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Meyers NL, Ashuach T, Lyons DE, Khalid MM, Simoneau CR, Erickson AL, Bouhaddou M, Nguyen TT, Kumar GR, Taha TY, Natarajan V, Baron JL, Neff N, Zanini F, Mahmoudi T, Quake SR, Krogan NJ, Cooper S, McDevitt TC, Yosef N, Ott M. Hepatitis C virus infects and perturbs liver stem cells. mBio 2023; 14:e0131823. [PMID: 37938000 PMCID: PMC10746249 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01318-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes liver disease, affecting millions. Even though we have effective antivirals that cure HCV, they cannot stop terminal liver disease. We used an adult stem cell-derived liver organoid system to understand how HCV infection leads to the progression of terminal liver disease. Here, we show that HCV maintains low-grade infections in liver organoids for the first time. HCV infection in liver organoids leads to transcriptional reprogramming causing cancer cell development and altered immune response. Our finding shows how HCV infection in liver organoids mimics HCV infection and patient pathogenesis. These results reveal that HCV infection in liver organoids contributes to liver disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tal Ashuach
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Center for Computational Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | - Mir M. Khalid
- Gladstone Institute of Virology, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Ann L. Erickson
- California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mehdi Bouhaddou
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, California, USA
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Thong T. Nguyen
- Gladstone Institute of Virology, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - G. Renuka Kumar
- Gladstone Institute of Virology, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Taha Y. Taha
- Gladstone Institute of Virology, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Vaishaali Natarajan
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jody L. Baron
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Norma Neff
- Chan Zuckerburg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Fabio Zanini
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Tokameh Mahmoudi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stephen R. Quake
- Chan Zuckerburg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Nevan J. Krogan
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, California, USA
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Stewart Cooper
- California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Todd C. McDevitt
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, California, USA
- Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nir Yosef
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Center for Computational Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Melanie Ott
- Gladstone Institute of Virology, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerburg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
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Santiago-Olivares C, Martínez-Alvarado E, Rivera-Toledo E. Persistence of RNA Viruses in the Respiratory Tract: An Overview. Viral Immunol 2023; 36:3-12. [PMID: 36367976 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2022.0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory RNA viruses are a major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections and contribute substantially to hospitalization among infants, elderly, and immunocompromised. Complete viral clearance from acute infections is not always achieved, leading to persistence. Certain chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been associated with persistent infection by human respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinovirus, but it is still not clear whether RNA viruses really establish long-term infections as it has been recognized for DNA viruses as human bocavirus and adenoviruses. Herein, we summarize evidence of RNA virus persistence in the human respiratory tract, as well as in some animal models, to highlight how long-term infections might be related to development and/or maintenance of chronic respiratory symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Santiago-Olivares
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Eber Martínez-Alvarado
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Evelyn Rivera-Toledo
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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Occult Infection with Hepatitis C Virus: Looking for Clear-Cut Boundaries and Methodological Consensus. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10245874. [PMID: 34945170 PMCID: PMC8707082 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10245874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The sustained virologic response and elimination of HCV is widely viewed as a true cure of chronic hepatitis C as it associates with amelioration of histological liver damage and improved clinical outcomes. Therefore, the existence and clinical burden of occult HCV infection (OCI) has been a controversial issue for many years. In this review, we summarize recently published data that adds new information on the molecular and clinical background of OCI and its epidemiological significance. We also identify and discuss the most important methodological pitfalls, which can be a source of inconsistency between studies. Data that have accumulated so far, strongly support the existence of extrahepatic HCV replication in individuals negative for serum HCV-RNA by conventional clinical tests. OCI emerges as a condition where the immune system is unable to fully resolve infection but it is continuously stimulated by low levels of HCV antigens, leading to progression of liver pathology and extrahepatic HCV-related complications. Moreover, the development of monitoring strategies or management guidelines for OCI is still hampered by the lack of clear definition and the confusion regarding its clinical significance. Careful study design and the introduction of uniform protocols for the detection of low-level HCV-RNA are crucial for obtaining reliable data on OCI.
