title: Expression of a full-length hepatitis C virus cDNA up-regulates the expression of CC chemokines MCP-1 and RANTES.
abstract: We had previously reported the cloning of the complete genome of an isolate of hepatitis C virus (HCV), HCV-S1, of genotype 1b. We have constructed a full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) clone of HCV-S1 using nine overlapping cDNA clones that encompassed its entire genome. HCV core, E1, E2, NS-3, -4B, -5A, and -5B proteins were detected in 293T cells by immunoblot analyses when expression of the full-length HCV-S1 was driven under a CMV promoter. Expression of full-length HCV-S1 led to induction of the CC chemokines RANTES and MCP-1 at both the mRNA and the protein levels in HeLa, Huh7, and HepG2 cells. Reporter gene assays showed that a minimal MCP-1 promoter construct containing 128 nucleotides upstream of its translational start site was sufficient for optimal HCV-mediated activation. HCV induced AP-1 binding activities to this region, as determined from electrophoretic mobility shift assays and supershifts with anti-AP-1 antibodies. Transfection of full-length HCV-S1 up-regulated both AP-1 binding activities as well as c-jun transcripts. A minimal promoter construct containing 181 nucleotides upstream of the RANTES translational start site was sufficient for maximal HCV-mediated induction. Gel mobility shift and supershift assays showed that HCV induced NF-kappaB and other unknown binding activities to the A/B-site within this region. In HeLa cells, HCV core and NS5A could separately augment promoter activities of both MCP-1 and RANTES. In Huh7 cells, only NS5A produced a similar effect, while rather surprisingly, HCV core induced a dramatic reduction in promoter activities of these two genes. This study provides the first direct evidence for the induction of CC chemokines in HCV infection and draws attention to their roles in affecting the progress and outcome of HCV-associated liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Anti-Viral Research Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore.
authors.forename: Hui Meng
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garzino-Demo
authors.forename: Wanjin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yin Hwee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yee Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Phuay  Yee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Seng Gee
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Siew Pheng
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics*; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase