[Anti-hepatitis C Virus Strategy Targeting the Entry Steps].

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major leading cause of chronic severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The recent direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for the treatment of HCV infection offer very high cure rates, but DAAs are vulnerable to drug resistance because HCV is an RNA virus, which generally has very high mutation rates. DAA resistance-associated variants of HCV could reduce the effectiveness of DAAs in the future. Thus, the continuous development of new anti-HCV drugs against different target molecules is needed. We have been studying the host factors involved in HCV entry into cells. From those studies, we obtained novel candidates for host-targeting anti-HCV entry inhibitors, such as monoclonal antibodies against HCV receptors, which can be used together with DAAs. In this symposium review, we present and discuss our recent work on anti-HCV strategies targeting HCV entry steps.

Monoclonal Antibodies against Occludin Completely Prevented Hepatitis C Virus Infection in a Mouse Model.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into host cells is a multistep process requiring various host factors, including the tight junction protein occludin (OCLN), which has been shown to be essential for HCV infection in in vitro cell culture systems. However, it remains unclear whether OCLN is an effective and safe target for HCV therapy, owing to the lack of binders that can recognize the intact extracellular loop domains of OCLN and prevent HCV infection. In this study, we successfully generated four rat anti-OCLN monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) by the genetic immunization method and unique cell differential screening. These four MAbs bound to human OCLN with a very high affinity (antibody dissociation constant of <1 nM). One MAb recognized the second loop of human and mouse OCLN, whereas the three other MAbs recognized the first loop of human OCLN. All MAbs inhibited HCV infection in Huh7.5.1-8 cells in a dose-dependent manner without apparent cytotoxicity. Additionally, the anti-OCLN MAbs prevented both cell-free HCV infection and cell-to-cell HCV transmission. Kinetic studies with anti-OCLN and anti-claudin-1 (CLDN1) MAbs demonstrated that OCLN interacts with HCV after CLDN1 in the internalization step. Two selected MAbs completely inhibited HCV infection in human liver chimeric mice without apparent adverse effects. Therefore, OCLN would be an appropriate host target for anti-HCV entry inhibitors, and anti-OCLN MAbs may be promising candidates for novel anti-HCV agents, particularly in combination with direct-acting HCV antiviral agents.IMPORTANCE HCV entry into host cells is thought to be a very complex process involving various host entry factors, such as the tight junction proteins claudin-1 and OCLN. In this study, we developed novel functional MAbs that recognize intact extracellular domains of OCLN, which is essential for HCV entry into host cells. The established MAbs against OCLN, which had very high affinity and selectivity for intact OCLN, strongly inhibited HCV infection both in vitro and in vivo Using these anti-OCLN MAbs, we found that OCLN is necessary for the later stages of HCV entry. These anti-OCLN MAbs are likely to be very useful for understanding the OCLN-mediated HCV entry mechanism and might be promising candidates for novel HCV entry inhibitors.

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol reverses TNFα-induced increase in airway epithelial cell permeability through CB2 receptors.

Despite pharmacological treatment, bronchial hyperresponsiveness continues to deteriorate as airway remodelling persists in airway inflammation. Previous studies have demonstrated that the phytocannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) reverses bronchoconstriction with an anti-inflammatory action. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of THC on bronchial epithelial cell permeability after exposure to the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNFα. Calu-3 bronchial epithelial cells were cultured at air-liquid interface. Changes in epithelial permeability were measured using Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER), then confirmed with a paracellular permeability assay and expression of tight junction proteins by Western blotting. Treatment with THC prevented the TNFα-induced decrease in TEER and increase in paracellular permeability. Cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor-like immunoreactivity was found in Calu-3 cells. Subsequent experiments revealed that pharmacological blockade of CB2, but not CB1 receptor inhibited the THC effect. Selective stimulation of CB2 receptors displayed a similar effect to that of THC. TNFα decreased expression of the tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1, which was prevented by pre-incubation with THC. These data indicate that THC prevents cytokine-induced increase in airway epithelial permeability through CB2 receptor activation. This highlights that THC, or other cannabinoid receptor ligands, could be beneficial in the prevention of inflammation-induced changes in airway epithelial cell permeability, an important feature of airways diseases.

