• BMB Reports
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.281-286
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• 1998

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core proteins from two different isolates (HCV-1 and HCV-RH) were expressed in Spotioptera Jrugiperda (Sf9) insect cells. The RH core consisted of two major species of proteins (21 kDa and 19 kDa). On the other hand, the HCV-1 core was approximately 16 kDa in a SDS-PAGE gel. Both core proteins were phosphorylated in vivo on serine residues. Furthermore, the RH core but not HCV-1 core formed dimers, indicating that the protein conformation of the core in these two isolates is dfferent from one another. Immunofluorescence studies showed that the RH core was present in the cytoplasm, whereas the HCV-1 core was localized predominantly to the nucleus in recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells. Since the major difference between the two isolates is the codon 9 of the core protein, a single amino acid substitution appears to play a major role in the protein conformation and these properties may reflect the different biological functions of core proteins in HCV-infected cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.735-740
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• 2004

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a causal agent of the chronic liver infection. To understand HCV morphogenesis, we studied the assembly of HCV structural proteins in insect cells. We constructed recombinant baculovirus expression vectors consisting of either HCV core alone, core-E1, or core-E1-E2. These structural proteins were expressed in insect cells and were examined to assemble into particles. Neither core-E1 nor core-E1-E2 was capable of assembling into virus-like particles (VLPs). It was surprising that the core protein alone was assembled into core-like particles. These particles were released into the culture medium as early as 2 days after infection. In our system, HCV structural proteins including envelope proteins did not assemble into VLPs. Instead, the core protein itself has the intrinsic capacity to assemble into amorphous core-like particles. Furthermore, released core particles were associated with HCV RNA, indicating that core proteins were assembled into nucleocapsids. These results suggest that HCV may utilize a unique core release mechanism to evade the hosts defense mechanism, thus contributing to the persistence of HCV infection.

• BMB Reports
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.192-198
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• 2004

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is believed to be one of viral proteins that are capable of preventing virus-infected cell death upon various stimuli. But, the effect of the HCV core protein on apoptosis that is induced by various stimuli is contradictory. We examined the possibility that the HCV core protein affects the ceramide-induced cell death in cells expressing the HCV core protein through the sphingomyelin pathway. Cell death that is induced by $C^2$-ceramide and bacterial sphingomyelinase was analyzed in 293 cells that constitutively expressed the HCV core protein and compared with 293 cells that were stably transfected only with the expression vector. The HCV core protein inhibited the cell death that was induced by these reagents. The protective effects of the HCV core protein on ceramide-induced cell death were reflected by the reduced expression of $p21^{WAF1/Cip1/Sid1}$ and the sustained expression of the Bcl-2 protein in the HCV core-expressing cells with respect to the vector-transfected cells. These results suggest that the HCV core protein in 293 cells plays a role in the modulation of the apoptotic response that is induced by ceramide. Also, the ability of the HCV core protein to suppress apoptosis might have important implications in understanding the pathogenesis of the HCV infection.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.20-26
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• 2006

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease that is characterized by invasive synovial hyperplasia, leading to progressive joint destruction. Recent studies have described that RA is caused by virus, bacteria or outside material. Approximately 2 to 20% of RA cases arc reported to be associated with infected hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, the mechanisms underlying virus-induced RA are still unknown. Moreover, few molecular studies have addressed the inflammatory aspects of HCV-associated autoimmune RA. In this study, we aimed to determine whe ther or not another HCV core protein transactivates the IL-8 gene expression, prototypic chemokine, in synovial cell. Methods: To establish the HCV core expressing stable synovial cell line, pCI-neo-core, a plasmid encoding HCV core protein, were transfected to HIG-82 cell line that is an established cell line from rabbit periaricular soft tissue. We examined the morphological changes and cell cycle distribution of HIG-82 cells with expression of HCV core protein by inverted microscopy and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Also, we determined the mRNA levels of Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 related to the inflammation by RT-PCR and then analyzed regulation of IL-8 expression by the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Results: Our study showed no significant differences in morphology and cell cycle between HIG-82 control cell line and HIG-82 expressing HCV core protein. However, expression of HCV core protein induces the IL-8 mRNA expression in HIG-82 core cells via activated NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Conclusion: These results suggest that HCV core protein can lead to enhanced IL-8 expression. Such a proinflammatory role may contribute to the etiologic pathogenesis in RA patients with HCV infection.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.151-155
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• 2009

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has genetic diversity like most of RNA viruses. HCV major genotypes are classified into several subtypes which are further divided into quasispecies having, genetically different but closely related variants. The HCV core that is a nucleocapsid protein located at the amino terminus of the viral polyprotein is relatively a conserved protein among the HCV isolates and thus it has been one of plausible targets for anti-HCV drug development. However, different quasispecies of HCV core gene have also been found. In this study, we compared the expression level of core protein between two different quasispecies of HCV genotype 1b. Our data demonstrate that a little differences of amino acid sequence lead to substantial difference of expression level. It might be another important reason of different pathogenesis among HCV infected patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.97-106
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• 2013

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is responsible for the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV core protein plays not only a structural role in the virion morphogenesis by encapsidating a virus RNA genome but also a non-structural role in HCV-induced pathogenesis by blocking innate immunity. Especially, it has been shown to regulate JAK-STAT signaling pathway through its direct interaction with Janus kinase (JAK) via its proline-rich JAK-binding motif ($^{79}{\underline{P}}GY{\underline{P}}WP^{84}$). However, little is known about the physiological significance of this HCV core-JAK association in the context of the virus life cycle. In order to gain an insight, a mutant HCV genome (J6/JFH1-79A82A) was constructed to express the mutant core with a defective JAK-binding motif ($^{79}{\underline{A}}GY{\underline{A}}WP^{84}$) using an HCV genotype 2a infectious clone (J6/JFH1). When this mutant HCV genome was introduced into hepatocarcinoma cells, it was found to be severely impaired in its ability to produce infectious viruses in spite of its robust RNA genome replication. Taken together, all these results suggest an essential requirement of HCV core-JAK protein interaction for efficient production of infectious viruses and the potential of using core-JAK blockers as a new anti-HCV therapy.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권9호
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• pp.1007-1015
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• 2018

E6AP (E6-associated protein)는 C형 간염바이러스(hepatitis C virus, HCV)의 코어 단백질 유비퀴틴화와 프로테오좀 분해를 유도하여 캡시드 조립을 저해함으로써 HCV 복제를 억제하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 반면에 HCV 코어 단백질은 숙주의 항바이러스 방어계에 대항하고 자신의 유비퀴틴-의존적 프로테아좀 분해를 막기 위하여 DNA 메틸화를 통하여 E6AP 발현을 저해하는 전략을 진화과정에서 획득하였다. 본 연구에서는 HCV 코어 단백질이 E6AP 발현을 저해하는 기전을 밝혀내고자 하였다. HCV 코어 단백질은 HepG2 세포에서 DNA 메틸화 효소들인 DNMT1, 3a 및 3b의 단백질 수준과 효소 활성을 증가시켜 프로모터 과메틸화를 통하여 E6AP 발현을 저해하였지만 p53를 발현하지 않는 Hep3B 세포에서는 이러한 효과들이 관찰되지 않았다. 흥미롭게도 Hep3B 세포에 p53만 과발현시키면 HCV 코어 단백질이 없더라도 DNMT가 활성화되고 프로모터 과메틸화를 통하여 E6AP 발현이 저해되었다. 또한 p53 녹다운 및 과발현 실험을 통하여 p53 활성화가 HCV 코어 단백질의 효과에 필수적임을 알 수 있었다. 이로 인하여 Hep3B 보다 HepG2 세포에서 낮은 수준의 유비퀴틴화된 HCV 코어 단백질이 검출되었다. 따라서 HCV 코어 단백질은 p53-의존적으로 자신의 유비퀴틴-매개성 프로테아좀 분해를 저해한다.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.90-96
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• 1999

The core protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a multifunctional protein. The HCV core protein was reported to regulate cellular gene expression and transform primary rat embryo fibroblast cells. However, the role of the core protein in the pathogenesis of HCV-associated liver diseases is not well understood. To investigate the functional role of the core protein in cytophathogenicity, we have constructed stable expression systems of full length or truncated HCV core protein lacking the C-terminal hyderophobic domains and established HepG2 cell clones constitutively expressing the core protein. The full length core protein was localized in the cytoplasm and the C-terminal truncated core protein was localized in the nucleus. HepG2 cells expressing nuclear, truncated core protein showed elevated cell death during cultivation compared to untransfected cells and full length core-expressing cells. In the treatment with bleomycin, both cell clones expressing full length or truncated core protein appeared to be more sensitive to blemoycin than the parental HepG2 cells. These results suggest that the core protein may play a role in HCV pathogenesis promoting apoptotic cell death of infected cells.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권6호통권86호
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• pp.766-771
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• 2007

B형 간염 바이러스(HBV)와 C형 간염 바이러스(HCV)에 함께 감염되면 단독 감염의 경우보다 더 심각한 간질환이 유발되고 간암으로의 발전 가능성도 높아진다. 본 연구에서는 HBV의 X단백질(HBx)과 HCV의 코어 단백질이 인간 간암세포주인 HepG2세포에서 p53의 양을 협조적으로 증가시킨다는 것을 보여 주었다. 이로 인하여 세포예정사를 촉진하는 Bax 단백질의 발현이 더 증가하는 반면에 세포예정사를 억제하는 Bcl2의 발현은 더 억제됨이 관찰되었다. 그러나 이러한 효과들은 p53-음성인 Hep3B 세포에서는 관찰되지 않았다. 나아가 HBx와 코어 단백질은 HepG2의 cisplatin-매개성 세포예정사를 협조적으로 증가시키는 반면에 Hep3B에서는 이러한 효과가 나타나지 않았다. 이러한 연구 결과들은 HBV와 HCV가 동시에 감염되었을 경우에 나타나는 임상적인 소견을 이해하고 세포예정사에 미치는 HBx와 코어 단백질의 영향에 대한 기존의 상충적인 연구결과들을 해석하는데 도움을 줄 수 있다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.364-369
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• 2002

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is remarkably efficient at establishing chronic infection. One of the reasons for this appears to be the suppression of the accessory cell function of professional antigen presenting cells. In the present study, the immunosuppressive activity of HCV protein was examined on dendritic cells (DCs) generated from mouse bone marrow progenitor cells in vitro. We found that the DCs forced to express HCV protein have defective allostimulatory ability. DCs expressing HCV protein were phenotypically indistinguishable from normal DCs. However, they were unable to produce IL-12 effectively when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. The functional domain of the HCV protein essential for immunosuppression was determined using a series of ${NH_2}-and$ C-terminal deletion mutants of HCV core protein. We found that amino acid residues residing between the 21 st and the 40th residues from the ${NH_2}-terminus$ of HCV core protein are required for immunosuppression. These findings suggest that HCV core protein suppresses the elicitation of protective Th1 responses by the inhibition of IL-12 production by DCs.