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Li J, Abosmaha E, Coffin CS, Labonté P, Bukong TN. Reticulon-3 modulates the incorporation of replication competent hepatitis C virus molecules for release inside infectious exosomes. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239153. [PMID: 32941510 PMCID: PMC7498005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cell released microvesicles specifically, exosomes, play an important role in mediating immunologic escape, treatment resistance, and disease persistence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Reports on the molecular compositions of exosomes released by cells under diverse conditions, especially during viral infections, suggest that their cargo contents are not randomly loaded. However, the precise molecular mechanisms directing the selective cargo sorting and loading inside infectious viral exosomes remains elusive. Aim To decipher the role of Reticulon 3 (RTN3) in the selective molecular cargo sorting and loading inside infectious viral exosomes during HCV infection. Methods We used Huh7 cells–JFH1 HCV infection and HCV Full-Length (FL) replicon systems. Additionally, we analyzed human liver and serum exosome samples from healthy and treatment naïve HCV infected individuals. Our experiments made use of molecular biology and immunology techniques. Results HCV infection (JFH1-Huh7 or HCV-FL replicon cells) was associated with increased RTN3L&S isoforms expression in cells and cell released exosomes. Accordingly, increased expression of RTN3L&S was observed in liver and serum exosome samples of HCV infected individuals compared to healthy controls. RNA-ChIP analysis revealed that RTN3L&S interacted with dsHCV RNA. Lentiviral CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockdown (KD) of RTN3 and plasmid overexpression (OE) of wild type, C- and N-terminal deletion mutants of RTN3L&S in HCV- infected Huh7 cells differentially impacted the cellular release of infectious viral exosomes. RTN3L&S KD significantly decreased, while RTN3S OE significantly increased the number of Huh7 cell-released infectious exosomes. The C-terminal domain of RTN3 interacted with and modulated the loading of dsHCV RNA inside infectious exosomes. Antiviral treatment of HCV infected Huh7 cells reduced virus-induced RTN3L&S expression and attenuated the release of infectious exosomes. Conclusion RTN3 constitutes a novel regulator and a potential therapeutic target that mediates the specific loading of infectious viral exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Ebtisam Abosmaha
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Carla S. Coffin
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Patrick Labonté
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Terence Ndonyi Bukong
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laval, Québec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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5
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Ku J, Kim S, Park J, Kim TS, Kharbash R, Shin EC, Char K, Kim Y, Li S. Reactive Polymer Targeting dsRNA as Universal Virus Detection Platform with Enhanced Sensitivity. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:2440-2454. [PMID: 32233463 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Reactive poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (PPFPA)-grafted surfaces offer a versatile platform to immobilize biomolecules. Here, we utilize PPFPA-grafted surface and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) recognizing J2 antibody to construct a universal virus detection platform with enhanced sensitivity. PPFPA on silicon substrates is prepared, and surface hydrophilicity is modulated by partial substitution of the pentafluorophenyl units with poly(ethylene glycol). Following dsRNA antibody immobilization, the prepared surfaces can distinguish long dsRNAs from single-stranded RNAs of the same length and short dsRNAs. As long dsRNAs are common byproducts of viral transcription/replication, these surfaces can detect the presence of different kinds of viruses without prior knowledge of their genomic sequences. To increase dsRNA detection sensitivity, a two-step method is devised where the captured dsRNAs are visualized with multiple fluorophore-tagged J2 antibodies. We show that the developed platform can differentiate foreign long dsRNAs from cellular dsRNAs and other biomolecules present in the cell lysate. Moreover, when tested against cells infected with hepatitis A or C viruses, both viruses are successfully detected using a single platform. Our study shows that the developed PPFPA platform immobilized with J2 antibody can serve as a primary diagnostic tool to determine the infection status for a wide range of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayoung Ku
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141 South Korea.,KI for Health Science and Technology (KIHST), KAIST, Daejeon 34141 South Korea
| | - Sura Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141 South Korea
| | - Jaemin Park
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141 South Korea
| | - Tae-Shin Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141 South Korea
| | - Raisa Kharbash
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141 South Korea.,KI for Health Science and Technology (KIHST), KAIST, Daejeon 34141 South Korea
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141 South Korea
| | - Kookheon Char
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Yoosik Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141 South Korea.,KI for Health Science and Technology (KIHST), KAIST, Daejeon 34141 South Korea
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141 South Korea
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Visualization of Positive and Negative Sense Viral RNA for Probing the Mechanism of Direct-Acting Antivirals against Hepatitis C Virus. Viruses 2019; 11:v11111039. [PMID: 31717338 PMCID: PMC6893808 DOI: 10.3390/v11111039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA viruses are highly successful pathogens and are the causative agents for many important diseases. To fully understand the replication of these viruses it is necessary to address the roles of both positive-strand RNA ((+)RNA) and negative-strand RNA ((−)RNA), and their interplay with viral and host proteins. Here we used branched DNA (bDNA) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to stain both the abundant (+)RNA and the far less abundant (−)RNA in both hepatitis C virus (HCV)- and Zika virus-infected cells, and combined these analyses with visualization of viral proteins through confocal imaging. We were able to phenotypically examine HCV-infected cells in the presence of uninfected cells and revealed the effect of direct-acting antivirals on HCV (+)RNA, (−)RNA, and protein, within hours of commencing treatment. Herein, we demonstrate that bDNA FISH is a powerful tool for the study of RNA viruses that can provide insights into drug efficacy and mechanism of action.
