Kinetics of HCV envelope proteins' interaction with CD81 large extracellular loop

We used BIAcore to analyze the kinetics of interactions between CD81 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins. We immobilized different forms of HCV envelope proteins (E1E2, E2, and E2(661)) on the sensor and monitored their interaction with injected fusion proteins of CD81 large extracellular loop (CD81LEL) and glutathione-S-transferase (CD81LEL-GST) or maltose binding protein (CD81LEL-MBP). The difference between the GST and MBP fusion proteins was their multimeric and monomeric forms, respectively. The association rate constants between CD81LEL-GST or CD81LEL-MBP and the E1E2, E2 or E2(661) HCV envelope proteins were similar. However, the dissociation rate constants of CD81LEL-MBP were higher than those of CD81LEL-GST. Interestingly, the dissociation rate constant of CD81LEL-GST from E1E2 was much lower than from E2 or E2(661). The interaction between both forms of the CD81LEL fusion proteins and the HCV envelope proteins best-fitted the "heterogeneous ligand" model. This model implies that two kinds of interactions occur between envelope proteins and CD81LEL: one is strong, the other is weak. It also implies that the heterogeneity is likely due to the HCV envelope proteins, which are known to form non-covalently linked heterodimers and disulfide-linked aggregate.     

Efficient formation of vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotypes bearing the native forms of hepatitis C virus envelope proteins detected after sonication

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in addition to acute hepatitis. The HCV genome encodes two envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2. To investigate the role of E1 and E2 in HCV infection, we used a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), VSVdeltaG*, harboring the green fluorescent protein gene instead of the VSV G envelope protein gene. It was complemented with the native form of E1 and E2, or E1 or E2 alone, to make HCV pseudotypes VSVdeltaG*(HCV), VSVdeltaG*(E1), and VSVdeltaG*(E2). Neither E1 nor E2 expression was detected on the cell surface, as reported. Unlike previous reports, infectious activities of VSVdeltaG*(HCV), VSVdeltaG*(E1) and VSVdeltaG*(E2) pseudotypes were detected under conditions where VSV was completely neutralized by anti-VSV. We could enhance the infectious titers 100-fold by sonication upon virus harvest. Bovine lactoferrin efficiently inhibited infection by VSVdeltaG*(HCV) as well as VSVdeltaG*(E2), as the interaction between E2 and lactoferrin has been thought to contribute to the inhibition of HCV infectivity. VSVdeltaG*(HCV) infected many adherent cell lines, including hepatic cell lines, but not most hematopoietic cell lines. Treatment of cells with trypsin, tunicamycin, or sulfated polysaccharides before infection reduced the infectivity of VSVdeltaG*(HCV) by about 90%, suggesting that a cell surface protein(s) with sugar chains plays an important role in HCV infection. The VSV pseudotypes developed here would be useful for analyzing the early stages of HCV infection.     

CD81-dependent binding of hepatitis C virus E1E2 heterodimers

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. HCV is also the major cause of mixed cryoglobulinemia, a B-lymphocyte proliferative disorder. Direct experimentation with native viral proteins is not feasible. Truncated versions of recombinant E2 envelope proteins, used as surrogates for viral particles, were shown to bind specifically to human CD81. However, truncated E2 may not fully mimic the surface of HCV virions because the virus encodes two envelope glycoproteins that associate with each other as E1E2 heterodimers. Here we show that E1E2 complexes efficiently bind to CD81 whereas truncated E2 is a weak binder, suggesting that truncated E2 is probably not the best tool with which to study cellular interactions. To gain better insight into virus-cell interactions, we developed a method by which to isolate E1E2 complexes that are properly folded. We demonstrate that purified E1E2 heterodimers bind to cells in a CD81-dependent manner. Furthermore, engagement of B cells by purified E1E2 heterodimers results in their aggregation and in protein tyrosine phosphorylation, a hallmark of B-cell activation. These studies provide a possible clue to the etiology of HCV-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases. They also delineate a method by which to isolate biologically functional E1E2 complexes for the study of virus-host cell interaction in other cell types.     

