Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors in HBV-Related Infection

Abstract

Thirty years after its discovery, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) still remains a major global public health problem. Worldwide, two billion subjects have been infected, 350 million have a chronic infection and more than 600 000 die annually of HBV-related liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma; new infections occur because of the presence of a large reservoir of chronic carriers of the virus. Since a decade several studies describe the interrelations between HBV and nuclear receptors and more particularly the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). After a brief introduction, this review will make a rapid description of HBV incidence and biology. Then a report of the literature on the role of PPARs on viral transcription and replication will be developed. Finally, the role of HBV on PPARγ expression and activity will be discussed. Concluding remarks and perspectives will close this review.

1. Introduction

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem with approximately 350 million people chronically infected but the prevalence of HBV infection and patterns of transmission vary greatly throughout the world. Fifteen percent to 40% of HBV-infected patients will develop cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [1]. Hepatitis B virus was considered to be not directly cytopathic, and the development of HCC in individuals with chronic HBV infection is a multistage, multifactorial process including the interaction between host and environmental factors. However, a recent study suggested that elevated serum HBV DNA level (≥10 000 copies/mL) was a risk predictor of HCC independent of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), serum alanine aminotransferase level, and liver cirrhosis suggesting that HVB proteins themselves may have direct effect on cellular functions [2].

Recent data suggested the implication of nuclear hormone receptor and especially of the retinoid X receptors (RXRs) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the transcription and the replication of the HBV. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) α, β/δ, and γ are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily activated by fatty acids and involved in the transduction of metabolic and nutritional signals into transcriptional responses [3, 4]. Among these transcription factors, PPARα/γ together with their obligate partner the RXR are three main nuclear receptors expressed in the liver [5–7]. However, despite strong expression in the liver, proof of an eventual role of PPARs in hepatic disease remains limited to the link between hepatic tumorigenesis and chronic administration of PPARα activators in rodents [8], the development of extensive hepatic steatosis in response to fasting and delayed liver regeneration in PPARα knock-out mice [9, 10], impaired expression of PPARα in a murine model of alcoholic liver diseases [11], and impaired liver expression of PPARα influenced by the HCV core protein during chronic hepatitis C virus infection [12].

This review will first describe the importance of HBV infection worldwide and the biology of the virus. Then the interactions between PPARs and HBV will be developed to provide a precise picture of the potential role of PPARs in HBV pathophysiology.

2. Hepatitis B Virus: Incidence and Prevalence

Approximately 2 billion people have been exposed to the HBV and 350 million people are chronically infected with the virus. Each year over 1 million people die from HBV-related liver disease. The chapter below will expose the incidence and prevalence of this huge public health problem worldwide.

The prevalence of HBV infection varies depending on the geographical area. In the Far East, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of South America, the prevalence is high, with hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAgs) rates ranging from 8% to 15% [13]. In regions of high HBsAg endemicity, serologic evidence of prior HBV infection (anti-HBc and/or anti-HBs Ag) is almost universal in subjects without active infection. As a general rule, in these areas with high HBV endemicity the source of infection is mainly through perinatal transmission from the chronically infected mother or through infection during early childhood.

Areas of intermediate prevalence (2–7%) include Japan, parts of South America, Eastern and Southern Europe, and parts of central Asia. Areas with low HBV endemicity (prevalence of chronic infection <2%) include Northwestern Europe, North America, and Australia [14]. The source of infection in these areas is mainly through sexual contacts and needle sharing among injecting drug users, with a peak incidence in the 15–25-year-old age group.

Globally the incidence of acute HBV infection has been falling in the last decade, due to changes in behavior (e.g., increase in safe sexual practices related to HIV education efforts) and, to a lesser extent, to the introduction of effective vaccination programs [15]. Transmission of HBV via transfusion of blood and plasma-derived products has been eliminated in most countries through donor screening for HBsAg and viral inactivation procedures.

3. Viral Structure, Genomic Organization and Replication

HBV is a member of the family of the hepadnaviridae, hepatotropic DNA viruses. Characteristics of these viruses are as follows: a partially double-stranded DNA, with an outer lipoprotein envelope and an inner nucleocapsid or core bearing the viral genome; a polymerase with reverse transcription activity; the massive overproduction of viral envelope proteins (e.g., HBsAg), and a relative but not absolute hepatotropism. The following chapter will briefly describe the viral structure, genomic organization and replication mode of the HBV.

HBV virions are 42 nm double-shelled particles. The genome contains four open reading frames (ORFs) (S, P, C, and X) that encode four major proteins (surface, polymerase, core, and X protein, resp.) (Figure 1). The major abundant protein on the virus surface is the HBsAg or S protein, 24 kDa in size. In the viral envelope there are two other proteins, the L—involved in binding the virus to a receptor on the hepatocyte surface—and the M protein, whose function is unknown.

Figure 1.

HBV virion and genomic organization. The HBV virion is composed of a viral envelop that contains the surface proteins, which are of different lengths (L, M, and S). The nucleocapsid or core wraps the viral DNA. The viral genome contains four open reading frames, the S that encodes for the surface protein (red), P that encodes for the viral polymerase (blue), preC and C that encode for the core (yellow) and X that encodes for the X protein (green).

The 27 nm nucleocapsid is an icosahedral symmetric structure containing 180 or 240 copies of the viral core (C) protein [16, 17], known as hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). The nucleocapsid contains the viral genome (Figure 1), a relaxed circular molecule that consists of a 3.2 kB minus strand and a smaller, complementary DNA (plus strand) of variable length. Circularity of HBV is maintained by hydrogen bonds between 250 bp at the two 50 ends of the plus and minus strands. The 50 ends of the DNA strands are each linked covalently to additional structures, essential for the initiation of DNA synthesis, that is, the polymerase and an oligo RNA. The viral polymerase is encoded by the P gene of the virus and is implicated in the synthesis of both strands of viral DNA through a reverse transcriptase (protein P) enzyme (RT). This RT shares sequence similarities with retroviral RT; the latter has been used in the development of antiviral drugs against HBV.

In addition to complete virions, HBV-infected hepatocytes produce in great excess two distinct subviral lipoprotein particles: the spheres, containing primarily the S protein, and the filaments, less numerous, rich in L protein. As these subviral particles contain only envelope glycoproteins and host-derived lipids, but not viral DNA; they are not infectious; nevertheless, they strongly stimulate the production of neutralizing anti-HBs antibodies. The overproduction of these particles makes it easy to diagnose HBV infection by the detection of the surface antigen in the blood.

Little is known about the earliest steps in the HBV life cycle. Virion binding to hepatocytes is mediated by a 180 kDa host protein identified as a member of the carboxypeptidase family [18]; antibodies against this protein block viral infection [19]. After direct membrane fusion uncoating of the virus allows the presentation of the nucleocapside to the cytosol. The naked viral core migrates to the nucleus where the viral genome is repaired to a covalently closed circular form (cccDNA). This cccDNA is transcribed by host RNA polymerase II to generate genomic and subgenomics stable RNAs. All viral RNAs are transported to the cytoplasm for translation yielding the viral envelope, core and preC, viral DNA polymerase, and X proteins. Finally, nucleocapsids are assembled in the cytosol; assembly requires the binding of viral polymerase (P) to a selective structure located at the 5′end of the genomic RNA. Once the P-RNA complex is formed, RNA packaging and reverse transcription begin. The replication of HBV requires an RNA intermediate followed by the synthesis of viral DNA by RT [20]. After replication is completed, viral cores are transported back into the nucleus, where they are either converted to cccDNA to maintain a stable intranuclear pool of transcriptional templates or more frequently, bud into the endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus; in this site nucleocapsidic particles are wrapped in the envelope proteins (surface, L, and M) and finally exported from the cell as full virions by vesicular transport [21].

