乙肝病毒感染对细胞基本自噬的影响

【目的】慢性乙肝病毒(Hepatitis B virus,HBV)感染在肝硬化和肝癌的发生过程中起着重要的作用,通过研究HBV感染对细胞基本自噬的影响,为HBV感染诱发肝癌以及HBV的免疫逃逸机理研究提供新的思路。【方法】本研究利用乙肝病毒表达质粒瞬时或稳定转染不同肝细胞,通过计数绿色荧光蛋白(greenfluorescent protein,GFP)聚集数目检测自噬小体形成,western blot检测LC3(microtubule-associated proteinlight chain 3,微管相关蛋白质轻链3)脂酰化和p62的降解,通过构建HBV B型和C型X蛋白(HBx)的表达质粒并瞬时转染肝癌细胞和正常肝细胞,对不同基因型X蛋白对细胞自噬的影响进行了分析。【结果】乙肝病毒感染后促进了LC3的脂酰化和p62的降解,增加了自噬小体的形成,增强了细胞的基本自噬。进一步研究发现,HBV感染增强的细胞基本自噬水平由HBx所引发,且C型HBx比B型对细胞基本自噬的增加更加显著。【结论】HBV通过HBx增强细胞的基本自噬,且不同基因型HBx对细胞基本自噬的增强程度不同,为进一步阐明HBV感染机理奠定了基础。     

真菌次级代谢产物11’-deoxyverticillin A(C42)通过降低自噬基因的表达抑制肝炎病毒(HBV)复制

C42属于epipolythiodioxopiperazines(ETPs)二酮呱嗪类化合物,具有多种生物学活性,包括抑制病毒复制;不过其对hepatitis B virus(HBV)复制的影响及机理鲜有报道。自噬是广泛存在于真核细胞、通过溶酶体降解长半衰期蛋白的现象,参与多种生理、病理过程。有研究发现自噬对HBV的复制至关重要。C42是否通过改变自噬来影响此病毒的复制目前还未见报道。在该研究中,我们发现表达HBV基因组的Hep G2.215细胞较原始的Hep G2细胞,自噬体明显增加并伴随着Akt磷酸化的增高。C42可以降低自噬基因LC3-II和p62的水平,同时会影响Akt信号通路。氯喹是一种自噬抑制剂,它的存在可以抑制C42导致的LC3-II降低,表明C42可以引起该细胞的自噬。敲降自噬基因和抑制Akt磷酸化均可以减少HBV-X蛋白表达。而利用氯喹抑制自噬体与溶酶体的融合却提高了HBV-X蛋白水平。由于HBV-X对该病毒的复制至关重要,因此,我们认为,C42通过自噬和Akt信号通路来抑制HBV的复制。     

真菌次级代谢产物11’-deoxyverticillin A（C42）通过降低自噬基因的表达抑制肝炎病毒（HBV）复制

C42属于epipolythiodioxopiperazines（ETPs）二酮呱嗪类化合物,具有多种生物学活性,包括抑制病毒复制;不过其对hepatitis B virus（HBV）复制的影响及机理鲜有报道。自噬是广泛存在于真核细胞、通过溶酶体降解长半衰期蛋白的现象,参与多种生理、病理过程。有研究发现自噬对HBV的复制至关重要。C42是否通过改变自噬来影响此病毒的复制目前还未见报道。在该研究中,我们发现表达HBV基因组的HepG2.215细胞较原始的HepG2细胞,自噬体明显增加并伴随着Akt磷酸化的增高。C42可以降低自噬基因LC3-II和p62的水平,同时会影响Akt信号通路。氯喹是一种自噬抑制剂,它的存在可以抑制C42导致的LC3-II降低,表明C42可以引起该细胞的自噬。敲降自噬基因和抑制Akt磷酸化均可以减少HBV-X蛋白表达。而利用氯喹抑制自噬体与溶酶体的融合却提高了HBV-X蛋白水平。由于HBV-X对该病毒的复制至关重要,因此,我们认为,C42通过自噬和Akt信号通路来抑制HBV的复制。     

