宿主抗病毒因子BST-2抑制HBV释放的研究进展

BST-2(Bone marrow stromal antigen 2,BST-2)一种宿主内天然抗病毒因子,自2008年首次报道其具有抗人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV-1)释放的功能,一直认为BST-2主要在细胞膜上限制病毒释放。最近发现BST-2对在细胞内部组装的乙型肝炎病毒(HBV),同样具有抑制作用,扩大了BST-2抗病毒作用的范围。并且BST-2在多囊泡体(MVB)中抑制HBV的释放与抑制HIV-1在细胞膜中释放的作用机制相似。同时发现HBV能够拮抗BST-2的限制作用,而HBV病毒中发挥作用的拮抗因子,目前有两个观点,一是HBV在肝细胞的特定条件下利用调节蛋白HBx拮抗BST-2的限制作用,另一观点认为包膜蛋白HBs对BST-2存在拮抗作用。本文重点概述和讨论了BST-2限制HBV病毒的最新研究进展。     

传统DNA疫苗载体与Semliki森林病毒复制子对HIV-1 Pr55gag表达与体液免疫原性的比较性研究

为探索Semliki森林病毒(SFV)衍生的复制型DNA载体可否用于HIV疫苗的候选载体,对该载体与传统DNA疫苗载体对HIV-1Pr55gag的表达与体液免疫原性进行了系统比较研究.将野生型(wtgag)及密码子改造(syngag)的HIV-1 ⅢB gag基因分别克隆于SFV DNA载体及传统DNA疫苗载体[pCDNA3.1(+)],对其Pr55gag细胞内表达水平、Pr55gag病毒样颗粒释放、以及在BALB/c鼠的体液免疫原性进行了比较.在293T、H1299、C2C12和BHK细胞系中,SFV-wtgag可以Rev非依赖方式有效表达Pr55gag,而pC-wtgag转染的细胞不能有效表达Pr55gag,从而不能诱导小鼠产生免疫反应.虽然SFV质粒的细胞转化效率明显低于pCDNA载体,SFV-wtgag和SFV-syngag在细胞内Pr55gag的表达量与pC-syngag相似,而Pr55gag病毒样颗粒的释放明显低于pC-syngag.在肌内注射免疫的小鼠中,低剂量(0.1和1.0μg)的SFV及pCDNA gag表达质粒均未诱导出GAG特异性免疫反应.在高剂量(10,30,100μg)免疫组中,与SFV gag表达质粒相比,pC-syngag可诱导出较高水平的TH1型GAG特异性抗体.SFV-syngag较SFV-wtgag可诱导出高水平的体液免疫反应.结果提示,SFV衍生的复制子单独使用不能在小鼠诱导出优于传统DNA疫苗载体的HIV-1 GAG特异性体液免疫反应,其原因可能与病毒样颗粒的释放有关.密码子改造的gag基因的优势在SFV载体系统中得到了进一步证实.     

束缚蛋白抗HIV机制

束缚蛋白(tetherin)是一种具有特殊功能的蛋白质,它可抑制包膜病毒从感染细胞中释放。研究发现,人的束缚蛋白可将新生的HIV-1病毒颗粒固定在细胞表面,同时,它还可以减小HIV-1子代病毒的传染性。本文将主要从分子结构、抗HIV-1病毒的作用机制和在HIV传播中的作用三方面来阐述束缚蛋白抗病毒作用的最新研究进展。     