Binding of the hepatitis C virus E2 glycoprotein to CD81 is strain specific and is modulated by a complex interplay between hypervariable regions 1 and 2

The envelope glycoprotein E2 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the target of neutralizing antibodies and is presently being evaluated as an HCV vaccine candidate. HCV binds to human cells through the interaction of E2 with the tetraspanin CD81, a putative viral receptor component. We have analyzed four different E2 proteins from 1a and 1b viral isolates for their ability to bind to recombinant CD81 in vitro and to the native receptor displayed on the surface of Molt-4 cells. A substantial difference in binding efficiency between these E2 variants was observed, with proteins derived from 1b subtypes showing significantly lower binding than the 1a protein. To elucidate the mechanism of E2-CD81 interaction and to identify critical regions responsible for the different binding efficiencies of the E2 variants, several mutants were generated in E2 protein regions predicted by computer modeling to be exposed on the protein surface. Functional analysis of these E2 derivatives revealed that at least two distinct domains are responsible for interaction with CD81. A first segment centered around amino acid residues 613 to 618 is essential for recognition, while a second element including the two hypervariable regions (HVRs) modulates E2 receptor binding. Binding inhibition experiments with anti-HVR monoclonal antibodies confirmed this mapping and supported the hypothesis that a complex interplay between the two HVRs of E2 is responsible for modulating receptor binding, possibly through intramolecular interactions. Finally, E2 proteins from different isolates displayed a profile of binding to human hepatic cells different from that observed on Molt-4 cells or isolated recombinant CD81, indicating that additional factors are involved in viral recognition by target liver cells.     

Role of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway in degradation of hepatitis C virus envelope proteins and production of virus particles

Viral infections frequently cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in host cells leading to stimulation of the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway, which subsequently targets unassembled glycoproteins for ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. However, the role of the ERAD pathway in the viral life cycle is poorly defined. In this paper, we demonstrate that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection activates the ERAD pathway, which in turn controls the fate of viral glycoproteins and modulates virus production. ERAD proteins, such as EDEM1 and EDEM3, were found to increase ubiquitylation of HCV envelope proteins via direct physical interaction. Knocking down of EDEM1 and EDEM3 increased the half-life of HCV E2, as well as virus production, whereas exogenous expression of these proteins reduced the production of infectious virus particles. Further investigation revealed that only EDEM1 and EDEM3 bind with SEL1L, an ER membrane adaptor protein involved in translocation of ERAD substrates from the ER to the cytoplasm. When HCV-infected cells were treated with kifunensine, a potent inhibitor of the ERAD pathway, the half-life of HCV E2 increased and so did virus production. Kifunensine inhibited the binding of EDEM1 and EDEM3 with SEL1L, thus blocking the ubiquitylation of HCV E2 protein. Chemical inhibition of the ERAD pathway neither affected production of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) nor stability of the JEV envelope protein. A co-immunoprecipitation assay showed that EDEM orthologs do not bind with JEV envelope protein. These findings highlight the crucial role of the ERAD pathway in the life cycle of specific viruses.     

High-avidity monoclonal antibodies against the human scavenger class B type I receptor efficiently block hepatitis C virus infection in the presence of high-density lipoprotein

The human scavenger class B type 1 receptor (SR-B1/Cla1) was identified as a putative receptor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) because it binds to soluble recombinant HCV envelope glycoprotein E2 (sE2). High-density lipoprotein (HDL), a natural SR-B1 ligand, was shown to increase the in vitro infectivity of retroviral pseudoparticles bearing HCV envelope glycoproteins and of cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc), suggesting that SR-B1 promotes viral entry in an HDL-dependent manner. To determine whether SR-B1 participates directly in HCV infection or facilitates HCV entry through lipoprotein uptake, we generated a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against native human SR-B1. Two of them, 3D5 and C167, bound to conformation-dependent SR-B1 determinants and inhibited the interaction of sE2 with SR-B1. These antibodies efficiently blocked HCVcc infection of Huh-7.5 hepatoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. To examine the role of HDL in SR-B1-mediated HCVcc infection, we set up conditions for HCVcc production and infection in serum-free medium. HCVcc efficiently infected Huh-7.5 cells in the absence of serum lipoproteins, and addition of HDL led to a twofold increase in infectivity. However, the HDL-induced enhancement of infection had no impact on the neutralization potency of MAb C167, despite its ability to inhibit both HDL binding to cells and SR-B1-mediated lipid transfer. Of note, MAb C167 also potently blocked Huh-7.5 infection by an HCV strain recovered from HCVcc-infected chimpanzees. These results demonstrate that SR-B1 is essential for infection with HCV produced in vitro and in vivo and suggest the possible use of anti-SR-B1 antibodies as therapeutic agents.     

