HBx-Induced NF-κB Signaling in Liver Cells Is Potentially Mediated by the Ternary Complex of HBx with p22-FLIP and NEMO

Sustained activation of NF-κB is one of the causative factors for various liver diseases, including liver inflammation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been known that activating the NF-κB signal by hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is implicated in the development of HCC. However, despite numerous studies on HBx-induced NF-κB activation, the detailed mechanisms still remain unsolved. Recently, p22-FLIP, a cleavage product of c-FLIP_L, has been reported to induce NF-κB activation through interaction with the IκB kinase (IKK) complex in primary immune cells. Since our previous report on the interaction of HBx with c-FLIP_L, we explored whether p22-FLIP is involved in the modulation of HBx function. First, we identified the expression of endogenous p22-FLIP in liver cells. NF-κB reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed that the expression of p22-FLIP synergistically enhances HBx-induced NF-κB activation. Moreover, we found that HBx physically interacts with p22-FLIP and NEMO and potentially forms a ternary complex. Knock-down of c-FLIP leading to the downregulation of p22-FLIP showed that endogenous p22-FLIP is involved in HBx-induced NF-κB activation, and the formation of a ternary complex is necessary to activate NF-κB signaling. In conclusion, we showed a novel mechanism of HBx-induced NF-κB activation in which ternary complex formation is involved among HBx, p22-FLIP and NEMO. Our findings will extend the understanding of HBx-induced NF-κB activation and provide a new target for intervention in HBV-associated liver diseases and in the development of HCC.     

Lymphotoxin-alpha 1 beta 2 and LIGHT induce classical and noncanonical NF-kappa B-dependent proinflammatory gene expression in vascular endothelial cells

Activation of the classical and noncanonical NF-kappaB pathways by ligation of the lymphotoxin (LT)-beta receptor (LTbetaR) plays a crucial role in lymphoid organogenesis and in the generation of ectopic lymphoid tissue at sites of chronic inflammation. Within these microenvironments, LTbetaR signaling regulates the phenotype of the specialized high endothelial cells. However, the direct effects of LTbetaR ligation on endothelial cells remain unclear. We therefore questioned whether LTbetaR ligation could directly activate endothelial cells and regulate classical and noncanonical NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression. We demonstrate that the LTbetaR ligands LIGHT and LTalpha1beta2 activate both NF-kappaB pathways in HUVECs and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC). Classical pathway activation was less robust than TNF-induced signaling; however, only LIGHT and LTalpha1beta2 and not TNF activated the noncanonical pathway. LIGHT and LTalpha1beta2 induced the expression of classical NF-kappaB-dependent genes in HUVEC, including those encoding the adhesion molecules E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1. Consistent with this stimulation, LTbetaR ligation up-regulated T cell adhesion to HUVEC. Furthermore, the homeostatic chemokine CXCL12 was up-regulated by LIGHT and LTalpha1beta2 but not TNF in both HUVEC and HDMEC. Using HUVEC retrovirally transduced with dominant negative IkappaB kinase alpha, we demonstrate that CXCL12 expression is regulated by the noncanonical pathway in endothelial cells. Our findings therefore demonstrate that LTbetaR ligation regulates gene expression in endothelial cells via both NF-kappaB pathways and we identify CXCL12 as a bona fide noncanonical NF-kappaB-regulated gene in these cells.     

HBx induces HepG-2 cells autophagy through PI3K/Akt�CmTOR pathway

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is the dominant global cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially hepatitis B virus-X (HBx) plays a major role in this process. HBx protein promotes cell cycle progression, inactivates negative growth regulators, and binds to and inhibits the expression of p53 tumor suppressor gene and other tumor suppressor genes and senescence-related factors. However, the relationship between HBx and autophagy during the HCC development is poorly known. Previous studies found that autophagy functions as a survival mechanism in liver cancer cells. We suggest that autophagy plays a possible role in the pathogenesis of HBx-induced HCC. The present study showed that HBx transfection brought about an increase in the formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, Beclin 1, and lysosome-associated membrane protein 2a were up-regulated after HBx transfection. HBx-induced increase in the autophagic level was increased by mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and was blocked by treatment with the PI3K?CAkt inhibitor LY294002. The same results can also be found in HepG2.2.15 cells. These results suggest that HBx activates the autophagic lysosome pathway in HepG-2 cells through the PI3K?CAkt?CmTOR pathway.     

