title: The influence of cholesterol and lipid metabolism on host cell structure and hepatitis C virus replication.
abstract: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates on a membrane protein complex composed of viral proteins, replicating RNA, and altered cellular membranes. Small-molecule inhibitors of cellular lipid-cholesterol metabolism such as 25-hydroxycholesterol, cerulenin, lovastatin, and GGTI-286 all show a negative effect on HCV replication. Perturbation of host cell lipid and cholesterol metabolism can disrupt replication complexes by altering membranous structures where replication occurs. Changes in cholesterol and (or) lipid composition can have a general effect on membrane structure. Alternatively, metabolic changes can exert a more subtle influence over replication complexes by altering localization of host proteins through alterations in lipid anchoring. Here, we use Huh-7 cells harboring subgenomic HCV replicons to demonstrate that 25-hydroxycholesterol, cerulenin, lovastatin, and GGTI-286 do not disrupt the membranous web where replication occurs, whereas cholesterol-depleting agents such as beta-cyclodextrin do. Cellular imaging suggests that the HCV RNA can remain associated with subcellular compartments connected with replication complexes in the presence of metabolic inhibitors. Therefore, at least 2 different molecular mechanisms are possible for the inhibition of HCV replication through the modulation of cellular lipid and cholesterol metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON.
authors.forename: Selena M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sagan
authors.forename: Yanouchka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rouleau
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leggiadro
authors.forename: Lubica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Supekova
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Andrew I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: John Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pezacki
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D022082:Cellular Structures / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000737:chemistry; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012093:Replicon / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; D008055:Lipids; D012367:RNA, Viral; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; C108732:methyl-beta-cyclodextrin; C007997:25-hydroxycholesterol; D002784:Cholesterol