Apoptosis of hepatitis B virus-infected hepatocytes prevents release of infectious virus.
J. Virol. 84, 11994-12001 (2010)
Apoptosis of infected cells is critically involved in antiviral defense. Apoptosis, however, may also support the release and spread of viruses. Although the elimination of infected hepatocytes is required to combat hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, it is still unknown which consequences hepatocyte apoptosis has for the virus and whether or not it is advantageous to the virus. To study this, we designed a cell culture model consisting of both HBV-producing cell lines and primary human hepatocytes serving as an infection model. We showed that the release of mature, enveloped virions was 80% to 90% reduced 24 h after the induction of apoptosis in HBV-replicating hepatoma cells or HBV-infected hepatocytes. Importantly, HBV particles released from apoptotic hepatocytes were immature and nonenveloped and proved not to be infectious. We found an inverse correlation between the strength of an apoptotic stimulus and the infectivity of the virus particles released: the more potent the apoptotic stimulus, the higher the ratio of nonenveloped capsids to virions and the lower their infectivity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that HBV replication and, particularly, the expression of the HBx protein transcribed from the viral genome during replication do not sensitize cells to apoptosis. Our data clearly reject the hypothesis that the apoptosis of infected hepatocytes facilitates the propagation of HBV. Rather, these data indicate that HBV needs to prevent the apoptosis of its host hepatocyte to ensure the release of infectious progeny and, thus, virus spread in the liver.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
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Keywords
Apoptosis; Cell Line; Hepatitis B/physiopathology; Hepatitis B/virology; Hepatitis B virus/genetics; Hepatitis B virus/physiology; Hepatocytes/cytology; Hepatocytes/virology; Humans; Virus Release; Virus Replication
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Language
english
Publication Year
2010
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2010
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0022-538X
e-ISSN
1098-5514
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Volume: 84,
Issue: 22,
Pages: 11994-12001
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American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
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Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s)
30203 - Molecular Targets and Therapies
Research field(s)
Immune Response and Infection
PSP Element(s)
G-502700-003
G-502700-004
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Erfassungsdatum
2010-12-03