Lipid composition of hepatitis B virus surface antigen particles and the particle-producing human hepatoma cell lines

More than 90% of lipids of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) particles produced by two human hepatoma cell lines (huGK-14 and PLC/PRF/5) were composed of phospholipids, with phosphatidylcholine being the dominant component, accounting for more than 80% of total membrane lipids. Analysis of subclass compositions of phospholipids of HBsAg particles and the host cell lines revealed that 1,2-diacyl glycerophosphocholine was preferentially incorporated into the membrane of the HBsAg particles, although both host cell lines contained extremely high concentrations (more than 60% of total phospholipids) of ether-linked phospholipids. Phospholipids of other hepatoma cell lines (HuH-7, Hep-G2, and huL-1) which were not associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, were composed mostly of 1,2-diacylglycerophospholipids. Activities of dihydroxyacetone-phosphate acyltransferase, which is known to be an obligatory enzyme in ether lipid biosynthesis, were found to be elevated by three- to fourfold in both huGK-14 and PLC/PRF/5 cells compared to those of other hepatoma cell lines. The results suggest a possible relationship between HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis and the drastic change in the metabolism of membrane phospholipids.     

Hepatitis a virus infection of HBsAg-producing hepatocellular carcinomas in athymic mice

Summary Two human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines were grown in athymic mice. Morphologically, the tumors resembled hepatocellular carcinomas. HBsAg, anti-HBs, and -fetoprotein were detected in sera of mice bearing tumors of PLC/PRF/5 or Hep 3B cells; their amounts correlated with tumor weight. Tumors of both cell lines were infected with cell culture-adapted hepatitis A virus (HAV); HAV antigen and infectious virus were recovered from infected tumors of PLC/PRF/5 and Hep 3B cells. Our results indicate that HAV-infected tumors may be useful in studying the production in vivo of hepatitis A virus antigen.     

Effect of interferon on the production of HBsAg and induction of an antiviral state in human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5

The effects of human alpha and beta interferons (IFN) on the production of HBsAG by PLC/PRF/5 cells, an HBsAg-producing human hepatoma cell line, were studied in the exponential and stationary phases of cell growth. When exponential phase cells were treated with 100 or 1,000 U of IFN per ml for 48 hr. the amount of HBsAg in the culture medium decreased. The number of cells and the synthesis of DNA and proteins were also reduced by the IFN treatment. These results suggested that IFN did not affect the production of HBsAg specifically in exponential phase cells. When cells in the stationary phase were similarly treated with IFN, HbsAg production was not inhibited nor did the number of cells decrease. To examine the antiviral state induced by IFN in PLC/PRF/5, induction of 2'5'-oligo (A) synthetase and susceptibility to two kinds of viruses were examined. The 2'5'-oligo (A) synthetase activity was increased in an IFN-dose dependent manner. Susceptibility to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) was decreased by treatment with 10 and 100 U of IFN per ml for 20 hr. It was concluded that IFN-alpha and IFN-beta induce 2'5'-oligo (A) synthetase and the antiviral state, but do not inhibit HBsAg production by PLC/PRF/5 cells.     

State of hepatitis B viral DNA in a human hepatoma cell line.

PLC/PRF/5, a tissue culture cell line isolated from a human hepatocellular carcinoma and producing hepatitis B surface antigen, was studied for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific DNA and RNA. PLC/PRF/5 cell DNA accelerated the rate of reassociation of HBV [32P]DNA, and quantitative experiments indicated that the cells contained approximately four copies of viral DNA per haploid, mammalian cell DNA equivalent. PLC/PRF/5 DNA accelerated the rate of reassociation of all individual restriction endonucleases HincII and HaeIII fragments of HBV [32P]DNA, indicating that DNA from all regions of the viral genome is present in the cells. This suggests that these cells contain at least most, and possibly all, of the viral genome. Digestion of PLC/PRF/5 cell DNA with restriction endonuclease HindIII (an enzyme found not to cleave the DNA of any HBV isolate so far examined) yielded only three fragments, all larger than virion DNA, which contained HBV DNA base sequences, suggesting that HBV DNA is integrated in high-molecular-weight DNA at three different sites in these cells and that there is no viral DNA in an episomal form. PLC/PRF/5 cell [32P]RNA was found to hybridize with all restriction fragments of HBV DNA adequately tested, indicating that at least most, and possibly all, of the viral DNA in these cells is transcribed.     

Interaction of interferon-alpha with interleukin-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha on hepatitis B virus enhancer activity.

The interaction of IFN-alpha with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression was analysed in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA integrated PLC/PRF/5 and non-integrated HuH-7 human hepatoma cells. Secretion of HBsAg in PLC/PRF/5 cells was reduced by IFN-alpha, IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha, and synergistically depressed when IFN-alpha was used in combination with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha. By Northern blot analysis, the levels of HBsAg mRNA were suppressed by IFN-alpha in combination with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha. In the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid transfection assay, IFN-alpha in combination with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha caused a much greater suppression of HBV enhancer activity than IFN-alpha, IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha alone in both hepatoma cells. These findings suggest that the interaction of IFN-alpha with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha synergistically represses HBV enhancer activity, resulting in depressed expression of HBsAg.     

抗HBcAg人源性单链抗体细胞内表达及其抗病毒复制的实验研究

应用人源性抗HBcAg单链抗体细胞内表达技术,探讨抗HBV复制基因治疗的应用价值.应用噬菌体展示和基因重组技术,从HBV感染的外周血淋巴细胞克隆了人源性抗HBcAg单链抗体,并重组至逆转录病毒载体.以人肝癌细胞smmc-7721和PLC/PRF/5为靶细胞进行基因共转染,分别测定实验组细胞上清中的HBsAg和HBeAg,与对照组做比较,观察抗HBcAg单链抗体细胞内表达的抗病毒治疗作用.结果显示,在急性HBV感染的细胞株中,抑制病毒复制效率为49%～61%,在慢性病毒感染细胞,抑制率为41%～54%.实验结果表明,应用单链抗体细胞内表达技术,在抗病毒治疗研究中具有潜在的应用价值.应对HBV的4个开放阅读框架编码产物进行全面的对比研究,以发现抑制效率高、实用价值大的靶基因.     

Structural relationships between the surface antigens of ground squirrel hepatitis virus and human hepatitis B virus.

Several physical, chemical, and serological properties of surface antigen particles from ground squirrel hepatitis virus (GSHsAg) and human hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) were compared. GSHsAg and HBsAg particles were purified from positive sera by gel chromatography and isopycnic centrifugation. Both antigens consisted mainly of spherical particles with an average diameter of approximately 20 nm and a buoyant density in CsCl of approximately 1.19 g/ml. Their UV absorption spectra indicated the presence of more tryptophane than tyrosine and the absence of detectable nucleic acid. GSHsAg was found to contain two major polypeptides of approximately 23,000 and 27,000 daltons, with electrophoretic migration rates distinctly faster than those of the two major polypeptides of HBsAg particles. After radiolabeling of purified antigen preparations with Bolton-Hunter reagent, the two major polypeptides of GSHsAg showed almost identical tryptic peptide maps. The tryptic peptide map of the major polypeptide from GSHsAg contained 13 of 37 spots also present in the map of the major HBsAg polypeptide, and 13 of 27 spots in the map of the major HBsAg polypeptide were also present in the map of the major GSHsAg polypeptide. This suggests considerable sequence homology between the major surface antigen polypeptides of the two viruses. However, there was only a weak serological cross-reactivity between antigens of the two viruses. Using an anti-HBs-containing serum with a relatively strong cross-reactivity, GSHsAg was found to consist of at least two antigenically different subspecies. The more strongly cross-reacting from had a slightly higher buoyant density than the other antigenic form.     

Expression of hepatitis B virus large envelope polypeptide inhibits hepatitis B surface antigen secretion in transgenic mice.

The outer membrane of the hepatitis B virus consists of host lipid and the hepatitis B virus major (p25, gp28), middle (gp33, gp36), and large (p39, gp42) envelope polypeptides. These polypeptides are encoded by a large open reading frame that contains three in-phase translation start codons and a shared termination signal. The influence of the large envelope polypeptide on the secretion of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) subviral particles in transgenic mice was examined. The major polypeptide is the dominant structural component of the HBsAg particles, which are readily secreted into the blood. A relative increase in production of the large envelope polypeptide compared with that of the major envelope polypeptide led to profound reduction of the HBsAg concentration in serum as a result of accumulation of both envelope polypeptides in a relatively insoluble compartment within the cell. We conclude that inhibition of HBsAg secretion is related to a hitherto unknown property of the pre-S-containing domain of the large envelope polypeptide.     

