Reduction of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase in hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus

Suppression of interferon-mediated antiviral immunity by hepatitis B virus: an overview of research progress

Interferon (IFN)-α is an indispensable drug for hepatitis B treatment in clinical settings. However, hepatitis B virus (HBV) can attenuate IFN-mediated antiviral responses to avoid being inhibited or cleared. Much progress has been made in exploring how the IFN-induced anti-HBV effect is inhibited. This review examines and summarizes new advances regarding the molecular mechanism underlying the HBV-induced suppression of type I IFN-mediated antiviral immunity.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factors in cancer development and progression

Eukaryotic gene expression is a complicated process primarily regulated at the levels of gene transcription and mRNA translation. The latter involves four main steps: initiation, elongation, termination and recycling. Translation regulation is primarily achieved during initiation which is orchestrated by 12 currently known eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs). Here, we review the current state of eIF research and present a concise summary of the various eIF subunits. As eIFs turned out to be critically implicated in different oncogenic processes the various eIF members and their contribution to onset and progression of cancer are featured.

Implication of protein kinase R gene quantification in hepatitis C virus genotype 4 induced hepatocarcinogenesis

BACKGROUND

Protein kinase RNA (PKR-regulated) is a double-stranded RNA activated protein kinase whose expression is induced by interferon. The role of PKR in cell growth regulation is controversial, with some studies supporting a tumour suppressor function and others suggesting a growth-promoting role. However, it is possible that the function of PKR varies with the type of cancer in question.

METHODS

We report here a detailed study to evaluate the function of PKR in hepatitis C virus genotype 4 (HCV-4) infected patients. PKR gene was quantitated in HCV related malignant and non-malignant liver tissue by RT-PCR technique and the association of HCV core and PKR was assessed.

RESULTS

If PKR functions as a tumour suppressor in this system, its expression would be higher in chronic hepatitis tissues. On the contrary our study demonstrated the specific association of HCV-4 with PKR expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, leading to an increased gene expression of the kinase in comparison to chronic hepatitis tissues. This calls into question its role as a tumour suppressor and suggests a positive regulatory role of PKR in growth control of liver cancer cells. One limitation of most of other studies is that they measure the levels rather than the quantitation of PKR gene.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that PKR exerts a positive role in cell growth control of HCV-4 related HCC, obtaining a cut-off value for PKR expression in liver tissue provides the first evidence for existence of a viral activator of PKR.

VIRTUAL SLIDES

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1267826959682402.

Hepatitis C virus reveals a novel early control in acute immune response

Recognition of viral RNA structures by the intracytosolic RNA helicase RIG-I triggers induction of innate immunity. Efficient induction requires RIG-I ubiquitination by the E3 ligase TRIM25, its interaction with the mitochondria-bound MAVS protein, recruitment of TRAF3, IRF3- and NF-κB-kinases and transcription of Interferon (IFN). In addition, IRF3 alone induces some of the Interferon-Stimulated Genes (ISGs), referred to as early ISGs. Infection of hepatocytes with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in poor production of IFN despite recognition of the viral RNA by RIG-I but can lead to induction of early ISGs. HCV was shown to inhibit IFN production by cleaving MAVS through its NS3/4A protease and by controlling cellular translation through activation of PKR, an eIF2α-kinase containing dsRNA-binding domains (DRBD). Here, we have identified a third mode of control of IFN induction by HCV. Using HCVcc and the Huh7.25.CD81 cells, we found that HCV controls RIG-I ubiquitination through the di-ubiquitine-like protein ISG15, one of the early ISGs. A transcriptome analysis performed on Huh7.25.CD81 cells silenced or not for PKR and infected with JFH1 revealed that HCV infection leads to induction of 49 PKR-dependent genes, including ISG15 and several early ISGs. Silencing experiments revealed that this novel PKR-dependent pathway involves MAVS, TRAF3 and IRF3 but not RIG-I, and that it does not induce IFN. Use of PKR inhibitors showed that this pathway requires the DRBD but not the kinase activity of PKR. We then demonstrated that PKR interacts with HCV RNA and MAVS prior to RIG-I. In conclusion, HCV recruits PKR early in infection as a sensor to trigger induction of several IRF3-dependent genes. Among those, ISG15 acts to negatively control the RIG-I/MAVS pathway, at the level of RIG-I ubiquitination.These data give novel insights in the machinery involved in the early events of innate immune response.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a poor interferon (IFN) inducer, despite recognition of its RNA by the cytosolic RNA helicase RIG-I. This is due in part through cleavage of MAVS, a downstream adapter of RIG-I, by the HCV NS3/4A protease and through activation of the eIF2α-kinase PKR to control IFN translation. Here, we show that HCV also inhibits RIG-I activation through the ubiquitin-like protein ISG15 and that HCV triggers rapid induction of 49 genes, including ISG15, through a novel signaling pathway that precedes RIG-I and involves PKR as an adapter to recruit MAVS. Hence, we propose to divide the acute response to HCV infection into one early (PKR) and one late (RIG-I) phase, with the former controlling the latter. Furthermore, these data emphazise the need to check compounds designed as immune adjuvants for activation of the early acute phase before using them to sustain innate immunity.

