 kb represents a full-length "nicked," relaxed circular form II. Evidence for supercoiled HBV DNA in serum Dane particles was obtained by production of form II molecules upon digestion with nuclease S1 or Bal 31. It is proposed that most Dane particles represent interfering noninfectious virus containing partially double-stranded DNA circles and that particles containing supercoiled HBV DNA may represent infectious hepatitis B virus.