携带HIV-1抗原的单纯疱疹病毒载体疫苗的构建及鉴定

利用细菌人工染色体技术将串联的HIV-1 gp160、gag和protease基因以及表达元件插入1型单纯疱疹病毒(Herpes simplex virus type 1,HSV-1)内部反向重复序列区,以获得携带HIV-1抗原的单纯疱疹病毒载体疫苗。首先将HIV-1 gp160(B型和C型)、gag和protease基因串联克隆入pc DNA3获得重组质粒pc DNA/g Bgp和pc DNA/g Cgp,重组质粒转染293FT细胞,Western blotting检测HIV抗原表达。继而将pc DNA/g Bgp和pc DNA/g Cgp中包括HIV-1抗原基因和表达元件的表达框克隆入p KO5/BN获得重组穿梭质粒p KO5/BN/g Bgp和p KO5/BN/g Cgp,穿梭质粒电转含BAC-HSV的大肠杆菌,筛选重组菌,提取重组DNA并转染Vero细胞,挑取病毒蚀斑纯化重组病毒,Southern blotting鉴定重组病毒DNA,Western blotting检测重组病毒感染细胞中HIV抗原表达,并分析病毒的增殖特性。结果表明,Western blotting在pc DNA/g Bgp和pc DNA/g Cgp转染的293FT细胞中检测到表达的gp160和gag蛋白。p KO5/BN/g Bgp和p KO5/BN/g Cgp分别电转获得重组菌,并从重组DNA转染的Vero细胞中纯化获得重组HSV,Southern blotting检测表明重组HSV基因组发生特异性重组,重组病毒感染细胞中检测到gp120和gp41,且重组HSV保留了在哺乳动物细胞中的复制能力。本研究获得携载HIV-1 gp160、gag和protease基因的重组HSV,并保留了在哺乳动物细胞中的复制能力,可作为HIV-1复制型病毒载体疫苗。     

万能修复者不再“万能”

HIV-1是艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染细胞所释放的一种不成熟、无感染性的病毒颗粒,包裹在由Gap 蛋白所组成的蛋白质壳体中。Gap 蛋白要分裂成更小的蛋白质才能形成感染性病毒粒子。     

Sp100与HIV-1整合酶互作并抑制其介导的病毒整合

Sp100是核颗粒ND10的组成蛋白,在哺乳动物细胞中广泛存在．Sp100参与多种细胞生理病理过程,如转录调控、细胞内抗病毒免疫等．利用酵母双杂交系统,我们发现了Sp100的互作蛋白HIV-1整合酶,免疫共沉淀实验进一步证实了Sp100与 HIV-1整合酶的互作,细胞内荧光共定位实验也证实了二者在细胞内部分共定位．此外,突变体实验表明,Sp100的C端300～480氨基酸和HIV-1的催化结构域是两个蛋白质的互作区域．利用siRNA降低细胞内Sp100的表达量,可以增加HIV-1整合酶介导的病毒的整合,反之,细胞内过表达Sp100则会降低HIV-1整合酶介导的病毒的整合．这是首次发现Sp100可以和HIV-1整合酶发生相互作用,并进而抑制病毒的整合．我们发现了Sp100作为HIV-1整合酶互作蛋白的新功能,并扩展了细胞防御病毒感染的相关研究．     

人类免疫缺陷病毒Ⅰ型核心蛋白(p24)在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及鉴定

在大肠杆菌中,利用新构建的含T7g-10L RBS以及λ-PR启动子的新型原核表达载体,通过表达gag-pol基因片段,获得了具有天然序列的人类免疫缺陷病毒1型(HIV-1)核心蛋白p24的高效表达。克隆的gag-pol基因片段在其阅读框架移位区域插入了4bp碱基,其表达的病毒蛋白酶在阅读框架上与gag一致,从而实现了对gag-pol融合蛋白的有效加工,产生成熟的核心蛋白p24及其它产物。重组p24以可溶形式存在,可以被抗p24的单克隆抗体特异识别。测定的N端8个氨基酸序列与从病毒纯化的p24完全一致。在使用硫酸铵沉淀后,采用两步离子柱层析,可将重组蛋白纯化到95％以上的纯度。结果表明,纯化的p24可以作为特异性很强的试剂而用于HIV感染的诊断及病情的预后,并可用于p24的生化及结构分析。     