Double-stranded RNA induces an antiviral defense status in epidermal keratinocytes through TLR3-, PKR-, and MDA5/RIG-I-mediated differential signaling

Emerging evidence suggests an important role for human epidermal keratinocytes in innate immune mechanisms against bacterial and viral skin infections. The proinflammatory effect of viral infections can be mimicked by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Herein, we demonstrate that keratinocytes express all known dsRNA sensing receptors at a constitutive and inducible level, and that they use several downstream signaling pathways leading to a broad pattern of gene expression, not only proinflammatory and immune response genes under the control of NF-kappaB, but also genes under transcriptional control of IRF3. As a consequence, dsRNA, a stimulus for TLR3, protein kinase R (PKR), and the RNA helicases retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and MDA5, induces a status of antiviral defense in keratinocytes. Using inhibitors for the various dsRNA signaling pathways and specific small interfering RNA for TLR3, RIG-I, and MDA5, we demonstrated that in human keratinocytes, TLR3 seems to be necessary for NF-kappaB but not for IRF3 activation, whereas RIG-I and MDA5 are crucial for IRF3 activation. PKR is essential for the dsRNA response in both signaling pathways and thus represents the central antiviral receptor for dsRNA stimulation. Moreover, human keratinocytes up-regulate TLR7, the receptor for single-stranded RNA, in response to stimulation with dsRNA, which renders keratinocytes functionally responsive to the TLR7 agonist gardiquimod, a member of the imidazoquinoline antiviral immune response modifier family. Thus, in addition to building a physical barrier against infectious pathogens, keratinocytes are specially equipped with a full antiviral defense program that enables them to efficiently target viral infections of the skin.

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells from highly atopic individuals are not impaired in their pro-inflammatory response to toll-like receptor ligands

BACKGROUND

Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are widely used as adjuvants in specific immune therapy protocols for patients with atopic disposition. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mDCs) are thought to be important target cells for these compounds.

OBJECTIVES

To compare surface markers, TLR expression, TLR functionality after ligand stimulation, and genetic polymorphisms in the TLR 2-, 3-, and 4-genes in mDCs from atopic vs. non-atopic patients.

METHODS

mDCs from highly atopic individuals (total serum IgE >1000 IU/mL) and healthy control persons (total serum IgE <75 IU/mL) were screened for TLR 1-10 expression by real-time PCR. Receptor function was analysed by IL-12 and TNF-alpha production after incubation with the respective ligands peptidoglycan (PGN) (TLR 2), polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly IC) (TLR 3), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (TLR 4), flagellin (TLR 5), and CpG-DNA/non-CpG-DNA (TLR 9). Haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the TLR 2-, 3-, and 4- genes were analysed for genetic associations.

RESULTS

mDC from atopic patients showed a very similar pattern of TLR expression as controls with strong expression of TLR 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8, moderate expression of TLR 1 and 3, and no or very low expression of TLR 7, 9, and 10. After stimulation with TLR ligands, mDCs from atopic patients acquired a mature phenotype with a tendency towards a higher up-regulation of the co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD83, and CD86 than control mDCs. IL-12 and TNF-alpha were produced at a similar level in both groups of DCs. Among the different TLR agonists, poly IC showed the strongest activation of DCs, followed by LPS, PGN, and flagellin. This was paralleled by a strong functional expression of protein kinase R and retinoid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I), two additional poly IC-sensing receptors in both groups. Genetic analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the TLR 2-, 3-, and 4-genes in both groups revealed no major allele or genotype differences.

CONCLUSIONS

mDC from atopic patients are not restricted in their response to TLR-ligands. TLR agonists seem to be suitable to induce pro-inflammatory immune responses and maturation in mDCs from highly atopic individuals and represent reasonable adjuvants for specific immunotherapy reagents.

Immune-mediated changes in actinic keratosis following topical treatment with imiquimod 5% cream

Background

The objective of this study was to identify the molecular processes responsible for the anti-lesional activity of imiquimod in subjects with actinic keratosis using global gene expression profiling.

Methods

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study was conducted to evaluate gene expression changes in actinic keratosis treated with imiquimod 5% cream. Male subjects (N = 17) with ≥ 5 actinic keratosis on the scalp applied placebo cream or imiquimod 3 times a week on nonconsecutive days for 4 weeks. To elucidate the molecular processes involved in actinic keratosis lesion regression by imiquimod, gene expression analysis using oligonucleotide arrays and real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were performed on shave biopsies of lesions taken before and after treatment.

Results

Imiquimod modulated the expression of a large number of genes important in both the innate and adaptive immune response, including increased expression of interferon-inducible genes with known antiviral, anti-proliferative and immune modulatory activity, as well as various Toll-like receptors. In addition, imiquimod increased the expression of genes associated with activation of macrophages, dendritic cells, cytotoxic T cells, and natural killer cells, as well as activation of apoptotic pathways.

Conclusion

Data suggest that topical application of imiquimod stimulates cells in the skin to secrete cytokines and chemokines that lead to inflammatory cell influx into the lesions and subsequent apoptotic and immune cell-mediated destruction of lesions.