Aim: To investigate the effect of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein on the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2).
Methods: The genes encoded HCV core protein were amplified from plasmid containing full length genome of HCV strain H77 using PCR, and were cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1. The recombinant HCV-C/pcDNA3.1 was transiently co-transfected into HepG2 cells with luciferase reporter vector containing COX-2 promotor (COX2pro1.5 kb/luc). The luciferase activity and COX-2 protein expression were detected.
Results: The recombinants HCV-C/pcDNA3.1 have been constructed successfully. The luciferase activity of COX-2 promotor was activated by the expressed HCV core, and the increased protein expression of COX-2 in transfected HepG2 cells was detected by Western blot.
Conclusion: HCV core protein can activate the COX-2 promotor and induce its expression, which provides a new experimental basis for further research on relationship between COX-2 and HCV pathogenesis.
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J Funct Biomater
January 2025
Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland Rockville, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health concern, and the development of an effective HCV vaccine plays an important role in the effort to prevent new infections. Supramolecular co-assembly and co-presentation of the HCV envelope E1E2 heterodimer complex and core protein presents an attractive vaccine design strategy for achieving effective humoral and cellular immunity. With this objective, the two antigens were non-covalently assembled with an immunostimulant (TLR 7/8 agonist) into virus-mimicking polymer nanocomplexes (VMPNs) using a biodegradable synthetic polyphosphazene delivery vehicle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Biotechnol
January 2025
Microbial Biotechnology Department, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo, 12622, Egypt.
Background: Egypt has the highest global prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, particularly of genotype 4. The development of a prophylactic vaccine remains crucial for HCV eradication, yet no such vaccine currently exists due to the vaccine development challenges. The ability of Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) to mimic the native virus and incorporate neutralizing and conformational epitopes, while effectively engaging both humoral and cellular immune responses, makes them a promising approach to addressing the challenges in HCV vaccine development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLiver Int
February 2025
Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, Foundation for Liver Research, London, UK.
Background: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) encompasses a spectrum of histological conditions ranging from simple steatosis to fibrosing steatohepatitis, and is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While oxidised apolipoproteins A and B have been linked to obesity and CVD, the association between other oxidised apolipoproteins and MASLD is yet to be established. To fill this gap, we characterised the circulating serum peptidome of patients with MASLD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEuroasian J Hepatogastroenterol
December 2024
Department of Microbiology, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Introduction: One of the main causes of primary hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis is the hepatitis C virus (HCV), with significant variability in its genotypes affecting pathogenicity and treatment outcomes. In India, prevalence ranges from 0.5 to 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJHEP Rep
January 2025
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Background & Aims: Hepatic steatosis, characterized by lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, is a key diagnostic feature in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study aimed to clarify the involvement of phospholipid metabolic pathways in the pathogenesis of HCV-induced steatosis.
Methods: The expression and distribution of lipid species in the livers of human liver chimeric mice were analyzed using imaging mass spectrometry.
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