Intracellular inhibition of hepatitis B virus S gene expression by chimeric DNA-RNA phosphorothioate minimized ribozyme

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major problem in Asia. Current therapies for chronic hepatitis B have limited efficacy. The successful use of ribozymes for intracellular inhibition of HBV gene expression was recently reported. As an alternative to ribozymes, the use of DNA-containing, phosphorothioate-modified, minimized hammerhead ribozymes (minizymes) to inhibit hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression and viral replication was investigated. Such molecules can be synthesized and supplied exogenously. Two conserved sites within the HBsAg open reading frame (ORF) were targeted. PLC/PRF5 cells or 2.2.15 cells were treated with minizymes or antisense oligomers to assess the effects on cell viability, HBsAg expression, and viral DNA production. Treatment with the minizyme, MZPS1, resulted in >80% inhibition of HBsAg expression in PLC/PRF5 cells. MZPS1 had more inhibitory effect than the antisense oligonucletoide target at the same region, whereas the control minizyme had little effect. Another gene-specific minizyme, MZPS2, did not show any effect. Treated cells remained fully viable. Treatment of 2.2.15 cells with MZPS1 also led to decreased HBsAg expression. In addition, a 2.3-fold decrease in viral production was observed. Our data showed that minizymes can inhibit HBV gene expression and may potentially be useful for clinical therapy against chronic HBV infection.     

Adaptation to the cell line PLC/PRF/5 of hepatitis A virus released in the cell culture medium

The propagation of hepatitis A virus (HAV), CF53 strain, released without any cytopathic effect into the PLC/PRF/5 cells supernatant, was studied in the course of six serial passages (6th to 11th). The decrease (from 5 to 1 week) of incubation time required to detect HAV, by RIA, in culture supernatant, the increase in Hepatitis A antigen (from 777 to 10,038 c.p.m./50 microliter) and infectivity titre (from 10(3.0) TCID 50/ml to 10(4.5) TCID 50/ml) were consistent with the adaptation of this virus to the cell line PLC/PRF/5.     

Expression of hepatitis B virus surface antigen P31 gene in yeast

The hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) P31 gene has been expressed in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene products were shown to be glycoproteins with molecular sizes of 37,000 and 34,000 daltons (GP37 and GP34) containing polymerized albumin receptors. Successfully detecting these proteins depended on the extraction procedures. In the extract without protein denaturants and inhibitors, these products were degraded rapidly by proteases to yield smaller size derivatives lacking polymerized albumin receptors. As is the case in human serum-derived HBsAg, yeast HBsAg consisting of GP37 and GP34 was found to be particles or aggregates having a buoyant density of 1.2 g/cc; these particles bound to polymerized human serum albumin in species-specific manner.     

Expression and biosynthetic variation of the epidermal growth factor receptor in human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell lines.

Expression of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) was analyzed in six human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived and one human hepatoblastoma-derived cell line, each of which retained the differentiated phenotype and functions of the parenchymal hepatocyte. The level of receptor expression of each hepatoma cell line was similar to that of the normal human fibroblast, approximately 10(5) molecules per cell. However, NPLC/PRF/5, a subline of the PLC/PRF/5 cell line obtained following reestablishment of a xenograft tumor in vitro, was found to express 4 x 10(6) high-affinity EGF receptor molecules per cell. Proliferation of the NPLC/PRF/5 cell line was inhibited in the presence of nanomolar quantities of ligand. Receptor overexpression was found to result from EGF receptor gene amplification without apparent rearrangement of the EGF receptor coding sequences. Although cell-specific variability in posttranslational processing of EGF receptor N-linked oligosaccharides in the hepatoma cell lines was found, no difference between the receptors in PLC/PRF/5 and NPLC/PRF/5 was observed and no aberrant receptor-related species were detected. EGF receptor gene amplification in the NPLC/PRF/5 cell line is probably a reflection of genome instability and selection of variants with augmented growth potential in limiting concentrations of EGF in vivo. When viewed in this light, EGF receptor overexpression could represent a manifestation of tumor progression in the EGF-responsive hepatocyte.     

Functional absence of FADD in PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells: possible involvement in the transformation to hepatoma in HBV-infected hepatocytes.

