title: Genomic polymorphisms in 3β-hydroxysterol Δ24-reductase promoter sequences.
abstract: It was recently reported by the present team that 3β-hydroxysterol Δ24-reductase (DHCR24) is induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In addition, upregulation of DHCR24 impairs p53 activity. In human hepatoma HuH-7 cells, the degree of DHCR24 expression is higher than in normal hepatic cell lines (WRL68) at the transcriptional level. The genomic promoter sequence of DHCR24 was characterized and nucleotide substitutions were observed in HuH-7 cells at nucleotide numbers -1453 (G to A), -1420 (G to T), -488 (A to C) and -200 (G to C). The mutations of these sequences from HuH-7 cell types to WRL68 cell types suppressed DHCR24 gene promoter activity. The sequences were further characterized in hepatocytes from patient tissues. Four tissues from HCV-positive patients with cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (#1, 2, 3, 5) possessed HuH-7 cell type sequences. Interestingly, one patient with liver cirrhosis (#4) possessed WRL68 cell-type sequences; this patient had been infected with HCV and was HCV negative for 17 years after interferon therapy. Next, the effect of HCV infection on these polymorphisms was examined in humanized chimeric mouse liver and HuH-7 cells. The human hepatocytes possess WRL68 cell type and did not show the nucleotide substitution after HCV infection. The HCV-replicon was removed by interferon treatment and established the cured K4 cells. These cells possess HuH-7 cell type sequences. Thus, this study showed the genomic polymorphism in DHCR24 promoter is not directly influenced by HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Phylaxiology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Nagla Elwy
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kasama
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawabata
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asonuma
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Gohary
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukiyama-Kohara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; C499055:DHCR24 protein, human