Immunological evaluation of Escherichia coli-derived hepatitis C virus second envelope protein (E2) variants.

Two variants of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 envelope protein, lacking the C-terminal domain and comprising amino acids 458-650 (E2A) and 382-605 (E2C), respectively, were efficiently produced in BL21 (DE3) Escherichia coli cells. E2A and E2C were used to immunize mice. The E2C variant induced the maximal mean antibody titer. Anti-E2C mouse sera reacted mainly with E2 synthetic peptides covering the 70 amino acid N-terminal region of the E2 protein. Moreover, a panel of anti-HCV positive human sera recognized only the E2C protein (28.2%) and the synthetic peptide covering the HVR-1 of the E2 protein (23.1%). These data indicate the existence of an immunologically relevant region in the HVR-1 of the HCV E2 protein.     

Cell fusion activity of hepatitis C virus envelope proteins

To examine the cell fusion activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins (E1 and E2), we have established a sensitive cell fusion assay based on the activation of a reporter gene as described previously (O. Nussbaum, C. C. Broder, and E. A. Berger, J. Virol. 68:5411-5422, 1994). The chimeric HCV E1 and E2 proteins, each consisting of the ectodomain of the E1 and E2 envelope protein and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein, were expressed on the cell surface. Cells expressing the chimeric envelope proteins and T7 RNA polymerase were cocultured with the various target cell lines transfected with a reporter plasmid encoding the luciferase gene under the control of the T7 promoter. After cocultivation, the cell fusion activity was determined by the expression of luciferase in the cocultured cells. The induction of cell fusion requires both the chimeric E1 and E2 proteins and occurs in a low-pH-dependent manner. Although it has been shown that HCV E2 protein binds human CD81 (P. Pileri, Y. Uematsu, S. Campagnoli, G. Galli, F. Falugi, R. Petracca, A. J. Weiner, M. Houghton, D. Rosa, G. Grandi, and S. Abrignani, Science 282:938-941, 1998), the expression of human CD81 alone is not sufficient to confer susceptibility to cell fusion in the mouse cell line. Treatment of the target cells with pronase, heparinase, or heparitinase reduced the cell fusion activity induced by the chimeric envelope proteins. These results suggest (i) that both HCV E1 and E2 proteins are responsible for fusion with the endosomal membrane after endocytosis and (ii) that certain protein molecules other than human CD81 and some glycosaminoglycans on the cell surface are also involved in the cell fusion induced by HCV.     

Protein kinase C-related kinase 2 regulates hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase function by phosphorylation

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B protein is the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase required for replication of the HCV RNA genome. We have identified a peptide that most closely resembles a short region of the protein kinase C-related kinase 2 (PRK2) by screening of a random 12-mer peptide library displayed on the surface of the M13 bacteriophage with NS5B proteins immobilized on microwell plates. Competitive phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a synthetic peptide showed that the phage clone displaying this peptide could bind HCV RNA polymerase with a high affinity. Coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization studies demonstrated in vivo interaction of NS5B with PRK2. In vitro kinase assays demonstrated that PRK2 specifically phosphorylates NS5B by interaction with the N-terminal finger domain of NS5B (amino acids 1-187). Consistent with the in vitro NS5B-phosphorylating activity of PRK2, we detected the phosphorylated form of NS5B by metabolic cell labeling. Furthermore, HCV NS5B immunoprecipitated from HCV subgenomic replicon cells was specifically recognized by an antiphosphoserine antibody. Knock-down of the endogenous PRK2 expression using a PRK2-specific small interfering RNA inhibited HCV RNA replication. In contrast, PRK2 overexpression, which was accompanied by an increase of in the level of its active form, dramatically enhanced HCV RNA replication. Altogether, our results indicate that HCV RNA replication is regulated by NS5B phosphorylation by PRK2.     

