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Berke JM, Tan Y, Sauviller S, Wu DT, Zhang K, Conceição-Neto N, Blázquez Moreno A, Kong D, Kukolj G, Li C, Zhu R, Nájera I, Pauwels F. Class A capsid assembly modulator apoptotic elimination of hepatocytes with high HBV core antigen level in vivo is dependent on de novo core protein translation. J Virol 2024; 98:e0150223. [PMID: 38315015 PMCID: PMC10949496 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01502-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Capsid assembly is critical in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) life cycle, mediated by the viral core protein. Capsid assembly is the target for new anti-viral therapeutics known as capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) of which the CAM-aberrant (CAM-A) class induces aberrant shaped core protein structures and leads to hepatocyte cell death. This study aimed to identify the mechanism of action of CAM-A modulators leading to HBV-infected hepatocyte elimination where CAM-A-mediated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) reduction was evaluated in a stable HBV replicating cell line and in AAV-HBV-transduced C57BL/6, C57BL/6 SCID, and HBV-infected chimeric mice with humanized livers. Results showed that in vivo treatment with CAM-A modulators induced pronounced reductions in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and HBsAg, associated with a transient alanine amino transferase (ALT) increase. Both HBsAg and HBeAg reductions and ALT increase were delayed in C57BL/6 SCID and chimeric mice, suggesting that adaptive immune responses may indirectly contribute. However, CD8+ T cell depletion in transduced wild-type mice did not impact antigen reduction, indicating that CD8+ T cell responses are not essential. Transient ALT elevation in AAV-HBV-transduced mice coincided with a transient increase in endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis markers, followed by detection of a proliferation marker. Microarray data revealed antigen presentation pathway (major histocompatibility complex class I molecules) upregulation, overlapping with the apoptosis. Combination treatment with HBV-specific siRNA demonstrated that CAM-A-mediated HBsAg reduction is dependent on de novo core protein translation. To conclude, CAM-A treatment eradicates HBV-infected hepatocytes with high core protein levels through the induction of apoptosis, which can be a promising approach as part of a regimen to achieve functional cure. IMPORTANCE Treatment with hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly modulators that induce the formation of aberrant HBV core protein structures (CAM-A) leads to programmed cell death, apoptosis, of HBV-infected hepatocytes and subsequent reduction of HBV antigens, which differentiates CAM-A from other CAMs. The effect is dependent on the de novo synthesis and high levels of core protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Martin Berke
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Ying Tan
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Jinchuang Mansion, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Sarah Sauviller
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Dai-tze Wu
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Jinchuang Mansion, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Jinchuang Mansion, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Nádia Conceição-Neto
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Alfonso Blázquez Moreno
- Infectious Diseases Biomarkers, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Desheng Kong
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Jinchuang Mansion, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - George Kukolj
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Brisbane, California, USA
| | - Chris Li
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Brisbane, California, USA
| | - Ren Zhu
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Jinchuang Mansion, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Isabel Nájera
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Brisbane, California, USA
| | - Frederik Pauwels
- Infectious Diseases Discovery, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg, Beerse, Belgium
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Sauviller S, Vergauwen K, Jaensch S, Gustin E, Peeters D, Vermeulen P, Wuyts D, Vandyck K, Pauwels F, Berke JM. Development of a cellular high-content, immunofluorescent HBV core assay to identify novel capsid assembly modulators that induce the formation of aberrant HBV core structures. J Virol Methods 2021; 293:114150. [PMID: 33839187 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) core protein has multiple functions in the viral life cycle and is an attractive target for new anti-viral therapies. Capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) target the core protein and induce the formation of either morphologically normal (CAM-N) or aberrant structures (CAM-A), both devoid of genomic material. To date a diverse family of CAM-N chemotypes has been identified, but in contrast, described CAM-As are based on the heteroaryldihydropyrimidine (HAP) scaffold. We used the HBV-inducible HepG2.117 cell line with immunofluorescent labeling of HBV core to develop and validate a cellular high-content image-based assay where aggregated core structures are identified using image analysis spot texture features. Treatment with HAPs led to a dose- and time-dependent formation of aggregated core appearing as dot-like structures in the cytoplasm and nucleus. By combining a biochemical and cellular screening approach, a compound was identified as a novel non-HAP scaffold able to induce dose-dependent formation of aberrant core structures, which was confirmed by electron microscopy and native gel electrophoresis. This compound displayed anti-HBV activity in HepG2.117 cells, providing proof-of-concept for our screening approach. We believe our combined biochemical and cellular high-content screening method will aid in expanding the range of CAM-A chemotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Sauviller
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Karen Vergauwen
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Steffen Jaensch
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Gustin
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Danielle Peeters
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Peter Vermeulen
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Dirk Wuyts
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Koen Vandyck
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Frederik Pauwels
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Jan Martin Berke
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium.
