Inhibition of hepatitis C virus replication by single-stranded RNA structural mimics.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) structural mimics of regulatory regions of the genome on HCV replication.


METHODS
HCV RNA structural mimics were constructed and tested in a HCV genotype 1b aBB7 replicon, and a Japanese fulminant hepatitis-1 (JFH-1) HCV genotype 2a infection model. All sequences were computer-predicted to adopt stem-loop structures identical to the corresponding elements in full-length viral RNA. Huh7.5 cells bearing the BB7 replicon or infected with JFH-1 virus were transfected with expression vectors generating HCV mimics and controls. Cellular HCV RNA and protein levels were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. To evaluate possible antisense effects, complementary RNAs spanning a mimic were prepared.


RESULTS
In the BB7 genotype 1b replicon system, mimics of the polymerase (NS-5B), X and BA regions inhibited replication by more than 90%, 50%, and 60%, respectively. In the JFH-1 genotype 2 infection system, mimics that were only 74% and 46% identical in sequence relative to the corresponding region in JFH-1 inhibited HCV replication by 91.5% and 91.2%, respectively, as effectively as a mimic with complete identity to HCV genotype 2a. The inhibitory effects were confirmed by NS3 protein levels. Antisense RNA molecules spanning the 74% identical mimic had no significant effects.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV RNA structural mimics can inhibit HCV RNA replication in replicon and infectious HCV systems and do so independent of close sequence identity with the target.
Smolic
Robert
R
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030-1845, United States.
Smolic
Martina
M
Andorfer
John H
JH
Wu
Catherine H
CH
Smith
Robert M
RM
Wu
George Y
GY
D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012093:Replicon; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D017931:DNA Primers; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012367:RNA, Viral