Peptides derived from a distinct region of GB virus C glycoprotein E2 mediate strain-specific HIV-1 entry inhibition

The nonpathogenic human GB virus C (GBV-C), a member of the Flaviviridae, is highly prevalent in individuals with HIV-1 infections or with parenteral and sexual risk factors. Long-term GBV-C viremia has been associated with better survival or improved diagnosis in several epidemiological studies. In a previous study we reported that the E2 glycoprotein of GBV-C interferes with HIV-1 entry in vitro. To address the question what region of the E2 protein is involved in suppression of HIV-1 replication, we performed an E2-derived peptide scanning and determined the HIV-inhibitory activity of each peptide in HIV replication assays. We demonstrate here that peptides representing the N-terminal part of the E2 protein from amino acids (aa) 29 to 72 are able to inhibit efficiently HIV-1 replication in vitro. In particular, the peptides P6-2 (representing the E2-region from aa 45 to 64) and P4762 (aa 37 to 64) showed the highest potency in HIV replication assays performed on TZM-bl cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations between 0.1 and 2 μM. However, primary HIV-1 isolates representing clades A to H showed a high variability in their sensitivity to E2 peptides. Pseudovirus inhibition assays revealed that the sensitivity is determined by the gp120/gp41 envelope proteins. Using HIV-1 BlaM-Vpr-based fusion assays, we demonstrate that the E2-derived peptides prevent HIV-1 binding or fusion, presumably via interaction with the HIV-1 particle. Together, these findings reveal a new mechanism of viral interference, suggesting that the envelope protein E2 of GBV-C target directly HIV-1 particles to avoid entry of these virions.     

GST pull-down验证流感病毒PB1-F2蛋白与热休克蛋白40的相互作用

为体外验证流感病毒PB1-F2与热休克蛋白Hsp40相互作用,通过两个方向的GST pull-down试验验证PB1-F2与Hsp40的相互作用。构建GST-多肽融合蛋白原核表达载体pGEX-6P-1-PB1-F2和pGEX-6P-1-Hsp40,并在大肠杆菌(E.co-li)BL21中诱导表达;构建真核表达载体pLEGFP-Hsp40及pCAGGS-PB1-F2,并分别转染293T细胞使其表达Hsp40及PB1-F2融合蛋白,然后进行GST pull-down试验验证二者的相互作用。成功地构建了两种蛋白的各种表达载体,经表达、纯化获得了可溶性的GST-多肽融合蛋白,GST pull-down试验正反两方向都证实了PB1-F2与Hsp40的相互作用,初步证实了流感病毒PB1-F2在体外能与Hsp40发生相互作用。     

Hepatitis C virus 3'X region interacts with human ribosomal proteins

To identify proteins that can bind the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) we screened human cDNA libraries using the Saccharomyces cerevisiae three-hybrid system. Screening with an RNA sequence derived from the 3'-terminal 98 nucleotides (3'X region) of an infectious clone of HCV (H77c) yielded clones of human ribosomal proteins L22, L3, S3, and mL3, a mitochondrial homologue of L3. We performed preliminary characterization of the binding between the 3'X region and these proteins by a three-hybrid mating assay using mutant 3'X sequences. We have further characterized the interaction between 3'X and L22, since this protein is known to be associated with two small Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded RNA species (EBERs) which are abundantly produced in cells latently infected with EBV. The EBERs, which have similar predicted secondary structure to the HCV 3'X, assemble into ribonucleoprotein particles that include L22 and La protein. To confirm that L22 binds HCV 3'X we performed in vitro binding assays using recombinant L22 (expressed as a glutathione S-transferase [GST] fusion protein) together with a 3'X riboprobe. The 3'X region binds to the GST-L22 fusion protein (but not to GST alone), and this interaction is subject to competition with unlabeled 3'X RNA. To establish the functional role played by L22 in internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation of HCV sequences we performed translational analysis in HuH-7 cells using monocistronic and bicistronic reporter constructs. The relative amount of core-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter protein translated under the control of the HCV IRES was stimulated in the presence of L22 and La when these proteins were supplied in trans.     

