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Vrazas V, Moustafa S, Makridakis M, Karakasiliotis I, Vlahou A, Mavromara P, Katsani KR. A Proteomic Approach to Study the Biological Role of Hepatitis C Virus Protein Core+1/ARFP. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081694. [PMID: 36016316 PMCID: PMC9518822 DOI: 10.3390/v14081694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus is the major cause of chronic liver diseases and the only cytoplasmic RNA virus known to be oncogenic in humans. The viral genome gives rise to ten mature proteins and to additional proteins, which are the products of alternative translation initiation mechanisms. A protein-known as ARFP (alternative reading frame protein) or Core+1 protein-is synthesized by an open reading frame overlapping the HCV Core coding region in the (+1) frame of genotype 1a. Almost 20 years after its discovery, we still know little of the biological role of the ARFP/Core+1 protein. Here, our differential proteomic analysis of stable hepatoma cell lines expressing the Core+1/Long isoform of HCV-1a relates the expression of the Core+1/Long isoform with the progression of the pathology of HCV liver disease to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Vrazas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (V.V.); (P.M.)
| | - Savvina Moustafa
- Clinical Immunology-Rheumatology Unit, 2nd Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Manousos Makridakis
- Centre of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.V.); (M.M.)
| | - Ioannis Karakasiliotis
- Laboratory of Biology, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Antonia Vlahou
- Centre of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.V.); (M.M.)
| | - Penelope Mavromara
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (V.V.); (P.M.)
| | - Katerina R. Katsani
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (V.V.); (P.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Mohamadi M, Azarbayjani K, Mozhgani SH, Bamdad T, Alamdary A, Nikoo HR, Hashempour T, Hedayat Yaghoobi M, Ajorloo M. Hepatitis C virus alternative reading frame protein (ARFP): Production, features, and pathogenesis. J Med Virol 2020; 92:2930-2937. [PMID: 32470157 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Earlier observation suggests that hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-stranded RNA virus which encodes at least 10 viral proteins. F protein is a novel protein which has been discovered recently. These studies suggest three mechanisms for the production of this protein concerning ribosomal frameshift at codon 10, initial translation at codons 26 and 85 or 87. In this study, the association between protein F and chronicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reviewed. Evidence suggests that humoral immune system can recognize this protein and produce antibodies against it. By detecting antibodies in infected people, investigators found that F protein might have a role in HCV infection causing chronic cirrhosis and HCC as higher prevalence was found in patients with mentioned complications. The increment of CD4+, CD25+, and FoxP3+ T cells, along with CD8+ T cells with low expression of granzyme B, also leads to weaker responses of the immune system which helps the infection to become chronic. Moreover, it contributes to the survival of the virus in the body through affecting the production of interferon. F protein also might play roles in the disease development, resulting in HCC. The existence of F protein affects cellular pathways through upregulating p53, c-myc, cyclin D1, and phosphorylating Rb. This review will summarize these effects on immune system and related mechanisms in cellular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Mohamadi
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Kimia Azarbayjani
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Taravat Bamdad
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashkan Alamdary
- Department of Biology, Science, and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hadi Razavi Nikoo
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Tayebeh Hashempour
- Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Hedayat Yaghoobi
- Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ajorloo
- Hepatitis Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
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Vassilaki N, Frakolaki E, Kalliampakou KI, Sakellariou P, Kotta-Loizou I, Bartenschlager R, Mavromara P. A Novel Cis-Acting RNA Structural Element Embedded in the Core Coding Region of the Hepatitis C Virus Genome Directs Internal Translation Initiation of the Overlapping Core+1 ORF. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186974. [PMID: 32972019 PMCID: PMC7554737 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome translation is initiated via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) embedded in the 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR). We have earlier shown that the conserved RNA stem-loops (SL) SL47 and SL87 of the HCV core-encoding region are important for viral genome translation in cell culture and in vivo. Moreover, we have reported that an open reading frame overlapping the core gene in the +1 frame (core+1 ORF) encodes alternative translation products, including a protein initiated at the internal AUG codons 85/87 of this frame (nt 597-599 and 603-605), downstream of SL87, which is designated core+1/Short (core+1/S). Here, we provide evidence for SL47 and SL87 possessing a novel cis-acting element that directs the internal translation initiation of core+1/S. Firstly, using a bicistronic dual luciferase reporter system and RNA-transfection experiments, we found that nucleotides 344-596 of the HCV genotype-1a and -2a genomes support translation initiation at the core+1 frame AUG codons 85/87, when present in the sense but not the opposite orientation. Secondly, site-directed mutagenesis combined with an analysis of ribosome-HCV RNA association elucidated that SL47 and SL87 are essential for this alternative translation mechanism. Finally, experiments using cells transfected with JFH1 replicons or infected with virus-like particles showed that core+1/S expression is independent from the 5'UTR IRES and does not utilize the polyprotein initiation codon, but it requires intact SL47 and SL87 structures. Thus, SL47 and SL87, apart from their role in viral polyprotein translation, are necessary elements for mediating the internal translation initiation of the alternative core+1/S ORF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Vassilaki
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI), 11521 Athens, Greece; (E.F.); (K.I.K.); (P.S.); (I.K.-L.)
