抗HCV药物筛选系统研究进展

丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)感染的持久性引发慢性肝病疾病,并可能发展成为肝硬化和肝癌。目前对HCV的治疗不能达到理想的治疗效果,所以开发新型抗HCV药物迫在眉睫。抗HCV药物筛选的细胞模型,如复制子系统、假病毒系统、细胞培养系统,动物模型,如黑猩猩、uPA-SCID小鼠等,取得了快速的进展,并推动丙型肝炎的研究和抗HCV药物的发现。     

可调控肝脏特异性表达HCV全基因转基因小鼠模型的建立

目的:构建一种可调控肝细胞特异性表达丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)全基因的小动物模型。方法:将9.6 kb的HCV全长基因JFH1插入Tet-on系统效应表达载体p TRE2中,并在HCV全基因3'端插入丁型肝炎病毒(HDV)核酶序列,从而构建转基因载体p TRE2-JFH1(HCV);将该转基因载体线性化后显微注射获得整合有HCV全基因的TRE2-HCV首建鼠;将该阳性鼠与本室保存的Alb-rt TA转基因小鼠杂交,获得肝细胞白蛋白启动子调控HCV全基因表达的Tet-on-Alb-HCV双转基因小鼠;在强力霉素(Dox)诱导后通过PCR、Western印迹、免疫组化等方法鉴定转基因小鼠HCV基因整合及HCV蛋白在肝组织中的表达;实时定量PCR检测小鼠血清及肝组织中的HCV滴度;用HCV反义小分子药物anti-mi R122评价该模型在药物评价中的应用。结果:获得了整合rt TA基因和HCV全长基因的双转基因小鼠;Dox诱导下,该转基因小鼠可在肝组织长期特异性表达HCV全长基因,小鼠血清中可检测到HCV的RNA;分子药物anti-mi R122可降低血清中的HCV滴度。结论:构建了可调控肝组织特异性表达HCV全基因的转基因小鼠模型,该小鼠模型可应用于HCV药物筛选和评价研究。     

丙型肝炎病毒感染性细胞模型的研究进展

丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）是造成慢性肝炎,肝硬化及肝癌的重要原因之一,目前全球约有1.7亿人感染HCV。然而缺乏有效的HCV感染模型,严重阻碍了对HCV致病机制的认识。最近几年以JFH1株和Huh-7细胞系为基础,通过对不同病毒株基因组的重组和细胞系的优化,进一步提高其感染能力,在HCV感染系统的建立上取得了突破性进展。我们简要综述近几年在HCV感染细胞模型方面取得的进展。     

研发动态

<正>中国科学院研制出世界首个丙肝病毒持续感染动物模型中国科学院武汉病毒研究所和中国科学院生物物理研究所经过多年合作,利用免疫系统完整的小鼠,成功研制出世界首个丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)持续感染、完整反映HCV感染自然史和慢性病毒性肝炎进展的动物模型。成果发表于新一期CellResearch。目前,全球有近两亿人、我国有逾4000万人携带HCV。慢性丙肝是导致肝硬化和肝癌的主要凶手。尽管慢性     

丙型肝炎病毒受体及其感染机制

病毒与宿主细胞的吸附是病毒感染的第一步,其相互作用决定了病毒的宿主范围和组织、细胞的易感性。丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)受体的研究,对于阐明HCV的感染机制及感染模型具有重要意义。     

Flt3配体增强HCV核心-包膜E2融合基因DNA疫苗诱导的细胞免疫应答

建立一种可高效诱导细胞免疫应答 ,对丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV)感染可能起预防和治疗作用的DNA疫苗。将小鼠Flt3配体 (FL)信号肽和胞外段cDNA插入结构优化的HCV核心 包膜E2融合抗原DNA疫苗pST CE2t,构建成pST CE2t FL。将pST CE2t FL转染COS7细胞 ,Westernblot和ELISA检测表明该重组质粒能表达HCV核心 包膜E2融合抗原和可溶性小鼠FL。分别将pST CE2t、pST CE2t FL和空载体pCI neo肌肉注射接种BALB c小鼠 ,检测小鼠的体液和细胞免疫应答。结果表明两种DNA结构均能在小鼠体内诱生细胞和体液免疫应答 ,但pST CE2t诱导的体液免疫应答强于pST CE2t FL ,而后者诱导的细胞免疫应答明显强于前者。FL能明显增强HCV核心 包膜E2融合抗原DNA疫苗诱导的细胞免疫应答 ,对于发展HCV预防和治疗性疫苗有潜在的应用价值。     

