title: The ORF2 glycoprotein of hepatitis E virus inhibits cellular NF-κB activity by blocking ubiquitination mediated proteasomal degradation of IκBα in human hepatoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a key transcription factor that plays a crucial role in host survival during infection by pathogens. Therefore, it has been a priority of many pathogens to manipulate the cellular NF-κB activity in order to create a favorable environment for their survival inside the host.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed that heterologous expression of the open reading frame 2 (ORF2) protein in human hepatoma cells led to stabilization of the cellular I kappa B alpha (IκBα) pool, with a concomitant reduction in the nuclear localization of the p65 subunit of NF-κB and inhibition of NF-κB activity. Although basal or TPA induced phosphorylation of IκBα was not altered, its ubiquitination was markedly reduced in ORF2 expressing cells. Further analysis revealed that ORF2 protein could directly associate with the F-box protein, beta transducin repeat containing protein (βTRCP) and ORF2 over expression resulted in reduced association of IκBα with the SKP1 and CUL1 components of the SCFβTRCP complex. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay of the proximal promoter regions of MHC-I heavy chain and IL-8 genes using p65 antibody and LPS stimulated ORF2 expressing cell extract revealed decreased association of p65 with the above regions, indicating that ORF2 inhibited p65 binding at endogenous promoters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this report we suggest a mechanism by which ORF2 protein of HEV may inhibit host cell NF-κB activity during the course of a viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, 496, Udyog Vihar Phase III, Gurgaon 122016, India.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Surjit
authors.forename: Bhavna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Varshney
authors.forename: Sunil K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D044783:F-Box Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D044786:S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D044843:SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D054875:Ubiquitination; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D044844:beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044783:F-Box Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; C400971:ORF2 protein, Hepatitis E virus; D044786:S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014764:Viral Proteins; D044844:beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D044843:SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate