[Post-transcriptional regulation mechanism and antiviral strategy of hepatitis B virus RNA].

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major public health issues of ongoing global concern. Due to inadequate understanding of the HBV life cycle, there is a lack of effective drugs to cure chronic hepatitis B. During HBV replication, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) serves as the template for viral replication and can be transcribed to produce five viral RNAs of 3.5, 2.4, 2.1 kb and 0.7 kb in length, which are translated to produce HBeAg, core protein, polymerase (P) protein, HBsAg and HBx proteins, respectively. Among them, the 3.5 kb pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) is also the template for viral reverse transcription. Polymerase protein recognizes and binds to the capsid assembly signal on the pgRNA to initiate capsid assembly and reverse transcription. Recent studies have revealed that the processes of splicing, nuclear export, stability, translation, and pgRNA encapsidation of HBV RNAs are regulated by a post-transcriptional regulatory network within the host cell and depend on unique post-transcriptional regulatory elements in the HBV RNA structure. The aim of this review is to overview the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of HBV RNA and their applications in the study of HBV antiviral therapeutics, with the aim of providing new ideas for the development of new drugs targeting HBV RNA.

[Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides: the certain but limited efficacy and the uncovering mechanisms for the cure of chronic hepatitis B].

Recently, several phase I and phase II clinical trials of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASOs) targeting to the commonly shared conserved sequences of HBV transcripts brought us some promising results. Particularly in the report of phase IIb clinical trial of Bepirovirsen (GSK3228836), approximately 9-10% patients with low baseline serum HBsAg (> 100 IU/ml & < 3 000 IU/ml) achieved functional cure after 24 weeks' of Bepirovirsen treatment. After reviewing the results of other clinical trials, one would be impressed to know that ALG-020572 (Aligos), RO7062931 (Roche) and GSK3389404 (GSK) all failed to sufficiently suppress serum HBsAg expression though the hepatocyte-targeted delivery of these ASOs were enhanced via N-acetyl galactosamine conjugation. Bepirovirsen enabled some patients to achieve sustained disappearance of serum HBsAg. The analysis of its distribution in different tissues of patients after drug administration showed that only a few fractions of ASOs entered liver tissues and far fewer eventually entered hepatocytes. Taking into consideration that only a few hepatocytes could be expected positive for HBsAg staining among these participants with low serum HBsAg level. We suspect that the mechanistic contribution of ASOs declining the serum HBsAg is not only via directly acting on the HBV transcripts in hepatocytes, but also via entering non-parenchymal cells such as Kupffer cells and resulting in stimulation and activation of innate immunity. Eventually the serum HBsAg declines in most participants and even disappears in a small fraction of patients with low baseline HBsAg level, via attack the infected hepatocytes evidenced by the aberrant elevation of ALT. Nevertheless, the functional cure of CHB remains a challenging issue and more efforts are needed.

[The mechanisms of the translation of polymerase from HBV pregenomic RNA].

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an important pathogen that causes different liver diseases such as viral hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. HBV pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) plays a crucial role in HBV life cycle, which is not only the translation template of core (C) and polymerase (P), but also the template of reverse transcription. The ratio of P protein to core protein is tightly regulated. Since P and core are both translated by pgRNA and the open reading frame (ORF) of P is located downstream of the ORF of core, how to initiate P protein translation is a key scientific question. Previous studies suggest that P can be translated through different mechanisms, such as leaky scanning and reinitiation. In this review, we summarized the proposed mechanisms relevant to the translation of polymerase from HBV pgRNA through literature review and derivation.

Quantitative lymph node burden as a 'very-high-risk' factor identifying head and neck cancer patients benefiting from postoperative chemoradiation.

