Critical role of PA28gamma in hepatitis C virus-associated steatogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease that frequently leads to steatosis, cirrhosis, and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV core protein is not only a component of viral particles but also a multifunctional protein because liver steatosis and HCC are developed in HCV core gene-transgenic (CoreTg) mice. Proteasome activator PA28gamma/REGgamma regulates host and viral proteins such as nuclear hormone receptors and HCV core protein. Here we show that a knockout of the PA28gamma gene induces the accumulation of HCV core protein in the nucleus of hepatocytes of CoreTg mice and disrupts development of both hepatic steatosis and HCC. Furthermore, the genes related to fatty acid biosynthesis and srebp-1c promoter activity were up-regulated by HCV core protein in the cell line and the mouse liver in a PA28gamma-dependent manner. Heterodimer composed of liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha) and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) is known to up-regulate srebp-1c promoter activity. Our data also show that HCV core protein enhances the binding of LXRalpha/RXRalpha to LXR-response element in the presence but not the absence of PA28gamma. These findings suggest that PA28gamma plays a crucial role in the development of liver pathology induced by HCV infection.

• Authors: Kohji Moriishi, Rika Mochizuki, Kyoji Moriya, Hironobu Miyamoto, Yoshio Mori, Takayuki Abe, Shigeo Murata, Keiji Tanaka, Tatsuo Miyamura, Tetsuro Suzuki, Kazuhiko Koike, Yoshiharu Matsuura
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 104 Issue 5 Pg. 1661-6 (Jan 30 2007) ISSN: 0027-8424 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17234812 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Autoantigens
• DNA-Binding Proteins
• Fatty Acids
• Ki antigen
• Liver X Receptors
• NR1H3 protein, human
• Nr1h3 protein, mouse
• Orphan Nuclear Receptors
• RARA protein, human
• Rara protein, mouse
• Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
• Receptors, Retinoic Acid
• Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha
• Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1
• Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins
• Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

Topics

• Animals
• Autoantigens (metabolism, physiology)
• Cell Line
• DNA-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• Fatty Acids (metabolism)
• Fatty Liver (metabolism, virology)
• Hepacivirus (metabolism)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (metabolism, virology)
• Liver X Receptors
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Orphan Nuclear Receptors
• Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex (metabolism, physiology)
• Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear (metabolism)
• Receptors, Retinoic Acid (metabolism)
• Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha
• Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 (genetics)
• Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• Up-Regulation