4. Impact of PPAR on Viral Transcription and Replication

Studies in hepatoma cell line HepG2 and studies on a transgenic mouse model for HBV have provided evidence for a role of PPARS in controlling viral transcription and replication.

HBV has a partially double-stranded DNA genome and replicates through an RNA intermediate. After infecting host liver cells, there are four HBV transcripts from four different viral promoters: Core, SPI, SPII, and X promoter. The first studies that have linked PPAR and HBV have shown the presence of hormone response elements (HREs) in the promoters of HBV genome (Figure 2). In the dedifferentiated hepatoma cell line, HepG2, it was found that the nucleocapsid and large surface antigen promoters were transactivated in the presence of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) whereas the enhancer I/X gene, nucleocapsid, and large surface antigen promoters were transactivated in the presence of RXR and PPAR [22]. Characterization of the nucleocapsid promoter region demonstrated that HNF4 is the primary transcription factor binding to the regulatory region spanning nucleotides −127 to −102 whereas HNF4, RXR-PPAR heterodimers, and chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 1 (COUP-TF1) bind the regulatory region spanning nucleotides −34 to −7 [22]. Modulation of the level of transcription from the nucleocapsid promoter by RXR-PPAR appears to be regulated by the regulatory sequence element spanning nucleotides −34 to −7 and the HBV enhancer I region (Figure 2). Another study demonstrated that HNF4 and testicular receptor 2 (TR2) repressed synthesis of the pre-C RNA, whereas PPAR-RXR activated synthesis of the pregenomic RNA and COUP-TF1 repressed synthesis of both the pre-C and pregenomic RNAs [23].

Figure 2.

NR regulatory region in HBV genome. Schematic diagram of the HBV genome. The viral polymerase (P), surface proteins (S), precore (preC), core (C), and X protein (X) open reading frames are indicated by open rectangular boxes. Enhancers (ENHs) I and II are indicated by grey rectangular boxes. The hormone response elements (HREs) are indicated by small black rectangular boxes. Nuclear receptors that can bind these HREs are indicated into brackets.

The regulation of HBV transcription and regulation were then explored in vivo. Using an HBV transgenic mouse model, Guidotti et al. demonstrated that activation of PPARα increased transcription and replication of HBV and suggested that even a modest alteration in transcription could have big impact on virus replication [24]. To point out the importance of nuclear receptors and specially PPARα on the HBV replication, Tang and McLachlan have shown that ectopic expression of HNF4 and PPARα was necessary and sufficient to allow HBV replication in nonhepatic cells, which is normally impossible due to the virus tropism [25].

Two studies performed in the team of McLachlan in La Jolla specified the sequences of interaction between the HBV and PPARα [26, 27]. Indeed, this team has developed a transgenic mouse for a natural hepatitis B virus (HBV) variant associated with seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe antibody that contains two nucleotide substitutions (A1764T and G1766A) in the proximal nuclear hormone receptor binding site in the nucleocapsid promoter. This model suggested that peroxisome proliferators may enhance viral transcription directly in a PPARα-dependent manner through the nuclear hormone receptor recognition site in the enhancer I region of the HBV genome. Moreover, those mice transcribe very little precore RNA and secrete extremely low levels of HBe antigen compared with the wild-type HBV transgenic mice [26]. Analysis of HBV transcription and replication in nonhepatoma cells indicates that PPARα/RXRα heterodimers support higher levels of pregenomic RNA transcription from the wild-type than from the variant nucleocapsid promoter, producing higher levels of wild-type than of variant replication intermediates [27]. These observations indicate that the replication of wild-type and variant viruses can be differentially regulated by the liver-specific transcription factors that bind to the proximal nuclear hormone receptor binding site of the nucleocapsid promoter.

More recent data concern approaches to counteract this nuclear receptor-induced HBV transcription and replication. Oropeza et al. showed that the nuclear receptor short heterodimer partner (SHP) inhibits the nuclear receptor-mediated HBV replication [28]. HBV replication that is dependent on HNF4 seemed considerably more sensitive to SHP-mediated inhibition than PPARα/RXRα-directed viral biosynthesis. A nonnucleosidic compound, Helioxanthin (HE-145), was found to suppress HBV gene expression and replication in HCC cells. It was found that HE-145 selectively suppresses surface antigen promoter II (SPII) and core promoter (CP) but has no effect on surface antigen promoter I (SPI) or promoter for X gene (XP). Tseng et al. showed that HE-145 acted by decreasing the DNA-binding activity of PPAR to specific cis element of HBV promoter for core antigen [29]. Taken together, all these data provide an interesting rationale for modulating the PPARα/RXRα heterodimer to control the HBV infection.

5. HBV Modulates PPARγ Expression: Role in Steatosis

Until now, two studies described a role of HBx protein on the regulation of PPARγ expression and activation and one of which suggests a role in steatosis.

In the below paragraph, we have described the role of PPAR on HBV transcription and replication. Conversely, the HBx protein of HBV modulated PPARγ by protein-protein interaction. Indeed, ligand activation of PPARγ has been reported to induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in various cancers including HCC. Choi and coll demonstrated that HBx counteracted growth inhibition caused by PPARγ ligand in HBx-associated HCC cells [30]. They found that HBx bound to DNA binding domain of PPARγ and this interaction blocked nuclear localization and binding to PPRE. HBx significantly suppressed the PPARγ mediated transactivation.

More recent report described a positive effect of HBx protein on PPARγ expression and transcriptional activity [31]. Some observations suggest that chronic HBV infection is associated with hepatic steatosis, which is a common histological feature of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus [32]. Even if other report described lower frequency of steatosis in hepatitis B [33, 34], evidence indicates that hepatic steatosis is a more vulnerable factor that leads to liver inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer. Based on these observations, Kim et al. demonstrated that overexpression of HBx induced hepatic lipid accumulation [31]. This phenomenon was accompanied by increased expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and PPARγ. The authors proposed that HBx could participate to hepatic steatosis during HBV infection by regulating SREBP1 and PPARγ expression and activation (Figure 3) but a direct proof remains to be obtained.

Figure 3.

HBx protein could influence liver steatosis through SREBP1 and PPARγ. Protein X of the HBV (HBx) increases the kinase AKT phosphorylation and inhibits PTEN expression that leads to increased expression and activation of SREBP1 in the liver. In another way HBx enhances C/EBPα that in turn induces PPARγ expression and activation. Both pathways lead to an increased expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes, which finally could contribute to liver steatosis.

6. Conclusion

HBV infection is a global health problem and recent data indicate that the HBV DNA level is a strong risk predictor of liver cirrhosis and HCC. Studies indicate the presence of hormone response elements in the promoters of HBV genome. Peroxisome proliferators may enhance HBV viral transcription directly in a PPARα-dependent manner. Conversely, HBx protein of HBV is able to induce the gene expression and transcriptional activity of SREBP1 and PPARγ, thereby causing hepatic lipid accumulation by increasing adipogenic and lipogenic gene expression. This regulation loop between PPAR and HBV may contribute to the progression of HBV-induced pathogenesis and the development of PPAR antagonist could represent a new therapeutic strategy.

Abbreviations

cccDNA:

Covalently closed circular DNA

COUP-TF1:

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 1

HBV:

Hepatitis B virus

HBcAg:

Hepatitis B core antigen

HBeAg:

Hepatitis B e antigen

HBsAg:

Hepatitis B surface antigen

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

HNF4:

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4

ORF:

Open reading frame

PPAR:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor

RT:

Reverse transcriptase enzyme

RXR:

Retinoid X receptor

SHP:

Short heterodimer partner

SREBP1:

Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1

TR2:

Testicular receptor 2