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Hamana A, Takahashi Y, Uchida T, Nishikawa M, Imamura M, Chayama K, Takakura Y. Evaluation of antiviral effect of type I, II, and III interferons on direct-acting antiviral-resistant hepatitis C virus. Antiviral Res 2017; 146:130-138. [PMID: 28864074 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has greatly improved in the last 5 years because of the identification of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). However, concerns exist regarding the emergence of drug resistance-associated substitutions (RASs). In this study, we evaluated the in vivo antiviral effect of three classes of interferons (IFNs), namely, types I, II, and III IFNs, on DAA-resistant HCVs. IFN-α2, IFN-γ, and IFN-λ1 were selected as typical types I, II, and III IFNs, respectively. Human hepatocyte-transplanted chimeric mice were infected with NS3-D168, NS5A-L31-, and NS5A-Y93-mutated HCVs, and the antiviral effect of IFN-α2, IFN-γ, and IFN-λ1 on these HCV RASs was examined. Chimeric mice infected with NS3- and NS5A-mutated HCVs were hydrodynamically injected with IFN-expressing plasmids to evaluate the antiviral effect of IFNs. Serum concentrations of IFNs were maintained for at least 42 days. We found that serum HCV level significantly decreased and serum and hepatic HCV levels reached below detection limit in 5/5 and 3/5 chimeric mice injected with IFN-γ- and IFN-λ1-expressing plasmids, respectively. The antiviral effect of IFN-α2 on DAA-resistant HCVs was weaker than that of IFN-γ and IFN-λ1. Serum ALT levels showed a small and transient increase in mice injected with the IFN-γ-expressing plasmid but not in mice injected with the IFN-λ1-expressing plasmid. However, no apparent histological damage was observed in the liver sections of mice injected with the IFN-γ-expressing plasmid. These results indicate that IFN-γ and IFN-λ1 are an attractive therapeutic option for treating infection caused by NS3- and NS5A-mutated HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Hamana
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Yuki Takahashi
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan.
| | - Takuro Uchida
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Hiroshima University, Japan
| | - Makiya Nishikawa
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Michio Imamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Hiroshima University, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Hiroshima University, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Takakura
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan
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Ando M, Fujimoto M, Takahashi Y, Nishikawa M, Hamana A, Takakura Y. Targeted Delivery of Interferon Gamma Using a Recombinant Fusion Protein of a Fibrin Clot-Binding Peptide With Interferon Gamma for Cancer Gene Therapy. J Pharm Sci 2016; 106:892-897. [PMID: 27939375 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2016.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Accelerated formation of fibrin clots in a tumor microenvironment can be used for targeted delivery of interferon gamma (IFNγ) to tumor cells. Here, we selected cysteine-arginine-glutamic acid-lysine-alanine (CREKA) as the fibrin clot-binding peptide and designed 2 types of fusion proteins for tumor targeting. The CREKA peptide was fused to IFNγ's C-terminus, with or without a matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2)-cleavable linker (IFNγ-mmp-CREKA or IFNγ-CREKA, respectively). The former was designed to release IFNγ from IFNγ-mmp-CREKA bound to fibrin clots, to ensure IFNγ's function in the tumor milieu. IFNγ-activated sequence-dependent reporter gene expression in B16-BL6 cells revealed that the biological activities of IFNγ-CREKA and IFNγ were comparable, whereas that of IFNγ-mmp-CREKA was approximately 60% that of IFNγ. Plasma concentrations of IFNγ-CREKA and IFNγ-mmp-CREKA remained at effective levels for at least 4 weeks after gene transfer into mice. After gene transfer to tumor-bearing mice, intratumoral concentration of IFNγ in pCpG-IFNγ-mmp-CREKA group was tended to be higher than those of the other groups. Inhibition of colon-26 tumor growth was significantly more with gene transfer of IFNγ-mmp-CREKA than with IFNγ or IFNγ-CREKA. These results indicate that targeted delivery of IFNγ to fibrin clots through IFNγ-mmp-CREKA fusion can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of IFNγ in cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuru Ando
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Mai Fujimoto
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuki Takahashi
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Makiya Nishikawa
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hamana
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Takakura
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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Contribution of Epigenetic Modifications to the Decline in Transgene Expression from Plasmid DNA in Mouse Liver. Pharmaceutics 2015; 7:199-212. [PMID: 26262639 PMCID: PMC4588195 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics7030199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Short-term expression of transgenes is one of the problems frequently associated with non-viral in vivo gene transfer. To obtain experimental evidence for the design of sustainable transgene expression systems, the contribution of epigenetic modifications to the decline in transgene expression needs to be investigated. Bisulfite sequencing and reactivation by hydrodynamic injection of isotonic solution were employed to investigate methylation statues of CpG in transiently expressing plasmid, pCMV-Luc, in mouse liver after hydrodynamic delivery. The cytosines of CpGs in the promoter region of pCMV-Luc were methylated in mouse liver, but the methylation was much later than the decline in the expression. The expression from pre-methylated pCMV-Luc was insensitive to reactivation. Neither an inhibitor of DNA methylation nor an inhibitor of histone deacetylation had significant effects on transgene expression after hydrodynamic injection of pCMV-Luc. Partial hepatectomy, which reduces the transgene expression from the non-integrated vector into the genome, significantly reduced the transgene expression of human interferon γ from a long-term expressing plasmid pCpG-Huγ, suggesting that the CpG-reduced plasmid was not significantly integrated into the genomic DNA. These results indicate that the CpG-reduced plasmids achieve prolonged transgene expression without integration into the host genome, although the methylation status of CpG sequences in plasmids will not be associated with the prolonged expression.