Background: Adjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) is standard for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients with positive margins or extranodal extension (ENE) following surgery. However, emerging evidence suggests the number of positive lymph nodes (LNs) is the dominant determinant of survival in non-oropharyngeal HNSCC and thus may better identify those benefiting from treatment intensification. Patients and methods: Patients from the National Cancer Database diagnosed with non-oropharyngeal HNSCC (oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx) between 2004 and 2014 and undergoing surgical resection, neck dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy (RT) were included. Multivariable regression with first-order interaction terms was used to model the interaction between postoperative CRT and continuous number of positive LNs with respect to overall survival. Results: In total, 7144 patients met inclusion criteria. In multivariable analysis, increasing number of positive LNs was associated with both increasing mortality (P < 0.001) and increasing benefit from postoperative CRT versus RT alone (interaction P < 0.001). While there was no benefit from postoperative CRT in patients with 0-2 LN+ [hazard ratio (HR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-1.07, P = 0.47], increased benefit was seen in those with 3-5 LN+ (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70-1.00, P = 0.05) and those with ≥6 LN+ (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51-0.82, P < 0.001) in multivariable models. By contrast, margin status and ENE did not reliably identify patients benefitting from postoperative CRT based on statistical tests of interaction. Even in patients with ENE, positive margins, or both, only those with ≥6 LN+ had improved survival with postoperative CRT. Conclusion: Increasing metastatic nodal burden was associated with increased benefit from CRT compared with RT alone, surpassing conventional high-risk factors in identifying patients benefiting from CRT. Stratification by metastatic LN number may characterize a very-high-risk patient cohort best suited for treatment intensification.

Genetic Polymorphisms and Mutations of 30 Y-STR Loci in Chinese Han Population.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic polymorphisms and mutations of 30 Y-STR loci in Chinese Han males and to evaluate its forensic application. METHODS: The DNA extracted from blood samples of 1 005 unrelated males and 1 008 father-son pairs （1 949 individuals in all） in Chinese Han population were typed using developed 30 Y-STR loci identification system. The parameters of population genetics and the mutation rates of each locus were analysed statistically. RESULTS: A total of 983 haplotypes were found in 1 005 unrelated males from Chinese Han population, of which 963 were unique. The overall haplotype diversity （HD） and discrimination capacity （DC） were 0.999 955 and 0.978 109, respectively. Totally 340 alleles were detected on 30 Y-STR loci, the value of gene diversity （GD） ranged from 0.410 3 to 0.952 3. The GD values of 24 out of the 30 loci were over 0.6. There were 30 269 allele transfers in 1 008 father-son pairs, one mutation in 68 father-son pairs, and the mutation of three father-son pairs occurred at two loci. On 26 Y-STR loci, 74 mutations were detected in 71 father-son pairs. The average mutation rates were 2.4×10⁻³ （95% CI： 1.9×10⁻³-3.1×10⁻³ï¼‰. Seventy-three mutation events were one-step mutation （98.6%）, 1 mutation event was two-step mutation （1.4%）. CONCLUSIONS: The multiplex PCR system with 30 Y-STR loci has high genetic polymorphism and low mutation rates in Chinese Han males. Therefore, the system shows important values in Y-STR database construction and population genetic research.

Empirical Selection of Informative Microsatellite Markers within Co-ancestry Pig Populations Is Required for Improving the Individual Assignment Efficiency.

The Lanyu is a miniature pig breed indigenous to Lanyu Island, Taiwan. It is distantly related to Asian and European pig breeds. It has been inbred to generate two breeds and crossed with Landrace and Duroc to produce two hybrids for laboratory use. Selecting sets of informative genetic markers to track the genetic qualities of laboratory animals and stud stock is an important function of genetic databases. For more than two decades, Lanyu derived breeds of common ancestry and crossbreeds have been used to examine the effectiveness of genetic marker selection and optimal approaches for individual assignment. In this paper, these pigs and the following breeds: Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire, Meishan and Taoyuan, TLRI Black Pig No. 1, and Kaohsiung Animal Propagation Station Black pig are studied to build a genetic reference database. Nineteen microsatellite markers (loci) provide information on genetic variation and differentiation among studied breeds. High differentiation index (FST) and Cavalli-Sforza chord distances give genetic differentiation among breeds, including Lanyu's inbred populations. Inbreeding values (FIS) show that Lanyu and its derived inbred breeds have significant loss of heterozygosity. Individual assignment testing of 352 animals was done with different numbers of microsatellite markers in this study. The testing assigned 99% of the animals successfully into their correct reference populations based on 9 to 14 markers ranking D-scores, allelic number, expected heterozygosity (HE) or FST, respectively. All miss-assigned individuals came from close lineage Lanyu breeds. To improve individual assignment among close lineage breeds, microsatellite markers selected from Lanyu populations with high polymorphic, heterozygosity, FST and D-scores were used. Only 6 to 8 markers ranking HE, FST or allelic number were required to obtain 99% assignment accuracy. This result suggests empirical examination of assignment-error rates is required if discernible levels of co-ancestry exist. In the reference group, optimum assignment accuracy was achievable achieved through a combination of different markers by ranking the heterozygosity, FST and allelic number of close lineage populations.