Phospholipid scramblase 1 mediates hepatitis C virus entry into host cells

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects human hepatocytes through several host factors. However, other prerequisite factors for viral entry remain to be identified. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we found that human phospholipid scramblase 1 interacts with HCV envelope proteins E1 and E2. These physical interactions were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays. Knocking down the expression of PLSCR1 inhibited the entry of HCV pseudoparticles. Moreover, PLSCR1 was required for the initial attachment of HCV onto hepatoma cells, where it specifically interacted with entry factor OCLN. We show that PLSCR1 is a novel attachment factor for HCV entry.     

Antigenicity and B-epitope mapping of hepatitis C virus envelope protein E2

Immunogenicity for laboratory animals (rabbits and mice) of the whole hepatitis C virus envelope proteins and their conserved as well as hypervariable HVR1 sites has been investigated. Rabbit immune responses to HCV envelope proteins (both single E2 and E1E2 heterodimer) were shown to be much more efficient than murine immune responses. Rabbit immunization with E2 protein caused formation of antibodies to several highly conserved linear B-epitopes of this protein as well as to the N-terminal fragment of the hypervariable region HVR1. Epitopes in the CR2 region were determined for the first time. There was cross-reactivity between the N-terminal fragment of the protein E2 hypervariable region HVR1 and the octapeptide fragment of the protein E1 conserved region CR1, which shared four identical amino acid residues.     

人巨细胞病毒UL55编码蛋白结合蛋白的筛选与鉴定

从人胎脑c DNA文库中筛选和鉴定出与人巨细胞病毒(Human cytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL55编码蛋白结合的蛋白。将UL55基因编码区克隆到诱饵载体p GBKT7中,在证实UL55蛋白不具有自激活作用的前提下,采用Match-maker GAL酵母双杂交系统筛选人胎脑c DNA文库中与UL55蛋白结合的宿主蛋白,用酵母双杂交回转实验验证UL55蛋白与获得的蛋白结合的可靠性。将酵母双杂交筛选出的文库蛋白烯醇化酶1(enolase1,ENO 1)构建到p GEX-4T-2载体上,利用GST pull-down技术体外验证ENO 1与HCMV UL55蛋白的结合。并依据所筛选出蛋白的生物学功能分析UL55蛋白可能的生物学功能。结果显示有10种蛋白与HCMV UL55编码蛋白结合。应用GST pull-down技术检测到ENO 1与HCMV UL55相互结合的蛋白条带。成功地筛选出10种与UL55蛋白相互结合的宿主蛋白,GST pull-down实验进一步表明ENO 1可以与HCMV UL55蛋白直接结合,为进一步研究UL55蛋白的功能提供了新的线索。     

Structural characterization of the ceruloplasmin: lactoferrin complex in solution

Ceruloplasmin is a copper protein found in vertebrate plasma, which belongs to the family of multicopper oxidases. Like transferrin of the blood plasma, lactoferrin, the iron-containing protein of human milk, saliva, tears, seminal plasma and of neutrophilic leukocytes tightly binds two ferric ions. Human lactoferrin and ceruloplasmin have been previously shown to interact both in vivo and in vitro forming a complex. Here we describe a study of the conformation of the human lactoferrin/ceruloplasmin complex in solution using small angle X-ray scattering. Our ab initio structural analysis shows that the complex has a 1:1 stoichiometry and suggests that complex formation occurs without major conformational rearrangements of either protein. Rigid-body modeling of the mutual arrangement of proteins in the complex essentially yields two families of solutions. Final discrimination is possible when integrating in the modeling process extra information translating into structural constraints on the interaction between the two partners.     