- Correspondence: (N.V.); (P.M.)
| | - Efseveia Frakolaki
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI), 11521 Athens, Greece; (E.F.); (K.I.K.); (P.S.); (I.K.-L.)
| | - Katerina I. Kalliampakou
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI), 11521 Athens, Greece; (E.F.); (K.I.K.); (P.S.); (I.K.-L.)
| | - Panagiotis Sakellariou
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI), 11521 Athens, Greece; (E.F.); (K.I.K.); (P.S.); (I.K.-L.)
| | - Ioly Kotta-Loizou
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI), 11521 Athens, Greece; (E.F.); (K.I.K.); (P.S.); (I.K.-L.)
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Penelope Mavromara
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI), 11521 Athens, Greece; (E.F.); (K.I.K.); (P.S.); (I.K.-L.)
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Thrace, Greece
- Correspondence: (N.V.); (P.M.)
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Mylopoulou T, Papadopoulos V, Kassela K, Karakasiliotis I, Souvalidou F, Mimidis P, Veletza S, Mavromara P, Mimidis K. Relationship between antibodies to hepatitis C virus core+1 protein and treatment outcome. Ann Gastroenterol 2018; 31:593-597. [PMID: 30174396 PMCID: PMC6102464 DOI: 10.20524/aog.2018.0290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It has been suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) core+1 protein plays a crucial role in the viral life cycle, potentially affecting liver cirrhosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods To investigate its relationship with the outcome of HCV standard combination therapy with peginterferon-α plus ribavirin, we screened 139 consecutive HCV patients (119 with chronic HCV infection and 20 who spontaneously cleared HCV) for the presence of anti-core+1 antibodies (Abs). In addition, liver fibrosis was determined by FibroScan in all but one patients. Results Twenty-nine patients were cirrhotic (stiffness >12.5 kPa, F4 METAVIR), all of them with mild liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh score A). Eighty-six of 139 patients were treatment-experienced with standard combination therapy. Fifty of them had achieved a sustained virological response, while 36 were non-responders. The prevalence of anti-core+1 Abs in patients with chronic HCV infection was 22.69% (27/119 patients): 18% (9/50 patients) in responders and 36.11% (13/36 patients) in non-responders (P=0.050). Five (17.24%) of the 29 cirrhotic patients and 22 (24.72%) of the 89 non-cirrhotic patients were positive for anti-core+1 Abs (P=0.405). Furthermore, the presence of anti-core+1 Abs correlated with the poor response interleukin (IL) 28B genotype TT (P=0.040). No correlation between spontaneous clearance and anti-core+1 Abs was observed (P=0.088). Conclusion The presence of anti-core+1 Abs might be correlated with the poor response IL28B TT genotype and may negatively affect the outcome of standard combination treatments in HCV patients, suggesting that core+1 may play a biological role in the course of HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Mylopoulou
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis (Theodora Mylopoulou, Konstantinos Mimidis), Greece
| | | | - Katerina Kassela
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens (Katerina Kassela, Penelope Mavromara), Greece
| | - Ioannis Karakasiliotis
- Laboratory of Medical Biology, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis (Ioannis Karakasiliotis, Stavroula Veletza), Greece
| | - Fani Souvalidou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis (Fani Souvalidou, Panagiotis Mimidis, Penelope Mavromara), Greece
| | - Panagiotis Mimidis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis (Fani Souvalidou, Panagiotis Mimidis, Penelope Mavromara), Greece
| | - Stavroula Veletza
- Laboratory of Medical Biology, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis (Ioannis Karakasiliotis, Stavroula Veletza), Greece
| | - Penelope Mavromara
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens (Katerina Kassela, Penelope Mavromara), Greece.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis (Fani Souvalidou, Panagiotis Mimidis, Penelope Mavromara), Greece
| | - Konstantinos Mimidis
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis (Theodora Mylopoulou, Konstantinos Mimidis), Greece
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Hepatitis C Virus core+1/ARF Protein Modulates the Cyclin D1/pRb Pathway and Promotes Carcinogenesis. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.02036-17. [PMID: 29444947 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02036-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses often encompass overlapping reading frames and unconventional translation mechanisms in order to maximize the output from a minimum genome and to orchestrate their timely gene expression. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) possesses such an unconventional open reading frame (ORF) within the core-coding region, encoding an additional protein, initially designated ARFP, F, or core+1. Two predominant isoforms of core+1/ARFP have been reported, core+1/L, initiating from codon 26, and core+1/S, initiating from codons 85/87 of the polyprotein coding region. The biological significance of core+1/ARFP expression remains elusive. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the functional and pathological properties of core+1/ARFP through its interaction with the host cell, combining in vitro and in vivo approaches. Our data provide strong evidence that the core+1/ARFP of HCV-1a stimulates cell proliferation in Huh7-based cell lines expressing either core+1/S or core+1/L isoforms and in transgenic liver disease mouse models expressing core+1/S protein in a liver-specific manner. Both isoforms of core+1/ARFP increase the levels of cyclin D1 and phosphorylated Rb, thus promoting the cell cycle. In addition, core+1/S was found to enhance liver regeneration and oncogenesis in transgenic mice. The induction of the cell cycle together with increased mRNA levels of cell proliferation-related oncogenes in cells expressing the core+1/ARFP proteins argue for an oncogenic potential of these proteins and an important role in HCV-associated pathogenesis.IMPORTANCE This study sheds light on the biological importance of a unique HCV protein. We show here that core+1/ARFP of HCV-1a interacts with the host machinery, leading to acceleration of the cell cycle and enhancement of liver carcinogenesis. This pathological mechanism(s) may complement the action of other viral proteins with oncogenic properties, leading to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, given that immunological responses to core+1/ARFP have been correlated with liver disease severity in chronic HCV patients, we expect that the present work will assist in clarifying the pathophysiological relevance of this protein as a biomarker of disease progression.
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A Decline in Anti-Core+1 Antibody Titer Occurs in Successful Treatment of Patients Infected with Hepatitis C Virus. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2018. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.58294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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Kassela K, Karakasiliotis I, Charpantidis S, Koskinas J, Mylopoulou T, Mimidis K, Sarrazin C, Grammatikos G, Mavromara P. High prevalence of antibodies to core+1/ARF protein in HCV-infected patients with advanced cirrhosis. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:1713-1719. [PMID: 28708052 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) possesses a second open reading frame (ORF) within the core gene encoding an additional protein, known as the alternative reading frame protein (ARFP), F or core+1. The biological significance of the core+1/ARF protein remains elusive. However, several independent studies have shown the presence of core+1/ARFP antibodies in chronically HCV-infected patients. Furthermore, a higher prevalence of core+1/ARFP antibodies was detected in patients with HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated the incidence of core+1/ARFPantibodies in chronically HCV-infected patients at different stages of cirrhosis in comparison to chronically HCV-infected patients at earlier stages of disease. Using ELISA, we assessed the prevalence of anti-core+1 antibodies in 30 patients with advanced cirrhosis [model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) ≥15] in comparison with 50 patients with mild cirrhosis (MELD <15) and 164 chronic HCV patients without cirrhosis. 28.7 % of HCV patients with cirrhosis were positive for anti-core+1 antibodies, in contrast with 16.5 % of non-cirrhotic HCV patients. Moreover, there was significantly higher positivity for anti-core+1 antibodies in HCV patients with advanced cirrhosis (36.7 %) compared to those with early cirrhosis (24 %) (P<0.05). These findings, together with the high prevalence of anti-core+1 antibodies in HCV patients with HCC, suggest that core+1 protein may have a role in virus-associated pathogenesis, and provide evidence to suggest that the levels of anti-core+1 antibodies may serve as a marker for disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Kassela
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.,Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Karakasiliotis
- Laboratory of Medical Biology, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.,Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Stefanos Charpantidis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - John Koskinas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Athens, Hippokration Hospital Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Mylopoulou
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Mimidis
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Christoph Sarrazin
- Medizinische Klinik 1, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Georgios Grammatikos
- Medizinische Klinik 1, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Penelope Mavromara
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.,Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
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Kao CC, Yi G, Huang HC. The core of hepatitis C virus pathogenesis. Curr Opin Virol 2016; 17:66-73. [PMID: 26851516 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2016.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Capsid proteins form protective shells around viral genomes and mediate viral entry. However, many capsid proteins have additional and important roles for virus infection and in modulating cellular response to infection, with important consequences on pathogenesis. Infection by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to liver steatosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, we focus on the role in pathogenesis of Core, the capsid protein of the HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Cheng Kao
- Dept of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
| | - Guanghui Yi
- Dept of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Hsuan-Cheng Huang
- Inst. of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
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