丙型肝炎病毒体外培养系统研究进展

由于缺少丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）的细胞培养系统和小动物模型，因此对其生活周期、作用机制至今仍不是很清楚，从而严重阻碍了丙型肝炎疫苗及相关治疗药物的开发与研制。一直以来，人们研究的HCV体外培养细胞模型包括感染模型和转染模型两种，感染模型由于原代肝细胞培养问题未能解决而难以成功，而转染模型的发展可喜。但是HCV复制子只能在极少数细胞中短暂复制，且产生的病毒量很低。1999年建立了亚基因组复制子，使人们有机会对其进行深入研究，但须人为引入碱基突变。最近建立的全基因复制子不需要引入突变即形成病毒粒子，是一项重大突破。概述了HCV体外培养系统的研究进展。     

Flt3配体增强HCV核心 包膜E2融合基因DNA疫苗诱导的细胞免疫应答

建立一种可高效诱导细胞免疫应答,对丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染可能起预防和治疗作用的DNA疫苗。将小鼠Flt3配体（FL）信号肽和胞外段cDNA插入结构优化的HCV核心包膜E2融合抗原DNA疫苗pST-CE2t,构建成pST-CE2t/FL。将pSTCE2t/FL转染COS7细胞,Western blot和ELISA检测表明该重组质粒能表达HCV核心包膜E2融合抗原和可溶性小鼠FL。分别将pST-CE2t、pST-CE2t/FL和空载体pCI-neo肌肉注射接种BALB/c小鼠,检测小鼠的体液和细胞免疫应答。结果表明两种DNA结构均能在小鼠体内诱生细胞和体液免疫应答,但pST-CE2t诱导的体液免疫应答强于pST-CE2t/FL,而后者诱导的细胞免疫应答明显强于前者。FL能明显增强HCV核心包膜E2融合抗原DNA疫苗诱导的细胞免疫应答,对于发展HCV预防和治疗性疫苗有潜在的应用价值。     

结核分枝杆菌Rv2645刺激ISG15的表达上升促进体外丙型肝炎病毒的增殖

为研究结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis,M.tb)与丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)感染之间的相关关系,本文研究毒性毒株M.tb H37Rv的RD13区中的Rv2645基因对免疫细胞中干扰素刺激基因(Interferonstimulated gene 15,ISG15)表达的影响,进而探讨ISG15的表达与HCV感染之间的相关性。利用携带Rv2645基因的无毒牛结核分枝杆菌卡介苗(Bacille calmette guerin,BCG)(即rBCG::Rv2645,rBCG)与亲本BCG分别感染小鼠或刺激小鼠巨噬细胞系RAW264.7,运用RT-qPCR以及蛋白印迹的方法检测,比较rBCG与BCG感染对小鼠CD4+T细胞及RAW264.7细胞中ISG15的mRNA及蛋白质表达的影响。同时克隆ISG15真核表达质粒和ISG15的沉默表达质粒-ISG15-shRNA,运用RT-qPCR及蛋白印迹分别检测ISG15过表达及沉默后,对HCV感染的人肝癌细胞系Huh7.5.1中HCV的mRNA、HCV非结构蛋白NS3及核心蛋白Core的表达。我们发现相对于BCG,携带Rv2645的BCG感染之后脾脏CD4+T细胞及体外RAW264.7中ISG15的mRNA及蛋白质的水平明显升高。此外,ISG15过表达导致Huh7.5.1中HCV的mRNA、NS3蛋白及Core蛋白的水平明显升高,而ISG15沉默后ISG15和HCV的mRNA的水平明显下调。本研究首次发现M.tb Rv2645能上调小鼠CD4+T细胞及巨噬细胞中ISG15的表达;而ISG15能促进Huh7.5.1中HCV增殖。本研究对阐明M.tb毒性菌株H37Rv的Rv2645基因的功能,以及为研究MTB感染与HCV感染的分子机制提供参考依据。     