Physical interaction between the herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate-early regulatory proteins ICP0 and ICP4.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate-early protein ICP0 enhances expression of a spectrum of viral genes alone and synergistically with ICP4. To test whether ICP0 and ICP4 interact physically, we performed far-Western blotting analysis of proteins from mock-, wild-type-, and ICP4 mutant virus-infected cells with in vitro-synthesized [35S]Met-labeled ICP0 and ICP4 as probes. The ICP4 and ICP0 polypeptides synthesized in vitro exhibited molecular weights similar to those of their counterparts in herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells, and the in vitro-synthesized ICP4 was able to bind to a probe containing the ICP4 consensus binding site. Far-Western blotting experiments demonstrated that ICP0 interacts directly and specifically with ICP4 and with itself. To further define the interaction between ICP0 and ICP4, we generated a set of glutathione S-transferase (GST)-ICP0 fusion proteins that contain GST and either ICP0 N-terminal amino acids 1 to 244 or 1 to 394 or C-terminal amino acids 395 to 616 or 395 to 775. Using GST-ICP0 fusion protein affinity chromatography and in vitro-synthesized [35S]Met-labeled ICP0 and ICP4, ICP4 was shown to interact preferentially with the fusion protein containing ICP0 C-terminal amino acids 395 to 775, whereas ICP0 interacted efficiently with both the N-terminal GST-ICP0 fusion proteins and the C-terminal GST-ICP0 fusion proteins containing amino acids 395 to 775. Fusion protein affinity chromatography also demonstrated that the C-terminal 235 amino acid residues of ICP4 are important for efficient interaction with ICP0. Collectively, these results reveal a direct and specific physical interaction between ICP0 and ICP4.     

P53与TRF1、TRF2的体外结合及P53结合功能区的分析

通过分析端粒结合蛋白TRF1、TRF2与P5 3的体外结合 ,探讨P5 3 端粒途径调节细胞生命活动的分子机制 .GST和 4种人P5 3 GST融合蛋白经大肠杆菌表达、谷胱甘肽 SepharoseTM4B纯化后 ,进行SDS PAGE和考马斯亮篮染色 .人P5 3包括野生型 (1～ 393)、C端缺失体P5 3N5 (2～ 2 93)、N端缺失体P5 32C(95～ 393)、单个氨基酸突变体P5 3R175H(175R→H) .各纯化蛋白的分子量与预计的完全一致 ,且纯化率达 90 %以上 .将纯化的GST和P5 3 GST融合蛋白与人乳腺癌细胞MCF 7细胞蛋白进行体外结合反应 ,Western印迹检测反应物中P5 3和TRF1、TRF2的结合 .野生型P5 3和P5 3 R175H均能沉淀MCF 7中的TRF1、TRF2 ,且结合力相似 ,而单独的GST则无沉淀TRF1、TRF2的作用 .与野生型P5 3和P5 3R175H相比 ,P5 32C与TRF1、TRF2的结合力明显增加 ,P5 3N5与TRF1、TRF2的结合力大大减弱 .表明P5 3和TRF1、TRF2可以进行直接而特异的体外结合 ,且它们的结合为P5 3C端 (2 93～ 393)结构域依赖性 .P5 3和TRF1、TRF2这种结构域依赖性的结合可能与端粒动态变化所诱导的细胞活动有关 .     

Genetic Immunization of Wild-Type and Hepatitis C Virus Transgenic Mice Reveals a Hierarchy of Cellular Immune Response and Tolerance Induction against Hepatitis C Virus Structural Proteins

To study the effect of genetic immunization on transgenic expression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins, we evaluated the immunological response of HCV transgenic mice to HCV expression plasmids. FVB/n transgenic mice expressing HCV structural proteins (core, E1, and E2) and wild-type (WT) FVB/n mice were immunized intramuscularly with plasmids expressing core (pHCVcore) or core/E1/E2 (pHCVSt). After immunization, HCV-specific humoral and cellular immune response was studied. Both WT and transgenic mice immunized with either HCV construct produced antibodies and exhibited T-cell proliferative responses against core or envelope. In WT mice immunized with pHCVSt, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activities were detected against E2 but not against core or E1, whereas strong CTL activities against core could be detected in WT mice immunized with pHCVcore. In pHCVSt-immunized, transgenic mice, CTL activities against the core or envelope were completely absent, but core-specific CTL activities could be detected in pHCVcore-immunized transgenic mice. A similar pattern of immune responses was also observed in other mouse strains, including a transgenic line expressing human HLA-A2.1 molecules (AAD mice). Despite the presence of a peripheral cellular immunity against HCV, no liver pathology or lymphocytic infiltrate was observed in these transgenic mice. Our study suggests a hierarchy of CTL response against the HCV structural proteins (E2 > core > E1) in vivo when the proteins are expressed as a polyprotein. The HCV transgenic mice can be induced by DNA immunization to generate anti-HCV antibodies and anticore CTLs. However, they are tolerant at the CTL level against the E2 protein despite DNA immunization.