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Doyle EH, Rahman A, Aloman C, Klepper AL, El-Shamy A, Eng F, Rocha C, Kim S, Haydel B, Florman SS, Fiel MI, Schiano T, Branch AD. Individual liver plasmacytoid dendritic cells are capable of producing IFNα and multiple additional cytokines during chronic HCV infection. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007935. [PMID: 31356648 PMCID: PMC6687199 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are "natural" interferon α (IFNα)-producing cells. Despite their importance to antiviral defense, autoimmunity, and ischemic liver graft injury, because DC subsets are rare and heterogeneous, basic questions about liver pDC function and capacity to make cytokines remain unanswered. Previous investigations failed to consistently detect IFNα mRNA in HCV-infected livers, suggesting that pDCs may be incapable of producing IFNα. We used a combination of molecular, biochemical, cytometric, and high-dimensional techniques to analyze DC frequencies/functions in liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients, to examine correlations between DC function and gene expression of matched whole liver tissue and liver mononuclear cells (LMCs), and to determine if pDCs can produce multiple cytokines. T cells often produce multiple cytokines/chemokines but until recently technical limitations have precluded tests of polyfunctionality in individual pDCs. Mass cytometry (CyTOF) revealed that liver pDCs are the only LMC that produces detectable amounts of IFNα in response TLR-7/8 stimulation. Liver pDCs secreted large quantities of IFNα (~2 million molecules of IFNα/cell/hour) and produced more IFNα than PBMCs after stimulation, p = 0.0001. LMCs secreted >14-fold more IFNα than IFNλ in 4 hours. Liver pDC frequency positively correlated with whole liver expression of "IFNα-response" pathway (R2 = 0.58, p = 0.007) and "monocyte surface" signature (R2 = 0.54, p = 0.01). Mass cytometry revealed that IFNα-producing pDCs were highly polyfunctional; >90% also made 2-4 additional cytokines/chemokines of our test set of 10. Liver BDCA1 DCs, but not BDCA3 DCs, were similarly polyfunctional. pDCs from a healthy liver were also polyfunctional. Our data show that liver pDCs retain the ability to make abundant IFNα during chronic HCV infection and produce many other immune modulators. Polyfunctional liver pDCs are likely to be key drivers of inflammation and immune activation during chronic HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Heather Doyle
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Adeeb Rahman
- Human Immune Monitoring Core, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Costica Aloman
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Arielle L. Klepper
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ahmed El-Shamy
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Francis Eng
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Chiara Rocha
- Recanati Miller Transplantation Institute, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sang Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Brandy Haydel
- Recanati Miller Transplantation Institute, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sander S. Florman
- Recanati Miller Transplantation Institute, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - M. Isabel Fiel
- Department of Pathology, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Thomas Schiano
- Recanati Miller Transplantation Institute, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Andrea D. Branch
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Double-stranded viral RNA persists in vitro and in vivo during prolonged infection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Virology 2018; 524:78-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Grünvogel O, Colasanti O, Lee JY, Klöss V, Belouzard S, Reustle A, Esser-Nobis K, Hesebeck-Brinckmann J, Mutz P, Hoffmann K, Mehrabi A, Koschny R, Vondran FWR, Gotthardt D, Schnitzler P, Neumann-Haefelin C, Thimme R, Binder M, Bartenschlager R, Dubuisson J, Dalpke AH, Lohmann V. Secretion of Hepatitis C Virus Replication Intermediates Reduces Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 3 in Hepatocytes. Gastroenterology 2018. [PMID: 29535029 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections most often result in chronic outcomes, although the virus constantly produces replication intermediates, in particular double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), representing potent inducers of innate immunity. We aimed to characterize the fate of HCV dsRNA in hepatocyte cultures to identify mechanisms contributing to viral persistence in presence of an active innate immune response. METHODS We analyzed hepatocyte-based culture models for HCV for induction of innate immunity, secretion of virus positive- or negative-strand RNA, and viral replication using different quantification methods and microscopy techniques. Expression of pattern recognition receptors was reconstituted in hepatoma cells by lentiviral transduction. RESULTS HCV-infected cells secrete substantial amounts of virus positive- and negative-strand RNAs in extracellular vesicles (EVs), toward the apical and basolateral domain of hepatocytes. Secretion of negative-strand RNA was independent from virus production, and viral RNA secreted in EVs contained higher relative amounts of negative-strands, indicating that mostly virus dsRNA is released. A substantial part of viral replication complexes and dsRNA was found in the endosomal compartment and multivesicular bodies, indicating that secretion of HCV replication intermediates is mediated by the exosomal pathway. Block of vesicle release in HCV-positive cells increased intracellular dsRNA levels and increased activation of toll-like receptor 3, inhibiting HCV replication. CONCLUSIONS Using hepatocyte-based culture models for HCV, we found a portion of HCV dsRNA intermediates to be released from infected cells in EVs, which reduces activation of toll-like receptor 3. This represents a novel mechanism how HCV evades host immune responses, potentially contributing to viral persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Grünvogel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ombretta Colasanti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ji-Young Lee