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Van Damme E, Sauviller S, Lau B, Kesteleyn B, Griffiths P, Burroughs A, Emery V, Sinclair J, Van Loock M. Glucocorticosteroids trigger reactivation of human cytomegalovirus from latently infected myeloid cells and increase the risk for HCMV infection in D+R+ liver transplant patients. J Gen Virol 2014; 96:131-143. [PMID: 25312585 PMCID: PMC4268819 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.069872-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Graft rejection in transplant patients is managed clinically by suppressing T-cell function with immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisolone and methylprednisolone. In such immunocompromised hosts, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important opportunistic pathogen and can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Currently, the effect of glucocorticosteroids (GCSs) on the HCMV life cycle remains unclear. Previous reports showed enhanced lytic replication of HCMV in vitro in the presence of GCSs. In the present study, we explored the implications of steroid exposure on latency and reactivation. We observed a direct effect of several GCSs used in the clinic on the activation of a quiescent viral major immediate-early promoter in stably transfected THP-1 monocytic cells. This activation was prevented by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist Ru486 and by shRNA-mediated knockdown of the GR. Consistent with this observation, prednisolone treatment of latently infected primary monocytes resulted in HCMV reactivation. Analysis of the phenotype of these cells showed that treatment with GCSs was correlated with differentiation to an anti-inflammatory macrophage-like cell type. On the basis that these observations may be pertinent to HCMV reactivation in post-transplant settings, we retrospectively evaluated the incidence, viral kinetics and viral load of HCMV in liver transplant patients in the presence or absence of GCS treatment. We observed that combination therapy of baseline prednisolone and augmented methylprednisolone, upon organ rejection, significantly increased the incidence of HCMV infection in the intermediate risk group where donor and recipient are both HCMV seropositive (D+R+) to levels comparable with the high risk D+R- group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Van Damme
- Janssen Infectious Diseases BVBA, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Sarah Sauviller
- Janssen Infectious Diseases BVBA, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Betty Lau
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Level 5, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Bart Kesteleyn
- Janssen Infectious Diseases BVBA, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Paul Griffiths
- Division of Infection and Immunity (Royal Free Campus), University College London, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Andrew Burroughs
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free NHS Trust, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Vincent Emery
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.,Division of Infection and Immunity (Royal Free Campus), University College London, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK
| | - John Sinclair
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Level 5, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Marnix Van Loock
- Janssen Infectious Diseases BVBA, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
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Van Loock M, Van den Eynde C, Hansen J, Geluykens P, Ivens T, Sauviller S, Bunkens L, Van Acker K, Nijs E, Dams G. An automated time-of-drug-addition assay to routinely determine the mode of action of HIV-1 inhibitors. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2014; 11:489-500. [PMID: 24144343 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2013.529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-based high-throughput screening campaigns are widely used to identify novel antiviral compounds, for example, against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Typically, these assays enable identification of compounds that potentially target any viral or cellular factor involved in the viral replication cycle. Unraveling the mechanism of action of these active compounds is an important step to facilitate further drug development. Time-of-addition (TOA) assays are an elegant tool to achieve this goal by comparing the TOA profile of novel compounds with those of well-studied reference compounds. Downscaling to a 384-well format and automation significantly increase the capacity of the TOA assay, enabling compound handling around the clock. Mechanical liquid dispensing with optimized time points for compound addition ensures robustness (Z'>0.8) and maximal resolution in profiling novel antiviral compounds. The presented methodology has been optimized for routine use and allows for fully automated high-throughput screening to support the process in search for novel inhibitors of HIV-1.
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