Mucroporin-M1 inhibits hepatitis B virus replication by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and down-regulating HNF4α in vitro and in vivo.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a noncytopathic human hepadnavirus that causes acute, chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As the clinical utility of current therapies is limited, new anti-HBV agents and sources for such agents are still highly sought after. Here, we report that Mucroporin-M1, a scorpion venom-derived peptide, reduces the amount of extracellular HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA productions of HepG2.2.15 cells in a dose-dependent manner and inhibits HBV capsid DNA, HBV intracellular RNA replication intermediates and the HBV Core protein in the cytoplasm of HepG2.2.15 cells. Using a mouse model of HBV infection, we found that HBV replication was significantly inhibited by intravenous injection of the Mucroporin-M1 peptide. This inhibitory activity was due to a reduction in HBV promoter activity caused by a decrease in the binding of HNF4α to the precore/core promoter region. Furthermore, we confirmed that Mucroporin-M1 could selectively activate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and lead to the down-regulation of HNF4α expression, which explains the decreased binding of HNF4α to the HBV promoter. Moreover, when the protein phosphorylation activity of the MAPK pathway was inhibited, both HNF4α expression and HBV replication recovered. Finally, we proved that treatment with the Mucroporin-M1 peptide increased phosphorylation of the MAPK proteins in HBV-harboring mice. These results implicate Mucroporin-M1 peptide can activate the MAPK pathway and then reduce the expression of HNF4α, resulting in the inhibition of HBV replication in vitro and in vivo. Our work also opens new doors to discovering novel anti-HBV agents or sources.
State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China.
Zhenhuan
Z
Zhao
Wei
W
Hong
Zhengyang
Z
Zeng
Yingliang
Y
Wu
Kanghong
K
Hu
Xiaohui
X
Tian
Wenxin
W
Li
Zhijian
Z
Cao
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; C496592:HNF4A protein, human; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; C496593:Hnf4a protein, mouse; D010455:Peptides; D012604:Scorpion Venoms