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Klöss
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandrine Belouzard
- University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL- Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, France
| | - Anna Reustle
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Esser-Nobis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Pascal Mutz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katrin Hoffmann
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arianeb Mehrabi
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ronald Koschny
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Intoxication, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian W R Vondran
- Regenerative Medicine and Experimental Surgery (ReMediES), Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Gotthardt
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Intoxication, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul Schnitzler
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Neumann-Haefelin
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
| | - Marco Binder
- Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jean Dubuisson
- University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL- Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, France
| | - Alexander H Dalpke
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Lohmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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According to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection Stage, Interleukin-7 Plus 4-1BB Triggering Alone or Combined with PD-1 Blockade Increases TRAF1 low HCV-Specific CD8 + Cell Reactivity. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.01443-17. [PMID: 29093082 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01443-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8+ T cells suffer a progressive exhaustion during persistent infection (PI) with HCV. This process could involve the positive immune checkpoint 4-1BB/4-1BBL through the loss of its signal transducer, TRAF1. To address this issue, peripheral HCV-specific CD8+ T cells (pentamer-positive [pentamer+]/CD8+ T cells) from patients with PI and resolved infection (RI) after treatment were studied. The duration of HCV infection and the liver fibrosis progression rate inversely correlated with the likelihood of detection of peripheral pentamer+/CD8+ cells. In PI, pentamer+/CD8+ cells had impaired antigen-specific reactivity that worsened when these cells were not detectable ex vivo Short/midduration PI was characterized by detectable peripheral PD-1+ CD127low TRAF1low cells. After triggering of T cell receptors (TCR), the TRAF1 level positively correlated with the levels of CD127, Mcl-1, and CD107a expression and proliferation intensity but negatively with PD-1 expression, linking TRAF1low to exhaustion. In vitro treatment with interleukin-7 (IL-7) upregulated TRAF1 expression, while treatment with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) did the opposite, suggesting that the IL-7/TGF-β1 balance, besides TCR stimulation, could be involved in TRAF1 regulation. In fact, the serum TGF-β1 concentration was higher in patients with PI than in patients with RI, and it negatively correlated with TRAF1 expression. In line with IL-7 increasing the level of TRAF1 expression, IL-7 plus 4-1BBL treatment in vitro enhanced T cell reactivity in patients with short/midduration infection. However, in patients with long-lasting PI, anti-PD-L1, in addition to the combination of IL-7 and 4-1BBL, was necessary to reestablish T cell proliferation in individuals with slowly progressing liver fibrosis (slow fibrosers) but had no effect in rapid fibrosers. In conclusion, a peripheral hyporeactive TRAF1low HCV-specific CD8+ T cell response, restorable by IL-7 plus 4-1BBL treatment, characterizes short/midduration PI. In long-lasting disease, HCV-specific CD8+ T cells are rarely detectable ex vivo, but treatment with IL-7, 4-1BBL, and anti-PD-L1 recovers their reactivity in vitro in slow fibrosers.IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects 71 million people worldwide. Two-thirds develop a chronic disease that can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Direct-acting antivirals clear the infection, but there are still patients who relapse. In these cases, additional immunotherapy could play a vital role. A successful anti-HCV immune response depends on virus-specific CD8+ T cells. During chronic infection, these cells are functionally impaired, which could be due to the failure of costimulation. This study describes exhausted specific T cells, characterized by low levels of expression of the signal transducer TRAF1 of the positive costimulatory pathway 4-1BB/4-1BBL. IL-7 upregulated TRAF1 expression and improved T cell reactivity in patients with short/midduration disease, while in patients with long-lasting infection, it was also necessary to block the negative PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint. When the results are taken together, this work supports novel ways of restoring the specific CD8+ T cell response, shedding light on the importance of TRAF1 signaling. This could be a promising target for future immunotherapy.
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