All-Trans Retinoic Acid Inhibits Human Colorectal Cancer Cells RKO Migration via Downregulating Myosin Light Chain Kinase Expression through MAPK Signaling Pathway.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) inhibits the invasive and metastatic potentials of various cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that ATRA inhibited colorectal cancer cells RKO (human colon adenocarcinoma cell) migration by downregulating cell movement and increasing cell adhesion. ATRA inhibited the expression and activation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in RKO cells, while the expression level of MLC phosphatase (MLCP) had no change in RKO cells treated with or without ATRA. The expression and activity of MLC was also inhibited in RKO cells exposed to ATRA. Intriguingly, ATRA increased the expression of occludin messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein and its localization on cell membrane. However, ATRA did not change the expression of zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), but increased the accumulation of ZO-1 on RKO cells membrane. ML-7, an inhibitor of MLCK, significantly inhibited RKO cell migration. Furthermore, knockdown of endogenous MLCK expression inhibited RKO migration. Mechanistically, we showed that MAPK-specific inhibitor PD98059 enhanced the inhibitory effect of ATRA on RKO migration. In contrast, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) attenuated the effects of ATRA in RKO cells. Moreover, knocking down endogenous extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression inhibited MLCK expression in the RKO cells. In conclusion, ATRA inhibits RKO migration by reducing MLCK expression via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/Mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/MAPK) signaling pathway.

The Metabolic Regulator Histone Deacetylase 9 Contributes to Glucose Homeostasis Abnormality Induced by Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs), such as HDAC4, HDAC5, and HDAC7, provide critical mechanisms for regulating glucose homeostasis. Here we report that HDAC9, another class IIa HDAC, regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis via deacetylation of a Forkhead box O (FoxO) family transcription factor, FoxO1, together with HDAC3. Specifically, HDAC9 expression can be strongly induced upon hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. HCV-induced HDAC9 upregulation enhances gluconeogenesis by promoting the expression of gluconeogenic genes, including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase, indicating a major role for HDAC9 in the development of HCV-associated exaggerated gluconeogenic responses. Moreover, HDAC9 expression levels and gluconeogenic activities were elevated in livers from HCV-infected patients and persistent HCV-infected mice, emphasizing the clinical relevance of these results. Our results suggest HDAC9 is involved in glucose metabolism, HCV-induced abnormal glucose homeostasis, and type 2 diabetes.

Flavocoxid Protects Against Cadmium-Induced Disruption of the Blood­Testis Barrier and Improves Testicular Damage and Germ Cell Impairment in Mice [corrected].

Cadmium (Cd) causes male infertility. There is the need to identify safe treatments counteracting this toxicity. Flavocoxid is a flavonoid that induces a balanced inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 peroxidase moieties and of 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) and has efficacy in the male genitourinary system. We investigated flavocoxid effects on Cd-induced testicular toxicity in mice. Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups: 2 control groups received 0.9% NaCl (vehicle; 1 ml/kg/day) or flavocoxid (20 mg/kg/day ip); 2 groups were challenged with cadmium chloride (CdCl2; 2 mg/kg/day ip) and administered with vehicle or flavocoxid. The treatment lasted for 1 or 2 weeks. The testes were processed for biochemical and morphological studies. CdCl2 increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) 1/2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, COX-2, 5-LOX, malondialdehyde (MDA), B-cell-lymphoma (Bcl)-2-associated X protein (Bax), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), transforming growth factor (TGF) -ß3, decreased Bcl-2, testosterone, inhibin-B, occludin, N-Cadherin, induced structural damages in the testis and disrupted the blood-testis barrier. Many TUNEL-positive germ cells and changes in claudin-11, occludin, and N-cadherin localization were present. Flavocoxid administration reduced, in a time-dependent way, p-ERK 1/2, TNF-α, COX-2, 5-LOX, MDA, Bax, FSH, LH, TGF-ß3, augmented Bcl-2, testosterone, inhibin B, occludin, N-Cadherin, and improved the structural organization of the testis and the blood-testis barrier. Few TUNEL-positive germ cells were present and a morphological retrieval of the intercellular junctions was observed. In conclusion, flavocoxid has a protective anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic function against Cd-induced toxicity in mice testis. We suggest that flavocoxid may play a relevant positive role against environmental levels of Cd, otherwise deleterious to gametogenesis and tubular integrity.

Bradykinin increased the permeability of BTB via NOS/NO/ZONAB-mediating down-regulation of claudin-5 and occludin.

After demonstrating bradykinin (BK) could increase the permeability of blood-tumor barrier (BTB) via opening the tight junction (TJ), and that the possible mechanism is unclear, we demonstrated that BK could increase the expressions of eNOS and nNOS and promote ZONAB translocation into nucleus. NOS inhibitors l-NAME and 7-NI could effectively block the effect of BK on increasing BTB permeability, decreasing the expressions of claudin-5 and occludin and promoting the translocation of ZONAB. Overexpression of ZONAB could significantly enhance BK-mediating BTB permeability. Meanwhile, chromatin immunoprecipitation verified ZONAB interacted with the promoter of claudin-5 and occludin respectively. This study indicated NOS/NO/ZONAB pathway might be involved in BK's increasing the permeability of BTB.

Hypoxia-inducible factor/MAZ-dependent induction of caveolin-1 regulates colon permeability through suppression of occludin, leading to hypoxia-induced inflammation.