An intracellular antibody can suppress tumorigenicity in Hepatitis B virus X-expressing cells

Although the hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is thought to play a causative role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, it is not yet known whether interfering with HBx function may affect the cellular transformation of HBx-expressing tumor cells. To address this question, we adopted an intracellular antibody fragment expression approach to block the function of HBx. Expression of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) specific to HBx (designated as H7scFv) inhibited HBx-dependent cellular transactivation. Furthermore, H7scFv suppressed the growth of HBx-expressing tumor cells in both soft agar and nude mice. The suppressive effect of H7scFv on tumorigenicity appeared not to be mediated by inhibition of HBx-induced growth stimulation since the growth rate of these cells was not affected significantly by H7scFv expression. In conclusion, these data suggest that the HBx-dependent transformed phenotype is reversible and that HBx may be a good molecular target for the treatment of HBV-related tumors.This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Health 21 R&D Project, Ministry of Health& Welfare, Republic of Korea (03-PJ1-PG3-20200–0023)     

S100A9参与乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白介导的HepG2细胞增殖与迁移

目的:探讨S100A9在乙型肝炎病毒X(HBx)介导的HepG2细胞增殖及迁移中的作用。方法:用表达HBx蛋白的重组腺病毒AdHBx感染HepG2细胞后,用CCK-8实验检测细胞增殖能力及划痕愈合实验检测细胞迁移能力;在HepG2/AdHBx细胞中转染S100A9-siRNA及其对照siRNA后,检测HepG2细胞增殖及迁移能力;在HepG2/Ad HBx和对照组HepG2/AdGFP细胞中,采用Real-time PCR及Western Blot检测S100A9基因及蛋白的表达情况;在HepG2/AdHBx细胞中,加入不同剂量的NF-κB抑制剂BAY11-7082后,检测各组中S100A9的基因及蛋白表达情况。结果:HBx促进HepG2细胞的增殖与迁移; S100A9-siRNA抑制S100A9的表达后,HBx促进HepG2细胞的增殖与迁移的作用降低,HBx介导的HepG2细胞的增殖与迁移部分依赖于S100A9; S100A9基因及蛋白表达在HepG2/AdHBx中较对照组HepG2/Ad GFP显著升高,HBx可致S100A9表达增加;抑制NF-κB转录活性后,AdHBx+BAY11-7082组S100A9基因及蛋白表达较对照组显著降低,阻断NF-κB转录活性可部分抑制HBx调控的S100A9表达。结论:HBx可调控S100A9的表达且与NF-κB活化有关,S100A9参与HBx介导的HepG2细胞的增殖与迁移。     

Interleukin-1beta induces macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta expression in human hepatocytes

The investigation of factors that regulate expression of CC-chemokines, the important mediators in immune responses and inflammation processes, has an important significance in understanding the immunopathogenesis of liver diseases. We examined the role of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a multifunctional cytokine, in regulating the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta in human hepatocytes (Huh7 and HepG2). IL-1beta significantly enhanced MIP-1beta expression in these cells at both the mRNA and protein levels. Cytokine-enriched supernatants from monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) cultures also induced MIP-1beta expression. IL-1beta is responsible for MDM supernatant-mediated up-regulation of MIP-1beta since the antibody to IL-1beta abolished MDM supernatant action. Investigation of the mechanism involved in MIP-1beta induction by IL-1beta showed that IL-1beta activated the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) promoter in Huh7 cells. In addition, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a specific inhibitor of the activation of NF-kappaB, not only abolished IL-1beta-mediated NF-kappaB promoter activation, but also blocked IL-1beta-induced MIP-1beta expression. These observations suggest that IL-1beta-mediated up-regulation of MIP-1beta production in the hepatic cells may contribute a critical mechanism for continuous recruitment of inflammatory cell to liver and maintenance of inflammation.     

TNF-alpha-induced sphingosine 1-phosphate inhibits apoptosis through a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway in human hepatocytes.