Scirpusin A和scirpusin B体外抗人类免疫缺陷病毒1型的作用

Scirpusin A和scirpusin B是从药用植物中发现的2种天然茋类二聚体,具有一定的抗病毒效应。本研究利用人类免疫缺陷病毒1型(HIV-1)包膜和水疱性口炎病毒G蛋白(VSV-G)包膜的HIV假病毒及实验室适应株HIV-1ⅢB,在体外评价2种药物的抗病毒效果并初步探讨其作用机制。研究发现,scirpusin A和scirpusin B不仅能在体外有效抑制HIV假病毒感染TZM-bl细胞(一种HIV-1易感细胞),还能抑制实验室适应株HIV-1ⅢB。Scirpusin B的作用优于scirpusin A。对实验室适应株HIV-1ⅢB,scirpusin B的半数抑制浓度(IC50)为1.33μmol/L,scirpusin A的IC50为4.77μmol/L。此外,scirpusin A和scirpusin B还能抑制VSV-G包膜假病毒,提示其作用可能与病毒在细胞内的复制过程相关。Scirpusin A在病毒进入细胞后仍可发挥抑制作用,但具体机制尚待深入研究。     

BST-2和Vpu相互作用抑制剂筛选模型的建立

骨髓基质细胞抗原2(Bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2,BST-2,又称Tetherin、CD317、HM1.24)是宿主先天性免疫应答的组成部分,可抑制人类免疫缺陷病毒1(Human immunodeficiency virus 1,HIV-1)的释放,HIV-1的辅助蛋白Vpu可通过跨膜区与BST-2的跨膜区产生相互作用,进而将其降解,下调其在细胞表面的数量,拮抗BST-2的抗病毒功能。本研究将海肾荧光素酶(Renilla luciferase,Rluc)与BST-2的N端连接,增强型黄色荧光蛋白(Enhanced yellow fluorescent protein,EYFP)与Vpu的C端连接,分别构建质粒RB和VE,使两种融合蛋白在细胞内共表达,产生生物发光共振能量转移(Bioluninescence resonance energy transfer,BRET)信号,进而建立稳定双表达细胞系,以BST-2和Vpu的跨膜区相互作用为靶点,应用BRET技术,建立两种蛋白相互作用抑制剂的筛选模型,以期通过BRET信号变化筛选出相互作用抑制剂,发展新型的艾滋病治疗手段。     

应用HA、NA、M1和M2蛋白制备H5N1高致病性禽流感病毒样颗粒

目的:应用重组杆状病毒表达系统制备由HA、NA、M1和M2蛋白组成的H5N1高致病性禽流感病毒样颗粒,为研究H5N1高致病性禽流感疫苗奠定基础。方法:构建能共表达A/chicken/Jilin/2003(H5N1)禽流感病毒血凝素(HA)和神经氨酸酶(NA)、A/PR/8/34(H1N1)流感病毒基质蛋白(M1)和离子通道蛋白(M2)的2个二元重组杆状病毒,共同感染HighFive细胞,同时表达HA、NA、M1和M2蛋白,使这4种蛋白在感染的细胞内自主组装成病毒样颗粒。经差速离心和蔗糖密度梯度超速离心收获病毒样颗粒,通过Western印迹鉴定病毒样颗粒的组成,透射电镜观察病毒样颗粒形态,血凝试验测定病毒样颗粒的活性。结果:HA、NA、M1、M2蛋白在昆虫细胞中共表达,并组装成病毒样颗粒;电镜观察到病毒样颗粒的形态与流感病毒一致,直径约80 nm;血凝试验显示该病毒样颗粒具有凝集鸡红细胞的活性。结论:应用该方法可以制备流感病毒样颗粒,为H5N1流感疫苗研究提供了可行方案。     

The ESCRT-0 component HRS is required for HIV-1 Vpu-mediated BST-2/tetherin down-regulation

The Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery, a highly conserved set of four hetero-oligomeric protein complexes, is required for multivesicular body formation, sorting ubiquitinylated membrane proteins for lysosomal degradation, cytokinesis and the final stages of assembly of a number of enveloped viruses, including the human immunodeficiency viruses. Here, we show an additional role for the ESCRT machinery in HIV-1 release. BST-2/tetherin is a restriction factor that impedes HIV release by tethering mature virus particles to the plasma membrane. We found that HRS, a key component of the ESCRT-0 complex, promotes efficient release of HIV-1 and that siRNA-mediated HRS depletion induces a BST-2/tetherin phenotype. This activity is related to the ability of the HIV-1 Vpu protein to down-regulate BST-2/tetherin. We found that BST-2/tetherin undergoes constitutive ESCRT-dependent sorting for lysosomal degradation and that this degradation is enhanced by Vpu expression. We demonstrate that Vpu-mediated BST-2/tetherin down-modulation and degradation require HRS (ESCRT-0) function and that knock down of HRS increases cellular levels of BST-2/tetherin and restricts virus release. Furthermore, HRS co-precipitates with Vpu and BST-2. Our results provide further insight into the mechanism by which Vpu counteracts BST-2/tetherin and promotes HIV-1 dissemination, and they highlight an additional role for the ESCRT machinery in virus release.     

C-terminal hydrophobic region in human bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST-2)/tetherin protein functions as second transmembrane motif

BST-2/CD317/HM1.24/tetherin is a host factor that inhibits the release of HIV-1 and other enveloped viruses. Structurally, tetherin consists of an N-terminal transmembrane (TM) region, a central coiled coil motif, and a putative C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor motif. A current working model proposes that BST-2 inhibits virus release by physically tethering viral particles to the cell surface via its TM motif and GPI anchor. Here we analyzed the functional importance of the C-terminal GPI anchor motif in BST-2. We replaced the GPI anchor motif in BST-2 with the TM regions of several surface markers and found that the TM motifs of CD40 and transferrin receptor, but not that of CD45, could functionally substitute for a GPI anchor in BST-2. Conversely, replacing the TM region of CD4 by the putative GPI anchor signal of human BST-2 resulted in proper membrane targeting and surface expression of the chimeric protein, indicating that the BST-2 GPI anchor signal can function as a bona fide TM region. In fact, attempts to demonstrate GPI anchor modification of human BST-2 by biochemical methods failed. Our results demonstrate that the putative C-terminal GPI anchor motif in human BST-2 fulfills the requirements of a bona fide TM motif, leading us to propose that human BST-2 may in fact contain a second TM segment rather than a GPI anchor.     

Antibody-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 and HIV-2 production from BST-2/tetherin-positive cells

BST-2/CD317/HM1.24/tetherin is a B-cell antigen overexpressed on the surface of myeloma cell lines and on neoplastic plasma cells of patients with multiple myeloma. Antibodies to BST-2 are in clinical trial for the treatment of multiple myeloma and are considered for the treatment of solid tumors with high BST-2 antigen levels. Functionally, BST-2 restricts the secretion of retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1, as well as members of the herpesvirus, filovirus, and arenavirus families, presumably by tethering nascent virions to the cell surface. Here we report that BST-2 antibody treatment facilitates virus release from BST-2(+) cells by interfering with the tethering activity of BST-2. BST-2 antibodies were unable to release already tethered virions and were most effective when added early during virus production. BST-2 antibody treatment did not affect BST-2 dimerization and did not reduce the cell surface expression of BST-2. Interestingly, BST-2 antibody treatment reduced the nonspecific shedding of BST-2 and limited the encapsidation of BST-2 into virions. Finally, flotation analyses indicate that BST-2 antibodies affect the distribution of BST-2 within membrane rafts. Our data suggest that BST-2 antibody treatment may enhance virus release by inducing a redistribution of BST-2 at the cell surface, thus preventing it from accumulating at the sites of virus budding.     

HIV-1 Accessory Protein Vpu Internalizes Cell-surface BST-2/Tetherin through Transmembrane Interactions Leading to Lysosomes

Bone marrow stromal antigen 2 (BST-2, also known as tetherin) is a recently identified interferon-inducible host restriction factor that can block the production of enveloped viruses by trapping virus particles at the cell surface. This antiviral effect is counteracted by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory protein viral protein U (Vpu). Here we show that HIV-1 Vpu physically interacts with BST-2 through their mutual transmembrane domains and leads to the degradation of this host factor via a lysosomal, not proteasomal, pathway. The degradation is partially controlled by a cellular protein, β-transducin repeat-containing protein (βTrCP), which is known to be required for the Vpu-induced degradation of CD4. Importantly, targeting of BST-2 by Vpu occurs at the plasma membrane followed by the active internalization of this host protein by Vpu independently of constitutive endocytosis. Thus, the primary site of action of Vpu is the plasma membrane, where Vpu targets and internalizes cell-surface BST-2 through transmembrane interactions, leading to lysosomal degradation, partially in a βTrCP-dependent manner. Also, we propose the following configuration of BST-2 in tethering virions to the cell surface; each of the dimerized BST-2 molecules acts as a bridge between viral and cell membranes.     

