title: Molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of woodchuck retinoic acid-inducible gene I.
abstract: Cytosolic retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is an important innate immune RNA sensor and can induce antiviral cytokines, e.g., interferon-β (IFN-β). Innate immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays a pivotal role in viral clearance and persistence. However, knowledge of the role that RIG-I plays in HBV infection is limited. The woodchuck is a valuable model for studying HBV infection. To characterize the molecular basis of woodchuck RIG-I (wRIG-I), we analyzed the complete coding sequences (CDSs) of wRIG-I, containing 2778 base pairs that encode 925 amino acids. The deduced wRIG-I protein was 106.847 kD with a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 6.07, and contained three important functional structures [caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARDs), DExD/H-box helicases, and a repressor domain (RD)]. In woodchuck fibroblastoma cell line (WH12/6), wRIG-I-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) down-regulated RIG-I and its downstrean effector-IFN-β transcripts under RIG-I' ligand, 5'-ppp double stranded RNA (dsRNA) stimulation. We also measured mRNA levels of wRIG-I in different tissues from healthy woodchucks and in the livers from woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV)-infected woodchucks. The basal expression levels of wRIG-I were abundant in the kidney and liver. Importantly, wRIG-I was significantly up-regulated in acutely infected woodchuck livers, suggesting that RIG-I might be involved in WHV infection. These results may characterize RIG-I in the woodchuck model, providing a strong basis for further study on RIG-I-mediated innate immunity in HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Meng-Meng
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Fang-Hui
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Yin-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 45149, Germany.
authors.forename: Meng-Ji
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. bjwang-73@163.com.
authors.forename: Bao-Ju
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. dlyang55@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Dong-Liang
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000071457:DEAD Box Protein 58 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017919:Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008392:Marmota / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D000072417:Protein Domains; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000071457:DEAD Box Protein 58
keywords: retinoic acid-inducible gene I; woodchuck; woodchuck hepatitis virus