Activation of neurotrophin-3 receptor TrkC induces apoptosis in medulloblastomas.

Elevated expression of the neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) receptor TrkC by childhood medulloblastomas is associated with favorable clinical outcome. Here, we provide evidence that TrkC is more than simply a passive marker of prognosis. We demonstrate that: (a) medulloblastomas undergo apoptosis in vitro when grown in the presence of NT-3; (b) overexpression of TrkC inhibits the growth of intracerebral xenografts of a medulloblastoma cell line in nude mice; and (c) trkC expression by individual tumor cells is highly correlated with apoptosis within primary medulloblastoma biopsy specimens. TrkC-mediated NT-3 signaling promotes apoptosis by activating multiple parallel signaling pathways and by inducing immediate-early gene expression of both c-jun and c-fos. Considered collectively, these results support the conclusion that the biological actions of TrkC activation affect medulloblastoma outcome by inhibiting tumor growth through the promotion of apoptosis.

Protein phosphorylation in neutrophils from patients with p67-phox-deficient chronic granulomatous disease.

Neutrophils are known to contain a major 67-kD protein that undergoes enhanced phosphorylation and translocation to the membrane during cell stimulation. Recent studies have assumed that this 67-kD phosphoprotein is the 67-kD subunit of the phagocyte oxidase (p67-phox). We compare here the protein phosphorylation patterns in lysates of normal neutrophils and neutrophils from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) that are completely deficient in p67-phox. The phosphoproteins were labeled by incubation of the cells with radioactive inorganic phosphate (32Pi) or by the addition of [gamma-32P]ATP to electropermeabilized neutrophils. With either method, stimulation of the normal or CGD cells always resulted in an enhanced incorporation of 32p into two proteins in the 67-kD area. The extent of phosphorylation of these two proteins was very similar in the normal and CGD cells when permeabilized neutrophils loaded with [gamma -32P]ATP were compared. Moreover, no overall differences in the protein phosphorylation patterns were observed between the normal and CGD cells. Our data indicate that the major 67-kD phosphoproteins observed in stimulated neutrophils are clearly different from p67-phox.

Pulsed magnetic field from video display terminals enhances teratogenic effects of cytosine arabinoside in mice.

Eighty-nine Swiss Webster mice were randomly divided into four groups: a control group, a pulsed magnetic field (PMF) group, a cytosine arabinoside (ara-C, a teratogen) group, and a combined PMF + ara-C group. Mice in the PMF and PMF + ara-C groups were irradiated with a PMF (a sawtooth waveform with 52 microseconds rise time, 12 microseconds decay time, and 15.6 kHz frequency) at a peak magnetic flux density of 40 microT for 4 hours daily on days 6-17 of gestation. The mice in the ara-C and the PMF + ara-C groups were injected intraperitoneally on day 9 of gestation with 10 mg/kg of ara-C. The incidence of resorption and dead fetuses was not affected by PMF but was increased by ara-C injection. The malformation incidence of cleft palate (CP) and/or cleft lip (CL) was significantly higher in all three of the treated groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). If, however, statistical analyses had been done on litters rather than on individual fetuses, they would show that the incidence of CP and/or CL in the PMF group is not significantly greater than that in the control group. A significantly higher incidence of CP and/or CL was found in the PMF + ara-C group (49%) than the ara-C alone group (26.1%). These data suggest that PMF might enhance the development of ara-C-induced CP and/or CL. The incidence of minor variations in skeletal development, including reduction of skeletal calcification and loss of skeleton, was not statistically significant in the PMF group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Farnesyl-L-cysteine analogs can inhibit or initiate superoxide release by human neutrophils.

A series of farnesylcysteine analogs was studied with respect to their abilities to interfere with fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP)-stimulated superoxide (O2-.) release by human neutrophils. Simple acyl derivatives of farnesyl-L-cysteine, such as the N-acetyl (L-AFC) and N-isobutyryl derivatives (L-iBFC), which are substrates for the isoprenylated protein methyltransferase, can block O2-. release. The N-butyryl analog (L-BFC), which is an isomer of L-iBFC and also a substrate for the methyltransferase, does not inhibit O2-. release but actually stimulates it in the absence of fMLP. Other analogs, including the N-pivaloyl derivative, which has been found to be neither a substrate nor an inhibitor of methyltransferase, also stimulate very large quantities of O2-. production. The stimulatory effects of these derivatives are saturable and exquisitively sensitive to small structural changes in the analogs. The signal transduction pathway(s) utilized by pivaloyl derivatives for triggering O2-. generation is very similar to that employed by fMLP. These data make it clear that farnesyl-L-cysteine analogs do not produce their pharmacological effects in neutrophils via methyltransferase blockade. This could be further demonstrated by showing that sinefungin and S-adenosylhomocysteine, both powerful and general methyltransferase inhibitors which bind at the S-adenosylmethionine site, had no effect in preventing the increased oxygen consumption associated with O2-. production in permeabilized neutrophils. These studies reveal that farnesyl-L-cysteine analogs interact with a hitherto undefined target in neutrophils that may be exploited for inhibiting or stimulating the inflammatory or antimicrobial responses of these cells.

Involvement of multiple kinases in neutrophil activation.

Production of reactive oxygen metabolites by the NADPH oxidase is an essential mechanism underlying the microbicidal role of phagocytes. Receptor-mediated activation of the oxidase was originally thought to be mediated by calcium and/or by protein kinase C (PKC). However, recent evidence suggests that additional signalling pathways exist. In this article the possible role of tyrosine phosphorylation is discussed. In addition, results obtained using an in vitro kinase renaturation assay are described. The latter assay revealed the existence of at least four serine/threonine kinases that are activated in cells stimulated with chemoattractants. One of these, of molecular weight 41,000 was identified as a member of the ERK or MAP-kinase family. The existence of multiple, possibly redundant or synergistic signaling pathways is considered.

Modulation of neutrophil activation by okadaic acid, a protein phosphatase inhibitor.

We determined the effects of okadaic acid (OA), a specific inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A), on protein phosphorylation and on the activation of the NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils. In otherwise unstimulated cells, OA induced phosphoprotein accumulation, revealing the presence of constitutively active protein kinases. Pulse-chase experiments in electropermeabilized cells confirmed that this effect was due, at least in part, to inhibition of dephosphorylation. OA potentiated phosphoprotein accumulation induced by phorbol esters and by the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). In phorbol ester-stimulated cells, OA prolonged the respiratory response after inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with staurosporine, consistent with a reduced rate of dephosphorylation of active phosphorylated components. Similarly, OA delayed the inactivation of the burst after displacement of FMLP from its receptor by a competitive antagonist. This suggests that the substrates of the protein kinases activated by FMLP are dephosphorylated by PP1 and/or PP2A. That phosphatases control the intensity and duration of the respiratory response is suggested by the finding that OA magnified and prolonged the oxidative burst elicited by FMLP. In contrast, pretreatment with OA produced a time-dependent inhibition of the phorbol ester-induced respiratory burst. Under conditions where inhibition of the phorbol ester response was nearly complete, activation by the chemoattractant peptide not only persisted but was in fact accentuated. These findings provide strong evidence that receptor-mediated stimulation of the NADPH oxidase can occur by pathways not involving PKC.

ATP and guanine nucleotide dependence of neutrophil activation. Evidence for the involvement of two distinct GTP-binding proteins.