HIV-1 Vpu antagonizes BST-2 by interfering mainly with the trafficking of newly synthesized BST-2 to the cell surface

Bone marrow stromal cell antigen-2 (BST-2) inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) release by cross-linking nascent virions on infected cell surface. HIV-1 Vpu is thought to antagonize BST-2 by downregulating its surface levels via a mechanism that involves intracellular sequestration and lysosomal degradation. Here, we investigated the functional importance of cell-surface BST-2 downregulation and the BST-2 pools targeted by Vpu using an inducible proviral expression system. Vpu established a surface BST-2 equilibrium at ～60% of its initial levels within 6 h, a condition that coincided with detection of viral release. Analysis of BST-2 post-endocytic trafficking revealed that the protein is engaged in a late endosomal pathway independent of Vpu. While Vpu moderately enhanced cell-surface BST-2 clearance, it strongly affected the protein resupply to the plasma membrane via newly synthesized proteins. Noticeably, Vpu affected clearance of surface BST-2 more substantially in Jurkat T cells than in HeLa cells, suggesting a cell-dependent impact of Vpu on the pool of surface BST-2. Collectively, our data reveal that Vpu imposes a new BST-2 equilibrium, incompatible with efficient restriction of HIV-1 release, by combining an acceleration of surface BST-2 natural clearance, whose degree might be cell-type dependent, to a severe impairment of the protein resupply to the plasma membrane.     

Functional Antagonism of Rhesus Macaque and Chimpanzee BST-2 by HIV-1 Vpu Is Mediated by Cytoplasmic Domain Interactions

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpu enhances the release of viral particles from infected cells by interfering with the function of BST-2/tetherin, a cellular protein inhibiting virus release. The Vpu protein encoded by NL4-3, a widely used HIV-1 laboratory strain, antagonizes human BST-2 but not monkey or murine BST-2, leading to the conclusion that BST-2 antagonism by Vpu is species specific. In contrast, we recently identified several primary Vpu isolates, such as Vpu of HIV-1_DH12, capable of antagonizing both human and rhesus BST-2. Here we report that while Vpu interacts with human BST-2 primarily through their respective transmembrane domains, antagonism of rhesus BST-2 by Vpu involved an interaction of their cytoplasmic domains. Importantly, a Vpu mutant carrying two mutations in its transmembrane domain (A₁₄L and W₂₂A), rendering it incompetent for interaction with human BST-2, was able to interact with human BST-2 carrying the rhesus BST-2 cytoplasmic domain and partially neutralized the ability of this BST-2 variant to inhibit viral release. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis to detect Vpu–BST-2 interactions suggested that the physical interaction of Vpu with rhesus or chimpanzee BST-2 involves a 5-residue motif in the cytoplasmic domain of BST-2 previously identified as important for the antagonism of monkey and great ape BST-2 by simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Nef. Thus, our study identifies a novel mechanism of antagonism of monkey and great ape BST-2 by Vpu that targets the same motif in BST-2 used by SIV Nef and might explain the expanded host range observed for Vpu isolates in our previous study.     