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Recent advances in the anti-HCV mechanisms of interferon. Acta Pharm Sin B 2014; 4:241-7. [PMID: 26579391 PMCID: PMC4629091 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2014.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon (IFN) in combination with ribavirin has been the standard of care (SOC) for chronic hepatitis C for the past few decades. Although the current SOC lacks the desired efficacy, and 4 new direct-acting antiviral agents have been recently approved, interferons are still likely to remain the cornerstone of therapy for some time. Moreover, as an important cytokine system of innate immunity, host interferon signaling provides a powerful antiviral response. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which HCV infection controls interferon production, and how interferons, in turn, trigger anti-HCV activities as well as control the outcome of HCV infection remain to be clarified. In this report, we review current progress in understanding the mechanisms of IFN against HCV, and also summarize the knowledge of induction of interferon signaling by HCV infection.
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Key Words
- Antiviral agent
- CHC, chronic hepatitis C
- DCs, dendritic cells
- DNAM1, DNAX accessory molecule-1
- E2, envelop 2
- GAS, IFN-γ-activated site
- GWAS, genome-wide association studies
- Hepatitis C virus
- IFN, interferon
- IFN-α, interferon-α
- IFNAR1, interferon-alpha receptor 1
- IFNAR2, interferon-alpha receptor 2
- IFNGR1, interferon gamma receptor 1
- IFNGR2, interferon gamma receptor 2
- IFNL4, IFN-lambda 4
- IL-10R2, interleukin-10 receptor 2
- IL-29, interleukin-29
- IRF-3, interferon regulatory factor 3
- IRGs, IFN regulatory genes
- ISG15, interferon-stimulated gene 15
- ISGF3, IFN-stimulated gene factor 3
- ISGs, IFN-stimulated genes
- ISREs, IFN-stimulated response elements
- Interferon
- JAKs, Janus activated kinases
- MAVS, mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein
- MDA-5, melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5
- MHC, major histocompatibility complex
- Molecular mechanism
- NKCs, natural killer cells
- NKTCs, natural killer T cells
- OAS, 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase
- PAMPs, pathogen-associated molecular patterns
- PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- PKR, protein kinase R
- PRRs, pattern recognition receptors
- RIG-I, retinoic acid-inducible gene-I
- RLRs, RIG-I-like receptors
- RdRp, RNA dependent RNA polymerase
- SNPs, single-nucleotide polymorphisms
- SOC, standard of care
- STAT1, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1
- STAT2, signal transducer and activator of transcription 2
- SVR, sustained virological response
- TH1, T-helper-1
- TH2, T-helper-2
- TLRs, Toll-like receptors
- TYK2, tyrosine kinase 2
- USP18, ubiquitin specific peptidase 18
- dsRNA, double-stranded RNA
- pDC, plasmacytoid dendritic cell
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Osna NA, Kharbanda KK, Sun Y, Simpson RL, Poluektova LE, Ganesan M, Wisecarver JL, Mercer DF. Ethanol affects hepatitis C pathogenesis: humanized SCID Alb-uPA mouse model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 450:773-6. [PMID: 24953695 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption exacerbates the course of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection, worsens outcomes and contributes to the development of chronic infection that exhibits low anti-viral treatment efficiency. The lack of suitable in vivo models makes HCV-ethanol studies very difficult. Here, we examine whether chimeric SCID Alb-uPA mice transplanted with human hepatocytes and infected with HCV develop worsening pathology when fed ethanol. After 5 weeks of feeding, such mice fed chow+water (control) or chow+20% ethanol in water (EtOH) diets mice developed oxidative stress, decreased proteasome activity and increased steatosis. Importantly, HCV(+) mice in the control group cleared HCV RNA after 5 weeks, while the infection persisted in EtOH-fed mice at the same or even higher levels compared with pre-feeding HCV RNA. We conclude that in chimeric SCID Alb-uPA mice, EtOH exposure causes the complex biochemical and histological changes typical for alcoholic liver injury. In addition, ethanol feeding delays the clearance of HCV RNA thereby generating persistent infection and promoting liver injury. Overall, this model is appropriate for conducting HCV-ethanol studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia A Osna
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA.
| | - Kusum K Kharbanda
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Yimin Sun
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Ronda L Simpson
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Larisa E Poluektova
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Murali Ganesan
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - James L Wisecarver
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - David F Mercer
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
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