Caveolae are specialized microdomains on membranes that are critical for signal transduction, cholesterol transport, and endocytosis. Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is a multifunctional protein and a major component of caveolae. Cav1 is directly activated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). HIFs are heterodimers of an oxygen-sensitive α subunit, HIF1α or HIF2α, and a constitutively expressed ß subunit, aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT). Whole-genome expression analysis demonstrated that Cav1 is highly induced in mouse models of constitutively activated HIF signaling in the intestine. Interestingly, Cav1 was increased only in the colon and not in the small intestine. Currently, the mechanism and role of HIF induction of CAV1 in the colon are unclear. In mouse models, mice that overexpressed HIF1α or HIF2α specifically in intestinal epithelial cells demonstrated an increase in Cav1 gene expression in the colon but not in the duodenum, jejunum, or ileum. HIF2α activated the Cav1 promoter in a HIF response element-independent manner. myc-associated zinc finger (MAZ) protein was essential for HIF2α activation of the Cav1 promoter. Hypoxic induction of CAV1 in the colon was essential for intestinal barrier integrity by regulating occludin expression. This may provide an additional mechanism by which chronic hypoxia can activate intestinal inflammation.

Polyphenols protect the epithelial barrier function of Caco-2 cells exposed to indomethacin through the modulation of occludin and zonula occludens-1 expression.

The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of quercetin, epigallocatechingallate, resveratrol, and rutin against the disruption of epithelial integrity induced by indomethacin in Caco-2 cell monolayers. Indomethacin decreased the transepithelial electrical resistance and increased the permeability of the monolayers to fluorescein-dextran. These alterations were abolished by all the tested polyphenols but rutin, with quercetin being the most efficient. The protective effect of quercetin was associated with its capacity to inhibit the redistribution of ZO-1 protein induced in the tight junction by indomethacin or rotenone, a mitochondrial complex-I inhibitor, and to prevent the decrease of ZO-1 and occludin expression induced by indomethacin. The fact that the antioxidant polyphenols assayed in this study differ in their protective capacity against the epithelial damage induced by indomethacin suggests that this damage is due to the ability of this agent to induce not only oxidative stress but also mitochondrial dysfunction.

Infliximab counteracts tumor necrosis factor-α-enhanced induction of matrix metalloproteinases that degrade claudin and occludin in non-pigmented ciliary epithelium.

Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), effectively treats anterior uveitis, which can accompany Behçet's disease. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism of this action. We examined human, non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells (HNPCECs), which make up the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) in the uvea. We measured the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs in the presence or absence of TNF-α using quantitative, real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 increased in the presence of TNF-α, and the addition of infliximab reversed the increase. The TNF-α effects were more attenuated when infliximab was added before than when it was added after TNF-α exposure. Gelatin zymography demonstrated that the protease activity of these MMPs was also increased in the presence of TNF-α and attenuated with infliximab. Immunostaining showed that MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 degraded claudin-1 and occludin in HNPCECs and in non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells of the swine ciliary body. In a monolayer of HNPCECs, we found that permeability was significantly increased with MMP treatment. Thus, TNF-α increased levels of MMPs in cells that form the BAB, and MMPs degraded components of the tight junctions in the BAB, which increased permeability through the cellular barrier. Furthermore, infliximab effectively attenuated the TNF-α-induced increases in MMP expression in cells that make up the BAB. These findings might suggest a basis for the clinical prevention of anterior uveitis.

Occludin is involved in adhesion, apoptosis, differentiation and Ca2+-homeostasis of human keratinocytes: implications for tumorigenesis.

Tight junction (TJ) proteins are involved in a number of cellular functions, including paracellular barrier formation, cell polarization, differentiation, and proliferation. Altered expression of TJ proteins was reported in various epithelial tumors. Here, we used tissue samples of human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), its precursor tumors, as well as sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed skin as a model system to investigate TJ protein alteration at various stages of tumorigenesis. We identified that a broader localization of zonula occludens protein (ZO)-1 and claudin-4 (Cldn-4) as well as downregulation of Cldn-1 in deeper epidermal layers is a frequent event in all the tumor entities as well as in sun-exposed skin, suggesting that these changes result from chronic UV irradiation. In contrast, SCC could be distinguished from the precursor tumors and sun-exposed skin by a frequent complete loss of occludin (Ocln). To elucidate the impact of down-regulation of Ocln, we performed Ocln siRNA experiments in human keratinocytes and uncovered that Ocln downregulation results in decreased epithelial cell-cell adhesion and reduced susceptibility to apoptosis induction by UVB or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), cellular characteristics for tumorigenesis. Furthermore, an influence on epidermal differentiation was observed, while there was no change of E-cadherin and vimentin, markers for epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Ocln knock-down altered Ca(2+)-homeostasis which may contribute to alterations of cell-cell adhesion and differentiation. As downregulation of Ocln is also seen in SCC derived from other tissues, as well as in other carcinomas, we suggest this as a common principle in tumor pathogenesis, which may be used as a target for therapeutic intervention.