Direct Restriction of Virus Release and Incorporation of the Interferon-Induced Protein BST-2 into HIV-1 Particles

Investigation of the Vpu protein of HIV-1 recently uncovered a novel aspect of the mammalian innate response to enveloped viruses: retention of progeny virions on the surface of infected cells by the interferon-induced, transmembrane and GPI-anchored protein BST-2 (CD317; tetherin). BST-2 inhibits diverse families of enveloped viruses, but how it restricts viral release is unclear. Here, immuno-electron microscopic data indicate that BST-2 is positioned to directly retain nascent HIV virions on the plasma membrane of infected cells and is incorporated into virions. Virion-incorporation was confirmed by capture of infectivity using antibody to the ectodomain of BST-2. Consistent with a direct tethering mechanism, we confirmed that proteolysis releases restricted virions and further show that this removed the ectodomain of BST-2 from the cell surface. Unexpectedly, enzymatic cleavage of GPI anchors did not release restricted virions, weighing against models in which individual BST-2 molecules span the virion and host cell membranes. Although the exact molecular topology of restriction remains unsolved, we suggest that the incorporation of BST-2 into viral envelopes underlies its broad restrictive activity, whereas its relative exclusion from virions and sites of viral assembly by proteins such as HIV-1 Vpu may provide viral antagonism of restriction.     

BCA2/Rabring7 Promotes Tetherin-Dependent HIV-1 Restriction

Host cell factors can either positively or negatively regulate the assembly and egress of HIV-1 particles from infected cells. Recent reports have identified a previously uncharacterized transmembrane protein, tetherin/CD317/BST-2, as a crucial host restriction factor that acts during a late budding step in HIV-1 replication by inhibiting viral particle release. Although tetherin has been shown to promote the retention of nascent viral particles on the host cell surface, the precise molecular mechanisms that occur during and after these tethering events remain largely unknown. We here report that a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase, BCA2 (Breast cancer-associated gene 2; also called Rabring7, ZNF364 or RNF115), is a novel tetherin-interacting host protein that facilitates the restriction of HIV-1 particle production in tetherin-positive cells. The expression of human BCA2 in “tetherin-positive” HeLa, but not in “tetherin-negative” HOS cells, resulted in a strong restriction of HIV-1 particle production. Upon the expression of tetherin in HOS cells, BCA2 was capable of inhibiting viral particle production as in HeLa cells. The targeted depletion of endogenous BCA2 by RNA interference (RNAi) in HeLa cells reduced the intracellular accumulation of viral particles, which were nevertheless retained on the plasma membrane. BCA2 was also found to facilitate the internalization of HIV-1 virions into CD63⁺ intracellular vesicles leading to their lysosomal degradation. These results indicate that BCA2 accelerates the internalization and degradation of viral particles following their tethering to the cell surface and is a co-factor or enhancer for the tetherin-dependent restriction of HIV-1 release from infected cells.     

Some human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpu proteins are able to antagonize macaque BST-2 in vitro and in vivo: Vpu-negative simian-human immunodeficiency viruses are attenuated in vivo

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpu enhances the release of viral particles from infected cells by targeting BST-2/tetherin, a cellular protein inhibiting virus release. The widely used HIV-1(NL4-3) Vpu functionally inactivates human BST-2 but not murine or monkey BST-2, leading to the notion that Vpu antagonism is species specific. Here we investigated the properties of the CXCR4-tropic simian-human immunodeficiency virus DH12 (SHIV(DH12)) and the CCR5-tropic SHIV(AD8), each of which carries vpu genes derived from different primary HIV-1 isolates. We found that virion release from infected rhesus peripheral blood mononuclear cells was enhanced to various degrees by the Vpu present in both SHIVs. Transfer of the SHIV(DH12) Vpu transmembrane domain to the HIV-1(NL4-3) Vpu conferred antagonizing activity against macaque BST-2. Inactivation of the SHIV(DH12) and SHIV(AD8) vpu genes impaired virus replication in 6 of 8 inoculated rhesus macaques, resulting in lower plasma viral RNA loads, slower losses of CD4(+) T cells, and delayed disease progression. The expanded host range of the SHIV(DH12) Vpu was not due to adaptation during passage in macaques but was an intrinsic property of the parental HIV-1(DH12) Vpu protein. These results demonstrate that the species-specific inhibition of BST-2 by HIV-1(NL4-3) Vpu is not characteristic of all HIV-1 Vpu proteins; some HIV-1 isolates encode a Vpu with a broader host range.