Specifically binding of L-ficolin to N-glycans of HCV envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2 leads to complement activation.
L-ficolin, one of lectin families, is a recently identified complement factor that initiates lectin pathway of complement. Little is known about its role in viral hepatitis. In the present study, we found that L-ficolin in serum from 103 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), were significantly higher than that in 150 healthy controls. We further found that L-ficolin expressions were significantly increased in vitro study by HCV JFH-1 infected human hepatocyte cell line Huh7.5.1. Investigation of the mechanisms of the L-ficolin action on HCV demonstrated that L-ficolin protein could recognize and bind to envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2 of HCV, activating the lectin complement pathway-mediated cytolytic activity in HCV-infected hepatocyte. This interaction between L-ficolin and HCV E1 and E2 glycoproteins was attributed to the N-glycans of E1 and E2. These findings provide new insights into the biological functions of L-ficolin in clinically important hepatic viral diseases.
Liu
Jun
J
The State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Immunology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-related Diseases, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan 430071, China.
Ali
Mohammed A M
MA
Shi
Yinghua
Y
Zhao
Yinglan
Y
Luo
Fenglin
F
Yu
Jin
J
Xiang
Tian
T
Tang
Jie
J
Li
Dongqing
D
Hu
Quan
Q
Ho
Wenzhe
W
Zhang
Xiaolian
X
D002460:Cell Line; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000097604:Ficolins
D037102:Lectins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D000097604:Ficolins; C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus