title: Activation of the interferon-beta promoter during hepatitis C virus RNA replication.
abstract: In this study we examined the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication on the innate antiviral response of the host cell. Replication of an HCV subgenomic replicon stimulated the activation of the interferon (IFN)-beta promoter and the production of IFN in human hepatoma cells. Using a variety of functional assays, we found that HCV RNA replication induced the activation and DNA-binding activity of NFkappaB and interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1. In addition, microscopy experiments revealed a higher frequency of cells containing the nuclear-localized, active form of IRF-3 in HCV replicon cultures versus control cultures. Consistent with these observations, cells harboring the HCV replicon exhibited high basal level expression of a subset of IFN-stimulated antiviral genes. Our results indicate that HCV RNA replication can stimulate cellular antiviral programs that contribute to the assembly and activation of the IFN-beta enhanceosome complex and initiation of the antiviral state. Stable HCV RNA replication in the face of the host antiviral response suggests that HCV may encode one or more proteins capable of overcoming specific antiviral processes, thereby supporting persistent infection.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390-9048, USA.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fredericksen
authors.forename: Giridhar R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Akkaraju
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foy
authors.forename: Chunfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pflugheber
authors.forename: Zhijian J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gale
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000235:genetics; D001692:Biological Transport; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C494257:IRF1 protein, human; C494232:IRF3 protein, human; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta; D004247:DNA; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; C115683:p56 oligoadenylate synthetase; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase