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Modified apoptotic molecule (BID) reduces hepatitis C virus infection in mice with chimeric human livers

Nature Biotechnology volume 21, pages 519–525 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) encodes a polyprotein consisting of core, envelope (E1, E2, p7), and nonstructural polypeptides (NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, NS5B). The serine protease (NS3/NS4A), helicase (NS3), and polymerase (NS5B) constitute valid targets for antiviral therapy. We engineered BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID), an apoptosis-inducing molecule, to contain a specific cleavage site recognized by the NS3/NS4A protease. Cleavage of the BID precursor molecule by the viral protease activated downstream apoptotic molecules of the mitochondrial pathway and triggered cell death. We extended this concept to cells transfected with an infectious HCV genome, hepatocytes containing HCV replicons, a Sindbis virus model for HCV, and finally HCV-infected mice with chimeric human livers. Infected mice injected with an adenovirus vector expressing modified BID exhibited HCV-dependent apoptosis in the human liver xenograft and considerable declines in serum HCV titers.

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Figure 1: Modified BID molecule induces apoptosis in rat fibroblasts in the presence of the HCV serine protease.
Figure 2: Huh7 human hepatocytes transfected with the HCV RNA genome or HCV subgenomic replicons.
Figure 3: Chimeric human livers from SCID Alb-uPA mice injected with a nonreplicating adenovirus that expressed EGFP.
Figure 4: Chimeric human livers from SCID-Alb-uPA mice infected with hepatitis C virus and injected with a nonreplicating adenovirus vector that expressed modified BID.
Figure 5: ALT and HCV titers in serum of chimeric mice that were treated with adenovirus-modified BID.

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Acknowledgements

Valuable discussions with Wen-Chen Yeh, Katsuya Tsuchihara, Razq Hakem, Malte Peters, and Tak W. Mak were much appreciated. This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Grant no. EOP-38155 and CANVAC (Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence).

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Author notes

  1. D. Lorne Tyrrell

    Present address: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Alberta, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

  2. Jurgen Ruland

    Present address: Department of Internal Medicine III, Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ontario Cancer Institute (Advanced Medical Discoveries Institute), 620 University Ave. Suite 706, Toronto, M5G 2C1, ON, Canada

    Eric C. Hsu, Masami Hirota-Tsuchihara, Jurgen Ruland, Cathy Iorio, Farida Sarangi & Christopher D. Richardson

  2. Division of Molecular Structural Biology, Ontario Cancer Institute, 610 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 2M9, ON, Canada

    Eric C. Hsu, Masami Hirota-Tsuchihara, Jurgen Ruland, Jingyu Diao & Christopher D. Richardson

  3. Department of Surgery, Surgical-Medical Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Belinda Hsi & Norman Kneteman

  4. Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 610 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 2M9, ON, Canada

    Jingyu Diao & Christopher D. Richardson

  5. Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare, P. Angeletti, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy

    Giovanni Migliaccio

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Correspondence to Christopher D. Richardson.

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A patent application for modified BID has been filed with the U.S. Patent Office.

Supplementary information

41587_2003_BFnbt817_MOESM1_ESM.jpg

Supplementary Fig. 1. Prior treatment of cells with modified BID molecules is prophylactic and protects hepatocytes from challenge at low multiplicity of infection with a hepatitis C virus model. Chimeric Sindbis virus, whose replication depends on the cleavage activity of HCV NS3 protease, was used to infect Huh7 cells in order to determine whether modified BID can prevent infection and subsequent amplification of the virus. Huh7 cells were infected with either control adenovirus or recombinant adenovirus expressing modified BID for 24 hours. These cells were subsequently challenged with either wild type Sindbis virus or chimeric Sindbis virus (MutA) at a MOI of 0.1 pfu/cell. After 72 hours post-infection with Sindbis virus, changes in cell morphology were evaluated by phase contrast microscopy. (Panel A) Huh7 cells were infected with control recombinant adenovirus that did not express a foreign gene. No cell death was apparent. (Panel B) Huh7 cells were infected with a recombinant adenovirus expressing modified BID. No cell death was apparent. (Panel C) Cells infected with control adenovirus that did not express a foreign gene and subsequently with the chimeric Sindbis virus (Mut A). Cell death was apparent. (Panel D) Cells were initially infected with adenovirus expressing modified BID and subsequently challenged with chimeric Sindbis virus (Mut A). No cell death was apparent. (Panels E, F) Cells were infected with control adenovirus that did not express a foreign gene or recombinant adenovirus expressing modified BID, respectively, and were subsequently challenged with wild type Sindbis virus. Cell death was apparent in both cases. Thus, prior application of the modified BID therapeutic system may have prophylactic potential and reduce the overall viral load of HCV in the liver, prior to, or during early and limited stages of infection. Magnification bar = 250µm. (JPG 91 kb)

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Hsu, E., Hsi, B., Hirota-Tsuchihara, M. et al. Modified apoptotic molecule (BID) reduces hepatitis C virus infection in mice with chimeric human livers. Nat Biotechnol 21, 519–525 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt817

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