细胞自噬对乙肝病毒感染细胞干扰素表达的影响

[目的]细胞自噬(Autophagy)是真核细胞用于清除胞内聚集物、损伤细胞器而维持其稳态平衡的一种溶酶体降解途径.细胞自噬不仅在细胞生长发育、成熟、分化等过程中起重要作用,且与病毒感染、细胞免疫密切相关.通过研究细胞自噬对乙肝病毒感染的Ⅰ型干扰素的影响,为进一步阐明乙肝病毒感染对机体天然免疫反应研究奠定基础.[方法]通过siRNA干扰Beclin1和Atg7表达,检测自噬小体形成,Real-TimePCR检测干扰素因子表达,分析了细胞自噬对乙肝病毒感染细胞中干扰素形成的影响.[结果]干扰Beclin1和Atg7均可抑制细胞自噬发生,抑制细胞自噬可降低干扰素因子的表达,而对细胞活力和细胞凋亡无明显影响.[结论]抑制细胞自噬,可降低HBV感染细胞中IFNβ和IFI27的表达,这在一定程度上意味着,HBV诱导的自噬具有增强感染细胞天然免疫反应的作用.     

AMPK和mTOR的自噬姻缘

自噬(autophagy)最初认为是在营养匮乏时细胞将自身的胞质成分、细胞器消化转化成能量以便自身生存。自噬产生过程一般分为以下几个阶段:自噬诱导(autophagy induction)、孤膜产生(isolationmembrane)、自噬小泡生长(vesicle elongation)、自噬体形成(autophagosome)、自噬溶酶体融合(autolyso-     

HBx参与肝细胞癌发生发展调控的分子机制

肝细胞癌 (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC)是我国最常见的恶性肿瘤之一,而HBV慢性感染是肝癌发生的主要原因.乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)中X基因编码的一种多功能蛋白(HBx),参与众多重要生物学过程的调控,并促进肝细胞癌的发生. 早期研究表明,HBx在HCC发生过程中发挥重要的调控功能,但其确切分子机制尚未完全明确. 近几年,HBx参与生物学过程的分子机制研究有了较快的进展. 有趣的是,研究发现,HBx在不同的细胞系以及HBV感染的不同阶段发挥促抑凋亡的双重作用,HBx还参与细胞自噬的调控. 此外,在HBx参与细胞增殖及肿瘤侵袭和转移等方面,也产生了一些新的认识. 本文将从HBx对肝细胞凋亡、自噬和增殖的调控及其对肝癌细胞转移和侵袭的调控等方面,对HBx参与肝细胞癌发生发展调控机制做一综述.     

自噬体膜的来源

细胞自噬是指细胞通过自噬-溶酶体(autolysosome)降解变性蛋白聚集物和受损细胞器的过程. 自噬对于细胞内环境的稳态、物质的平衡、胚胎发育以及疾病的发生发挥重要作用. 在电镜下观察,自噬体膜是一个双层脂质膜结构. 细胞中因缺乏除了自噬相关蛋白9 (autophagy-related protein 9,ATG9)以外的自噬体膜相关蛋白,故难以确定自噬体膜的来源. 自噬体膜的来源也因此成为目前自噬研究领域的热点问题. 关于自噬体膜的来源,学术界存在两种观点：一种认为自噬体膜是细胞在自噬体组装位点(pre-autophagosomal structure, PAS)重新合成的;另一种观点则认为自噬体膜来源于细胞已有的某些细胞器(如内质网、高尔基体、内吞体、质膜和线粒体). 该文综述了近年有关自噬体膜来源于细胞已有的某些细胞器的研究进展,旨在为相关领域的研究提供参考.     

