Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects human liver hepatocytes, often leading to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is believed that chronic infection alters host gene expression and favors HCC development. In particular, HCV replication in Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) derived membranes induces chronic ER stress. How HCV replication affects host mRNA translation and transcription at a genome wide level is not yet known.

Methods: We used Riboseq (Ribosome Profiling) to analyze transcriptome and translatome changes in the Huh-7.5 hepatocarcinoma cell line replicating HCV for 6 days.

Results: Established viral replication does not cause global changes in host gene expression-only around 30 genes are significantly differentially expressed. Upregulated genes are related to ER stress and HCV replication, and several regulated genes are known to be involved in HCC development. Some mRNAs (/, /, and ) may be subject to upstream open reading frame (uORF) mediated translation control. Transcriptional downregulation mainly affects mitochondrial respiratory chain complex core subunit genes.

Conclusion: After establishing HCV replication, the lack of global changes in cellular gene expression indicates an adaptation to chronic infection, while the downregulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain genes indicates how a virus may further contribute to cancer cell-like metabolic reprogramming ("Warburg effect") even in the hepatocellular carcinoma cells used here.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6470931PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms20061321DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

hcv replication
16
gene expression
12
cellular gene
8
hepatitis virus
8
ribosome profiling
8
hepatocellular carcinoma
8
chronic infection
8
host gene
8
hcc development
8
stress hcv
8

Similar Publications

Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic medication, has emerged as a promising broad-spectrum antiviral agent due to its ability to modulate cellular pathways essential for viral replication. By activating AMPK, metformin depletes cellular energy reserves that viruses rely on, effectively limiting the replication of pathogens such as influenza, HIV, SARS-CoV-2, HBV, and HCV. Its role in inhibiting the mTOR pathway, crucial for viral protein synthesis and reactivation, is particularly significant in managing infections caused by HIV, CMV, and EBV.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Infection from Patient Sera in Cell Culture Using Semi-Automated Image Analysis.

Viruses

November 2024

Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Section Virus-Host Interactions, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

The study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in cell culture is mainly based on cloned viral isolates requiring adaptation for efficient replication in Huh7 hepatoma cells. The analysis of wild-type (WT) isolates was enabled by the expression of SEC14L2 and by inhibitors targeting deleterious host factors. Here, we aimed to optimize cell culture models to allow infection with HCV from patient sera.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hepatitis C Virus-Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes.

Viruses

November 2024

Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a global health concern, can lead to chronic liver disease. The HCV core antigen (HCVcAg), a viral protein essential for replication, offers a cost-effective alternative to HCV RNA testing, particularly in resource-limited settings. This review explores the significance of HCVcAg, a key protein in the hepatitis C virus, examining its structure, function, and role in the viral life cycle.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Newly Proposed Dose of Daclatasvir to Prevent Lethal SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Human Transgenic ACE-2 Mice.

Viruses

November 2024

Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, RJ, Brazil.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still causes death in elderly and immunocompromised individuals, for whom the sustainability of the vaccine response may be limited. Antiviral treatments, such as remdesivir or molnupiravir, have demonstrated limited clinical efficacy. Nirmatrelvir, an acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) major protease inhibitor, is clinically effective but has been associated with viral rebound and antiviral resistance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Despite all the progress in treating SARS-CoV-2, escape mutants to current therapies remain a constant concern. Promising alternative treatments for current and future coronaviruses are those that limit escape mutants by inhibiting multiple pathogenic targets, analogous to the current strategies for treating HCV and HIV. With increasing popularity and ease of manufacturing of RNA technologies for vaccines and drugs, therapeutic microRNAs represent a promising option.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!