Human hepatocytes usually are resistant to TNF-alpha cytotoxicity. In mouse or rat hepatocytes, repression of NF-kappaB activation is sufficient to induce TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis. However, in both Huh-7 human hepatoma cells and Hc human normal hepatocytes, when infected with an adenovirus expressing a mutated form of IkappaBalpha (Ad5IkappaB), which almost completely blocks NF-kappaB activation, >80% of the cells survived 24 h after TNF-alpha stimulation. Here, we report that TNF-alpha activates other antiapoptotic factors, such as sphingosine kinase (SphK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and Akt kinase. Pretreatment of cells with N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS), an inhibitor of SphK, or LY 294002, an inhibitor of PI3K that acts upstream of Akt, increased the number of apoptotic cells induced by TNF-alpha in Ad5IkappaB-infected Huh-7 and Hc cells. TNF-alpha-induced activations of PI3K and Akt were inhibited by DMS. In contrast, exogenous sphingosine 1-phosphate, a product of SphK, was found to activate Akt and partially rescued the cells from TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. Although Akt has been reported to activate NF-kappaB, DMS and LY 294002 failed to prevent TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation, suggesting that the antiapoptotic effects of SphK and Akt are independent of NF-kappaB. Furthermore, apoptosis mediated by Fas ligand (FasL) involving Akt activation also was potentiated by DMS pretreatment in Hc cells. Sphingosine 1-phosphate administration partially protected cells from FasL-mediated apoptosis. These results indicate that not only NF-kappaB but also SphK and PI3K/Akt are involved in the signaling pathway(s) for protection of human hepatocytes from the apoptotic action of TNF-alpha and probably FasL.     

Possible involvement of reactive oxygen species in D-galactosamine-induced sensitization against tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced hepatocyte apoptosis

Intravenous administration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (0.5 microg/mouse) caused hepatocyte apoptosis in BALB/c mice when they were sensitized with D-galactosamine (GalN, 20 mg/mouse). Activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and expression of apoptotic Bcl-2 family members were not significantly different between livers of mice treated with TNF-alpha alone and GalN + TNF-alpha, indicating that neither activation of NF-kappa B nor expression of Bcl-2 family is involved in the sensitization by GalN against TNF-alpha-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. To identify differentially expressed genes implicated in GalN-induced hepatocyte sensitization, we adopted mRNA fingerprinting using an arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction. The present analysis revealed that mRNA expression of extracellular antioxidant, selenoprotein P, was up-regulated in the livers after GalN administration. GalN-induced increase in its protein level was confirmed by Western blotting. Increased expression of this gene was also observed in the liver of mice treated with concanavalin A, but not anti-Fas antibody. mRNA of another antioxidant, glutathione peroxidase-1, was also up-regulated, and lipid peroxides were produced in the liver after GalN administration. Selenoprotein P mRNA level also increased in Huh-7 human hepatoma cells incubated with GalN (5 or 10 mM). Accordingly, formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in GalN-treated Huh-7 cells. H(2)O(2) induced up-regulation of selenoprotein P mRNA and sensitized Huh-7 cells to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that ROS produced by GalN may play a pivotal role in hepatocyte sensitization toward TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis.     

Role of hepatitis B virus X protein in regulating LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP-1) expression to mediate proliferation and migration of hepatoma cells

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) has been shown to be responsible for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) caused by Hepatitis B virus infection. However, its potential effect on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma remains yet unclear. LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP-1), a focal adhesion protein, is expressed in an up-regulation manner in the HCC tissues. LASP-1 plays an important role in the regulation of proliferation and migration of HCC. In this study, we investigated the effect of LASP-1 involved in HBx-related tumor progression. METHODS: LASP-1 levels in the HBx stable transfected HepG2 and Huh-7 cells were detected by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. The cellular localization of LASP-1 was assessed by immunofluorescence analysis. The activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) pathway was demonstrated by western blot assay. The HBx-expressing cells were transfected with specific small interference RNA (siRNA) against LASP-1. The proliferation and migration ability of cells were evaluated by cell viability assay and plate clone formation assay. The migration ability of cells was detected by transwell assay and wound healing assay. RESULTS: RT-PCR and western blot analysis indicated the expression of LASP-1 was increased in the stable HBx-expressing cells compared with the control cells. Immunofluorescence study revealed that the distributions of LASP-1 in HepG2-HBx cells were mainly in pseudopods and the cytoplasm while they were mainly localized in the cytoplasm of HepG2-mock cells. The cellular localizations of LASP-1 in Huh-7-HBx cells were in the perinuclear fractions while they were mainly localized in the cytoplasm of Huh-7-Mock cells. The upregulation of LASP-1 was inhibited after treatment with LY294002, PI3-K pathway inhibitor. Overexpression of LASP-1 in the stable HBx-expressing cells enhanced the proliferation and migration ability of hepatocellular cells. siRNA-mediated LASP-1 knowdown in the stable HBx-expressing cells significantly suppressed hepatocellular cells proliferation and migration. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that HBx could upregulate LASP-1 through PI3-K pathway to promote the proliferation and migration of hepatoma cells.