The death receptor Fas transduces apoptotic death signaling upon stimulation by Fas ligand and plays a key role in viral hepatitis. When hepatitis-B virus (HBV) infects hepatocytes, the Fas ligand/Fas system responds as the triggering machinery of hepatitis. However, some HBV-infected cells may circumvent Fas-mediated apoptosis and transform to hepatoma cells, as do PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells. Therefore, in the present study, we used PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells to investigate this ability to avoid Fas-mediated apoptosis. When the cells were treated with an agonistic Fas antibody, they showed resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, HepG2 cells of the same hepatoma line succumbed. Caspase 3 and 8, which are essential regulators for Fas-mediated cell death, were expressed in both hepatoma cell lines, but only HepG2 cells showed activation of the caspases. A comparison study of expression of other death-associated factors between PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2 cells revealed no apparent differences. However, Far-Western blotting analysis using the Fas death domain (FDD) showed a significant difference. Molecular weight comparison and immunoblotting analysis revealed that PLC/PRF/5 cells lack the FDD-associated protein FADD. In addition, FDD-injected HepG2 cells showed a resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis, and PLC/PRF/5 cells acquired Fas-sensitivity by FADD injection. Here, we propose that a functional absence of FADD is one of the pathways for the carcinogenesis of HBV-infected hepatocytes.     

Expression of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA in PLC/PRF/5, Hep 3B, and L6EC3 cell lines detected by in situ hybridisation

The expression of the DNA of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was analysed in three cell lines (PLC/PRF/5, Hep 3B, L6EC3) which contain the HBV DNA integrated in their genome and release the viral surface antigen (HBsAg) in relation to cell growth. Using the in situ hybridisation technique and a cloned DNA probe specific for hepatitis B virus (PTKH9), the intracellular viral RNA localisation showed that for the three cell lines, HBV RNA are present in the different cell compartments according to the age of the culture. The nucleolar and nuclear localisation are visible in the early stages of the cell growth, whereas in the later stages viral RNA are found in the cytoplasm corresponding to the maximal production of the HBsAg. These observations suggest that the nucleolus is implicated in the expression of the integrated form of HBV genetic information, the regulation of which is linked to cell growth.     

Anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects of Glossogyne tenuifolia

Glossogyne tenuifolia (Hsiang-Ju) is a traditional antipyretic and hepatoprotective herb used in Chinese medicine. The aim of this research is to investigate the pharmacological activities and potent components of the ethanol extract of Glossogyne tenuifolia (GT) in human primary cells and cell line. We found that GT (0.1 approximately 0.25 mg/ml) exerted dose-dependent inhibitions on the release of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in LPS-activated human whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and IFN-gamma in PHA-stimulated human whole blood. The lack of cytotoxicity indicated that the inhibitory effects of GT on cytokine production were not due to cell death. Luteolin, the deglycosylated derivative of one of the major compositions, luteolin-7-glucoside, exerted inhibitory effects on TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IFN-gamma production in activated human whole blood with estimated IC(50)s of 42.73 microM, 44.86 microM and 3.34 microM, respectively. Furthermore, GT had potent anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) effects on the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, PLC/PRF/5. GT exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition on the release of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by repressing the expression of HBsAg with IC(50) of 0.093 mg/ml. We concluded that GT exerted combinatorial anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects, and the multiple actions may underlie its traditional hepatoprotective function.     

基于原位Hi-C技术对人肝细胞癌细胞系PLC/PRF/5和正常人肝细胞系L02的三维基因组对比测序分析

肝细胞癌(Hepatocellularcarcinoma,HCC)的肿瘤发生是基因组突变和表观遗传修饰变化积累的结果,但是HCC发生过程中的三维基因组构造变化仍然缺乏研究.基于此,在人源HCC细胞系PLC/PRF/5和人源正常肝细胞系L02中进行了原位Hi-C分析,并辅以转录组测序以及SMC3/CTCF/H3K27ac...     

Effect of hepatitis A virus infection on cell metabolism in vitro

Hepatitis A virus (HAV), when inoculated into cultures of the PLC/PRF/5 cell line which produces the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg), showed growth characteristics different from those of other picornaviruses. Antigen of HAV (HAAg) is expressed only about 10 days after infection. No major impact on the overall macromolecular biosynthesis of the host cells is observed. The growth rate of HAV-infected and uninfected cells was comparable, although the plating efficiency of infected cells was lower. Different hormonal factors were tested for their ability to stimulate viral antigen expression. Dexamethasone or prostaglandin E1 added to the culture medium increased HAAg expression; insulin reduced expression. Persistent infection of hepatoma cells by HAV never led to a cytolytic infection. In temperature-shift experiments, an adverse effect on the expression of HAAg and HBsAg was observed. In all experiments, the amounts of HBsAg in HAV-infected cells were reduced. On the whole, no major influence on host-cell metabolism is observed in cells persistently infected with HAV. Cell-mediated immunological response as a mechanism of pathological changes in HAV-infected liver is, therefore, more likely than a cytopathological effect.