In phagocytes, activation of the respiratory burst by chemoattractants requires ATP and involves a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. ATP is also required for the response elicited in permeabilized neutrophils by nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs, indicating that at least one of the ATP-dependent steps lies downstream of the receptor-coupled G protein(s). A respiratory burst can also be produced in a reconstituted cell-free system by addition of arachidonic acid. Most investigators find this response to be independent of ATP, yet stimulated by GTP analogs, implying that the ATP-dependent steps observed in the unbroken cells must precede the guanine nucleotide-requiring event. To resolve this apparent discrepancy, we studied the ATP and guanine nucleotide dependence of the oxidative response elicited by arachidonic acid in electrically permeabilized human neutrophils. Two components of the response were apparent: one was ATP-dependent, the other ATP-independent. The ATP-dependent component was partially inhibited by staurosporine, suggesting involvement of protein kinase C. This kinase signals activation of the NADPH oxidase without intervening G proteins, since stimulation by phorbol ester was unaffected by guanosine 5'-(beta-thio)diphosphate (GDP beta S). Although nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs failed to stimulate the oxidase in the absence of ATP, the ATP-independent response stimulated by arachidonic acid was found to require GTP or one of its analogs and to be inhibited by GDP beta S. The relative potency of the guanine nucleotides to support the arachidonic acid response in the absence of ATP (5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate (GMP-PNP) greater than or equal to guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate GTP gamma S) greater than or equal to (GTP) differed from their efficacy to stimulate the burst in the presence of ATP (GTP gamma S greater than GMP-PNP much greater than GTP). These observations suggest the involvement of two distinct GTP-binding proteins in oxidase activation: a receptor-coupled, heterotrimeric, pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein, and a second GTP-binding protein(s) located downstream of the ATP-requiring steps, which may lie in close proximity to the NADPH oxidase. This secondary GTP-binding protein could be part of the pathway activated by chemoattractants, but does not mediate stimulation via protein kinase C. Therefore multiple parallel routes may exist for activation of the NADPH oxidase.

Vanadate stimulates oxygen consumption and tyrosine phosphorylation in electropermeabilized human neutrophils.

To determine the role of protein phosphorylation in neutrophil activation, electropermeabilized cells were treated with vanadate, a phosphatase inhibitor. Micromolar concentrations of vanadate elicited a NADPH-dependent burst of oxygen utilization in permeabilized, but not in intact cells, indicating an intracellular site of action. Stimulation of oxygen consumption by vanadate was reversible, concentration dependent and required the presence of ATP and Mg2+. Generation of a respiratory burst by vanadate was associated with accumulation of phosphorylated proteins. Such accumulation was due, at least in part, to inhibition of phosphoprotein phosphatase activity, as indicated by pulse-chase experiments. No evidence for stimulation of protein kinases by vanadate was found. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that a large fraction of the vanadate-induced phosphorylation occurred on tyrosine residues. The pronounced accumulation of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins was confirmed by immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. The data suggest that neutrophils possess one or more constitutively active tyrosine kinases and that phosphoprotein accumulation is normally prevented by vigorous concomitant phosphatase activity. Inhibition of the latter by vanadate leads to phosphoprotein accumulation and is accompanied by stimulation of oxygen consumption.

Concanavalin A stimulation of O2 consumption in electropermeabilized neutrophils via a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein.

Electropermeabilized human neutrophils were used to investigate the possible role of G-proteins in the respiratory burst elicited by concanavalin A (Con A). The Con A-induced activation of the NADPH oxidase was not inhibited by either pertussis toxin or cholera toxin. However, the burst was inhibited by GDP and GDP beta S providing evidence for the involvement of a G-protein(s). O2 consumption in Con A-stimulated cells was dependent on both ATP and Mg2+. ATP could be substituted by ATP gamma S but not by the non-hydrolyzable analog AMP-PNP, suggesting involvement of phosphotransferase reactions. It is concluded that at least two distinct types of G-proteins are capable of inducing the respiratory burst in neutrophils and that accumulation of phosphorylated intermediates may be essential for activation of the respiratory burst by the lectin.