Potential Role of Hepatitis C Virus Alternate Reading Frame Protein in Negative Regulation of T-Bet Gene Expression

Inflammation. 2015 Oct;38(5):1823-34. doi: 10.1007/s10753-015-0160-y.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease and has led to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in a majority of infected individuals. We have previously demonstrated that the HCV alternate reading frame protein (F protein) is related to Th1/Th2 bias in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, and we aimed to explore the relative molecular mechanisms here. A total of 104 cases including CHC patients and healthy donors were enrolled. T-bet and GATA-3 expression levels were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription-1/-6(STAT1/6) and phosphorylated STAT1/6(pSTAT1/6) in PBMCs were measured by Western blotting. Our results showed that the levels of T-bet in PBMCs, as well as the levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in sera, were decreased in anti-F protein antibody seropositive patients compared with anti-F protein antibody seronegative patients, whereas the levels of GATA-3 did not show difference between the two groups. Moreover, the decreased pSTAT1 and increased pSTAT6 were observed in PBMCs by HCV core/F protein stimulation with constant STAT1/6 expression. Taken together, it suggested that T-bet may be involved in Th1/Th2 bias induced by HCV F protein, and the disruption of STAT phosphorylation may participate in this mediation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hepacivirus / physiology*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / blood
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / physiology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reading Frames / physiology*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Core Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Viral Core Proteins
  • hepatitis C protein F, Hepatitis C virus