Statin inhibits large hepatitis delta antigen-Smad3 -twist-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and hepatitis D virus secretion.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection may induce fulminant hepatitis in chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB) or rapid progression of CHB to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. There is no effective treatment for HDV infection. HDV encodes small delta antigens (S-HDAg) and large delta antigens (L-HDAg). S-HDAg is essential for HDV replication. Prenylated L-HDAg plays a key role in HDV assembly. Previous studies indicate that L-HDAg transactivates transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?) and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), possibly leading to liver fibrosis. However, the mechanism is unclear. METHODS:The mechanisms of the activation of Twist promoter by L-HDAg were investigated by luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and co-immunoprecipitation analysis. ELISA and Western blotting were used to analyze L-HDAg prenylation, TGF-? secretion, expression of EMT markers, and to evaluate efficacy of statins for HDV treatment. RESULTS:We found that L-HDAg activated Twist expression, TGF-? expression and consequently induced EMT, based on its interaction with Smad3 on Twist promoter. The treatment of statin, a prenylation inhibitor, resulted in reduction of Twist promoter activity, TGF-? expression, and EMT, and reduces the release of HDV virions into the culture medium. CONCLUSIONS:We demonstrate that L-HDAg activates EMT via Twist and TGF-? activation. Treatment with statins suppressed Twist expression, and TGF-? secretion, leading to downregulation of EMT. Our findings clarify the mechanism of HDV-induced EMT, and provide a basis for possible novel therapeutic strategies against HDV infection.
SUBMITTER: Liang YJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7240974 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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