title: Hepatitis C virus core protein potentiates TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation through TRAF2-IKKbeta-dependent pathway.
abstract: Previous work has implicated that the core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) may play a modulatory effect on NF-kappaB activation induced by TNF-alpha. However, it is unclear how HCV core protein modulates TNF-alpha-induced NK-kappaB activation. Here we show that overexpression of HCV core protein potentiates NF-kappaB activation induced by TNF-alpha. Expression of dominant negative form of TRAF2 inhibits the synergistic effects of HCV core protein on NF-kappaB activation, suggesting that HCV core protein potentiates NF-kappaB activation through TRAF2. Moreover, we demonstrate that HCV core protein potentiates TRAF2-mediated NF-kappaB activation via IKKbeta. In addition, HCV core protein associates with TNF-R1-TRADD-TRAF2 signaling complex, resulting in synergistically activation of NF-kappaB induced by TNF-alpha. Thus, these observations indicate that HCV core protein may play an important role in the regulation of the cellular inflammatory and immune responses through NF-kappaB.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Life Sciences and Center for Cell Signaling Research, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 120-750, Korea.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D047990:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1; D047992:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011506:Proteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047990:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1; D047992:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C496559:CHUK protein, human; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; C496560:IKBKB protein, human; C496565:IKBKE protein, human