细胞自噬形成机制及其功能研究进展

自噬是真核细胞维持内环境稳态的一种内在平衡机制。现已发现,多种自噬相关蛋白质(autophagy related protein or Atg protein)参与自噬形成。其中,自噬相关蛋白1/Unc-51样激酶1(autophagy related 1/Unc-51-like kinase 1,Atg1/ULK1)蛋白酶复合物主要在自噬形成起始阶段发挥作用;自噬相关蛋白9·自噬相关蛋白2-自噬相关蛋白18(autophagy related 9·autophagy related 2-autophagy18,Atg9·Atg2-Atg18)复合物主要为自噬形成递送膜结构;自噬相关蛋白12(autophagy related 12,Atg12)和自噬相关蛋白5/微管相关蛋白1轻链3(autophagy-related 5/microtubule-associated protein 1light chain 3,Atg5/LC3)结合系统主要参与隔离膜的延伸和自噬体的成熟;而泡膜蛋白34-自噬相关蛋白6/Beclin1磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶复合物[vacuolar proteins sorting 34-autophagy related 6/Beclin 1phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase,Vps34-Atg6/Beclin1 PI(3)P]则可与不同物质结合,在自噬的起始和自噬体成熟过程中发挥重要作用。随着研究的深入,细胞自噬被认为可特异性识别底物进行降解,如线粒体自噬、噬脂、异体吞噬等。因此,自噬与多种疾病的发生发展密切相关,如神经系统疾病、肿瘤、心血管疾病、感染、代谢性疾病、特发性肺纤维化、肺动脉高压等疾病并参与衰老等生理过程。目前,一批以自噬为靶点的自噬调节剂正在临床试验阶段。     

“Becn1-BCL2-Klotho轴”——自噬抗衰老新机制

正细胞自噬(autophagy)是胞内物质周转的重要环节;一般指营养缺乏、缺氧等应激时,部分胞浆内物质被双层膜自噬小泡包裹、送入溶酶体降解,并循环利用以维系细胞稳态的过程。同时,根据被包裹物质运送至溶酶体腔内的方式,自噬可分为巨自噬(macroautophagy)、微自噬(microautophagy)、分子伴侣介导的自噬(chaperone-mediated autophagy,CMA);近年来,根据被自     

线粒体自噬进程及其受病毒感染的影响

线粒体自噬(mitophagy)属于巨自噬的范畴,即受损线粒体被一种双层膜结构(如粗面内质网的无核糖体附着区脱落的双层膜)包裹后形成自噬小体(autophagosome),接着自噬小体的外膜与溶酶体膜融合,底物蛋白进入溶酶体,最终被各类水解酶降解的一系列过程.然而,一些病毒的细胞感染过程与线粒体自噬的发生有着密切联系.本文对线粒体自噬发生的前提条件、起始与发展的全过程以及病毒感染对线粒体自噬的影响等进行综述,以期为进一步研究线粒体自噬提供新思路.     

Hepatitis B virus X protein inhibits autophagic degradation by impairing lysosomal maturation

Deficiency in autophagy, a lysosome-dependent cell degradation pathway, has been associated with a variety of diseases especially cancer. Recently, the activation of autophagy by hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein, which is implicated in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has been identified in hepatic cells. However, the underlying mechanism and the relevance of HBx-activated autophagy to the carcinogenesis caused by HBV remain elusive. Here, by transfection of HBV genomic DNA and HBx in hepatic and hepatoma cells, we showed that HBV- or HBx-induced autophagosome formation was accompanied by unchanged MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) activity and decreased degradation of LC3 and SQSTM1/p62, the typical autophagic cargo proteins. Further functional and morphological analysis indicated that HBx dramatically impaired lysosomal acidification leading to a drop in lysosomal degradative capacity and the accumulation of immature lysosomes possibly through interaction with V-ATPase affecting its lysosome targeting. Moreover, clinical specimen test showed increased SQSTM1 and immature lysosomal hydrolase CTSD (cathepsin D) in human liver tissues with chronic HBV infection and HBV-associated liver cancer. These data suggest that a repressive effect of HBx on lysosomal function is responsible for the inhibition of autophagic degradation, and this may be critical to the development of HBV-associated HCC.     

Phosphorylation of elongation factor-2 kinase differentially regulates the enzyme's stability under stress conditions

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with the majority of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China. Despite this, there is no effective method for the early detection of HBV-induced liver cancer. Aberrant fucosylation is known to occur during the development of HCC. We, therefore, developed a method of applying matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to analyze the relationship between aberrant fucosylation, tumor genesis and progression of HBV-associated HCC, and to establish proteomic profiling of serum for early diagnosis of HCC. The MALDI-TOF MS was based on Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) lectin magnetic beads and their affinity for separation. The method was applied initially to a 'training' cohort of 111 serum samples obtained from subjects in China with no liver disease (n=26), chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis (n=21), HBV-infected cirrhosis (n=32), or HBV-infected HCC (n=32). In contrast to previous findings, the results of our profiling analysis demonstrated defucosylation on some of the glycoproteins involved in HCC. HCC was then diagnostically classified in a 'blind test' cohort (n=96). In this group we demonstrated that, HCC could be distinguished from all serum samples, HBV-associated chronic liver disease, and HBV-associated cirrhosis with a sensitivity/specificity of 70%/70%, 78%/74%, and 81%/82%, respectively. When combined with serum alpha-fetoprotein detection (AFP>20 ng/mL), the sensitivity/specificity improved to 78%/88%, 85%/88%, and 89%/91%, respectively. In conclusion, serum glycoprotein fucosylation abnormalities have diverse forms in patients with HCC. MALDI-TOF MS profiling of aberrant serum fucosylated glycoproteins distinguished HCC from controls with high accuracy.     

MicroRNA-1271 functions as a potential tumor suppressor in hepatitis B virus–associated hepatocellular carcinoma through the AMPK signaling pathway by binding to CCNA1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mainly associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and characterized by metastasizing and infiltrating adjacent and distant tissues. Notably, microRNA-1271 (miR-1271) is a tumor suppressor in various cancers. Therefore, we evaluate the ability of miR-1271 to influence cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis in HBV-associated HCC through the Adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway via targeting CCNA1. HBV-associated HCC and adjacent normal tissues were collected to identify the expression of miR-1271 and CCNA1. To verify the relationship between miR-1271 and CCNA1, we used bioinformatics prediction and the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The effects of miR-1271 on HBV-associated HCC cell behaviors were investigated by treatment of the miR-1271 mimic, the miR-1271 inhibitor, or small interfering RNA against CCNA1. The HBV-DNA quantitative assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromid assay, scratch test, transwell assay, and flow cytometry were used to detect HBV-DNA replication, cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis. MiR-1271 showed a low expression, whereas CCNA1 showed a high expression in HBV-associated HCC tissues. We identified that miR-1271 targeted and negatively regulated CCNA1. Upregulated miR-1271 and downregulated CCNA1 inhibited the HBV-associated HCC cell HBV-DNA replication, proliferation, migration, and invasion, while accelerating apoptosis by activating the AMPK signaling pathway. MiR-1271 promotes the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway by binding to CCNA1, whereby miR-1271 suppresses HBV-associated HCC progression. This study points to a potential therapeutic approach of downregulation of miR-1271 in HBV-associated HCC treatment.     

The X protein of hepatitis B virus inhibits apoptosis in hepatoma cells through enhancing the methionine adenosyltransferase 2A gene expression and reducing S-adenosylmethionine production

The X protein (HBx) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) promotes the growth of liver cancer cells through altering S-adenosylmethionine homeostasis. Thus, we speculated that a link between HBx and MAT2A may contribute to HCC development. In this study, the effects of HBx on MAT2A expression and cell apoptosis were investigated, and the molecular mechanism by which HBx and MAT2A regulate tumorigenesis was evaluated. Results from immunohistochemistry analyses of 37 pairs of HBV-associated liver cancer tissues/corresponding peritumor tissues showed that HBx and MAT2A are highly expressed in most liver tumor tissues. Our in vitro results revealed that HBx activates MAT2A expression in a dose-dependent manner in hepatoma cells, and such regulation requires the cis-regulatory elements NF-κB and CREB on the MAT2A gene promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) further demonstrated that HBx facilitates the binding of NF-κB and CREB to MAT2A gene promoter. In addition, overexpression of HBx or MAT2A inhibits cell apoptosis, whereas knockdown of MAT2A expression stimulates apoptosis in hepatoma cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that HBx reduces MAT1A expression and AdoMet production but enhances MAT2β expression. Thus, we proposed that HBx activates MAT2A expression through NF-κB and CREB signaling pathways to reduce AdoMet production, inhibit hepatoma cell apoptosis, and perhaps enhance HCC development. These findings should provide new insights into our understanding how the molecular mechanisms underline the effects of HBV infection on the production of MAT2A and the development of HCC.     

Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Upregulates mTOR Signaling through IKKβ to Increase Cell Proliferation and VEGF Production in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a major cause of cancer-related death in Southeast Asia, is frequently associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV X protein (HBx), encoded by a viral non-structural gene, is a multifunctional regulator in HBV-associated tumor development. We investigated novel signaling pathways underlying HBx-induced liver tumorigenesis and found that the signaling pathway involving IκB kinase β (IKKβ), tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) downstream effector S6 kinase (S6K1), was upregulated when HBx was overexpressed in hepatoma cells. HBx-induced S6K1 activation was reversed by IKKβ inhibitor Bay 11-7082 or silencing IKKβ expression using siRNA. HBx upregulated cell proliferation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production, and these HBx-upregulated phenotypes were abolished by treatment with IKKβ inhibitor Bay 11-7082 or mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. The association of HBx-modulated IKKβ/mTOR/S6K1 signaling with liver tumorigenesis was verified in a HBx transgenic mouse model in which pIKKβ, pS6K1, and VEGF expression was found to be higher in cancerous than non-cancerous liver tissues. Furthermore, we also found that pIKKβ levels were strongly correlated with pTSC1 and pS6K1 levels in HBV-associated hepatoma tissue specimens taken from 95 patients, and that higher pIKKβ, pTSC1, and pS6K1 levels were correlated with a poor prognosis in these patients. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that HBx deregulates TSC1/mTOR signaling through IKKβ, which is crucially linked to HBV-associated HCC development.     

Astrocyte elevated gene 1 (AEG-1) promotes anoikis resistance and metastasis by inducing autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Astrocyte elevated gene 1 (AEG-1) is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is strongly associated with tumor metastasis. Anoikis resistance and autophagy may play an important role in the survival of circulating tumor cells. However, the relationship among AEG-1, anoikis resistance, autophagy, and metastasis in HCC is still not clear. The results of this study indicate that AEG-1 expression is increased in HCC cell lines grown in suspension culture. AEG-1 could enhance anoikis resistance to promote the survival of detached HCC cells. Moreover, the anoikis resistance appears to be partly dependent on autophagy. Regulating AEG-1 expression changed the autophagy levels to modulate anoikis resistance, likely acting via the protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK)-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling axis. Finally, inhibiting autophagy by RNA interference prevented the AEG-1-promoted metastasis of HCC xenografts to the liver and lungs of nude mice. Taken together, AEG-1 is a key contributor to anoikis resistance and metastasis by inducing autophagy in vitro and in vivo, and it may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in HCC.     

Nilotinib Induces Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma through AMPK Activation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and the third-leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Nilotinib is an orally available receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for chronic myelogenous leukemia. This study investigated the effect of nilotinib on HCC. Nilotinib did not induce cellular apoptosis. Instead, staining with acridine orange and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 revealed that nilotinib induced autophagy in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HCC cell lines, including PLC5, Huh-7, and Hep3B. Moreover, nilotinib up-regulated the phosphryaltion of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) and protein phosphatase PP2A inactivation were detected after nilotinib treatment. Up-regulating PP2A activity suppressed nilotinib-induced AMPK phosphorylation and autophagy, suggesting that PP2A mediates the effect of nilotinib on AMPK phosphorylation and autophagy. Our data indicate that nilotinib-induced AMPK activation is mediated by PP2A, and AMPK activation and subsequent autophagy might be a major mechanism of action of nilotinib. Growth of PLC5 tumor xenografts in BALB/c nude mice was inhibited by daily oral treatment with nilotinib. Western blot analysis showed both increased phospho-AMPK expression and decreased PP2A activity in vivo. Together, our results reveal that nilotinib induces autophagy, but not apoptosis in HCC, and that the autophagy-inducing activity is associated with PP2A-regulated AMPK phosphorylation.