HCV 5′NCR转基因细胞HepG2.9706的特性分析

丙型肝炎是由丙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis C virus,HCV)引起的威胁人类健康的重要传染病,迄今尚无有效的疫苗及特异性抗病毒治疗药物.抗HCV药物的研究和开发面临的关键问题是缺乏合适的HCV感染细胞及动物评价模型.转基因细胞模型是研究人类疾病常用的有效手段,因此,在HCV分子生物学进展的基础上,我们以对HCV翻译与复制有明显调控功能的HCV 5′NCR及部分翻译起始区序列为靶标,构建了HCV 5′NCR及部分多聚蛋白起始区序列与荧光素酶基因的融合基因,插入真核表达载体,转染HepG2细胞,获得了HCV 5′NCR转基因细胞HepG2.9706细胞株[1].本文对该细胞的某些特性进行了分析,以便更好地利用该细胞模型进行药物评价.     

Use of human hepatocyte-like cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells as a model for hepatocytes in hepatitis C virus infection

Host tropism of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is limited to human and chimpanzee. HCV infection has never been fully understood because there are few conventional models for HCV infection. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like (iPS-Hep) cells have been expected to use for drug discovery to predict therapeutic activities and side effects of compounds during the drug discovery process. However, the suitability of iPS-Hep cells as an experimental model for HCV research is not known. Here, we investigated the entry and genomic replication of HCV in iPS-Hep cells by using HCV pseudotype virus (HCVpv) and HCV subgenomic replicons, respectively. We showed that iPS-Hep cells, but not iPS cells, were susceptible to infection with HCVpv. The iPS-Hep cells expressed HCV receptors, including CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), claudin-1, and occludin; in contrast, the iPS cells showed no expression of SR-BI or claudin-1. HCV RNA genome replication occurred in the iPS-Hep cells. Anti-CD81 antibody, an inhibitor of HCV entry, and interferon, an inhibitor of HCV genomic replication, dose-dependently attenuated HCVpv entry and HCV subgenomic replication in iPS-Hep cells, respectively. These findings suggest that iPS-Hep cells are an appropriate model for HCV infection.     

Towards a small animal model for hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic liver disease and affects an estimated 3% of the world's population. Options for the prevention or therapy of HCV infection are limited; there is no vaccine and the nonspecific, interferon‐based treatments now in use are frequently ineffective and have significant side effects. A small‐animal model for HCV infection would significantly expedite antiviral compound development and preclinical testing, as well as open new avenues to decipher the mechanisms that underlie viral pathogenesis. The natural species tropism of HCV is, however, limited to humans and chimpanzees. Here, we discuss the prospects of developing a mouse model for HCV infection, taking into consideration recent results on HCV entry and replication, and new prospects in xenotransplantation biology. We highlight three independent, but possibly complementary, approaches towards overcoming current species barriers and generating a small‐animal model for HCV pathogenesis.     

EGFR and EphA2 are host factors for hepatitis C virus entry and possible targets for antiviral therapy

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease, but therapeutic options are limited and there are no prevention strategies. Viral entry is the first step of infection and requires the cooperative interaction of several host cell factors. Using a functional RNAi kinase screen, we identified epidermal growth factor receptor and ephrin receptor A2 as host cofactors for HCV entry. Blocking receptor kinase activity by approved inhibitors broadly impaired infection by all major HCV genotypes and viral escape variants in cell culture and in a human liver chimeric mouse model in vivo. The identified receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) mediate HCV entry by regulating CD81-claudin-1 co-receptor associations and viral glycoprotein-dependent membrane fusion. These results identify RTKs as previously unknown HCV entry cofactors and show that tyrosine kinase inhibitors have substantial antiviral activity. Inhibition of RTK function may constitute a new approach for prevention and treatment of HCV infection.     

The role of microRNAs in Hepatitis C Virus replication and related liver diseases

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide health problem and is one of the main causes of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, only limited therapeutic options and no vaccines are currently available against HCV infection. Recent studies of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are able to regulate HCV replication and its related liver diseases by directly interacting with the HCV genome or indirectly controlling virus-associated host pathways, have broadened our understanding of the HCV life cycle. HCV utilizes host cellular miRNAs and modulates expression of miRNAs in infected hepatocytes for its infection and propagation. Moreover, such miRNAs directly or indirectly alter HCV replication efficiency and induce liver diseases including liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, or HCC. Representatively, miR-122 directly modulates the HCV life cycle by increasing HCV translation and genomic RNA stability. Recently, a phase IIa clinical trial with miravirsen, an LNA form of antimiR-122 oligonucleotides, showed significant reduction in serum HCV levels in patients chronically infected with HCV with no detectible evidence of resistance. In addition to miR-122, other miRNAs involved in the regulation of HCV propagation could be targeted in strategies to modulate HCV replication and pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the features of miRNAs critical for HCV replication and HCV-mediated liver abnormalities and briefly discuss their potential application as therapeutic reagents for the treatment of HCV infection and its related diseases.     

Non-human primate surrogate model of hepatitis C virus infection

More than 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected by HCV, which is the causative agent of chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis, and finally liver cancer. Although animal models of viral hepatitis are a prerequisite for the evaluation of antiviral and vaccine efficacy, the restricted host range of HCV has hampered the development of a suitable small animal model of HCV infection. Use of the chimpanzee, the only animal known to be susceptible to HCV infection, is limited by ethical and financial restrictions. In this regard GBV-B, being closely related to HCV, appears to be a promising non-human surrogate model for the study of HCV infection. This review describes the characteristic of GBV-B infection of New World monkeys, and discusses current issues concerning the GBV-B model and its future directions.     

Human Monoclonal Antibody HCV1 Effectively Prevents and Treats HCV Infection in Chimpanzees

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver transplantation and there is an urgent need to develop therapies to reduce rates of HCV infection of transplanted livers. Approved therapeutics for HCV are poorly tolerated and are of limited efficacy in this patient population. Human monoclonal antibody HCV1 recognizes a highly-conserved linear epitope of the HCV E2 envelope glycoprotein (amino acids 412–423) and neutralizes a broad range of HCV genotypes. In a chimpanzee model, a single dose of 250 mg/kg HCV1 delivered 30 minutes prior to infusion with genotype 1a H77 HCV provided complete protection from HCV infection, whereas a dose of 50 mg/kg HCV1 did not protect. In addition, an acutely-infected chimpanzee given 250 mg/kg HCV1 42 days following exposure to virus had a rapid reduction in viral load to below the limit of detection before rebounding 14 days later. The emergent virus displayed an E2 mutation (N415K/D) conferring resistance to HCV1 neutralization. Finally, three chronically HCV-infected chimpanzees were treated with a single dose of 40 mg/kg HCV1 and viral load was reduced to below the limit of detection for 21 days in one chimpanzee with rebounding virus displaying a resistance mutation (N417S). The other two chimpanzees had 0.5–1.0 log₁₀ reductions in viral load without evidence of viral resistance to HCV1. In vitro testing using HCV pseudovirus (HCVpp) demonstrated that the sera from the poorly-responding chimpanzees inhibited the ability of HCV1 to neutralize HCVpp. Measurement of antibody responses in the chronically-infected chimpanzees implicated endogenous antibody to E2 and interference with HCV1 neutralization although other factors may also be responsible. These data suggest that human monoclonal antibody HCV1 may be an effective therapeutic for the prevention of graft infection in HCV-infected patients undergoing liver transplantation.     

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Phenotypically Distinct Huh7 Cell Lines

In 2005, the first robust hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectious cell culture system was developed based on the HCV genotype 2a JFH-1 molecular clone and the human-derived hepatoma cell line Huh7. Although much effort has been made to dissect and expand the repertoire of JFH-1-derived clones, less attention has been given to the host cell despite the intriguing facts that thus far only Huh7 cells have been found to be highly permissive for HCV infection and furthermore only a limited number of Huh7 cell lines/stocks appear to be fully permissive. As such, we compiled a panel of Huh7 lines from disparate sources and evaluated their permissiveness for HCV infection. We found that although Huh7 lines from different laboratories do vary in morphology and cell growth, the majority (8 out of 9) were highly permissive for infection, as demonstrated by robust HCV RNA and de novo infectious virion production following infection. While HCV RNA levels achieved in the 8 permissive cell lines were relatively equivalent, three Huh7 lines demonstrated higher infectious virion production suggesting these cell lines more efficiently support post-replication event(s) in the viral life cycle. Consistent with previous studies, the single Huh7 line found to be relatively resistant to infection demonstrated a block in HCV entry. These studies not only suggest that the majority of Huh7 cell lines in different laboratories are in fact highly permissive for HCV infection, but also identify phenotypically distinct Huh7 lines, which may facilitate studies investigating the cellular determinants of HCV infection.     

Conventional protein kinase C inhibition prevents alpha interferon-mediated hepatitis C virus replicon clearance by impairing STAT activation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has evolved complex strategies to evade host immune responses and establish chronic infection. The only treatment available for HCV infections, alpha interferon (IFN-alpha), is effective in a limited percentage of patients. The mechanisms by which IFN-alpha interferes with the HCV life cycle and the reasons for limited effectiveness of IFN-alpha therapy have not yet been fully elucidated. Using a cell-based HCV replication system and specific kinase inhibitors, we examined the role played by various signaling pathways in the IFN-alpha-mediated HCV clearance. We reported that conventional protein kinase C (cPKC) activity is important for the effectiveness of IFN-alpha treatment. In cells treated with a cPKC-specific inhibitor, IFN-alpha failed to induce an efficient HCV RNA degradation. The lack of cPKC activity leads to a broad reduction of IFN-alpha-stimulated gene expression due to a significant impairment of STAT1 and STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus, modulation of cPKC function by either host or viral factors could influence the positive outcome of IFN-alpha-mediated antiviral therapies.     

Specific inhibition of hepatitis C virus replication by cyclosporin A

The difficulty in eradicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is attributable to the limited treatment options against the virus. Recently, cyclosporin A (CsA), a widely used immunosuppressive drug, has been reported to be effective against HCV infection [J. Gastroenterol. 38 (2003) 567], although little is understood about the mechanism of its action against HCV. In this study, we investigated the anti-viral effects of CsA using an HCV replicon system. Human hepatoma Huh7 cells were transfected with an HCV replicon expressing a chimeric gene encoding a luciferase reporter and neomycin phosphotransferase (Huh7/Rep-Feo). Treatment of the Huh7/Rep-Feo cells with CsA resulted in suppression of the replication of the HCV replicon in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of approximately 0.5 microg/ml. There were no changes in the rate of cell growth or viability, suggesting that the effect of CsA against HCV is specific and not due to cytotoxicity. In contrast, FK506, another immunosuppressive drug, did not suppress HCV replication. CsA did not activate interferon-stimulated gene responses, suggesting that its action is independent of that of interferon. In conclusion, CsA inhibits HCV replication in vitro specifically at clinical concentrations. Further defining its mode of action against HCV replication potentially may be important for identifying novel molecular targets to treat HCV infection.     

Hepatitis C in the setting of HIV co-infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is common among HIV-infected individuals and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality in this population. HIV adversely impacts the natural history of HCV disease with higher rates of liver disease progression but the effect of HCV on the natural history of HIV is disputed. Additionally, presence of HCV may decrease tolerability of highly active antiretroviral regimens for HIV treatment due to a potential increase in hepatotoxicity. Currently there is limited information available regarding HCV therapy in the setting of HIV co-infection but the HCV virologic response to interferon regimens appears to be similar to those individuals with HCV infection alone. However, additional information is required to assess the efficacy and safety of HCV therapy including possible interaction of HCV and HIV anti-viral medications in these co-infected individuals.