scholarly journals Standalone or combinatorial phenylbutyrate therapy shows excellent antiviral activity and mimics CREB3 silencing

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (49) ◽  
pp. eabd9443
Author(s):  
Tejabhiram Yadavalli ◽  
Rahul Suryawanshi ◽  
Raghuram Koganti ◽  
James Hopkins ◽  
Joshua Ames ◽  
...  

Herpesviruses are ubiquitous human pathogens that tightly regulate many cellular pathways including the unfolded protein response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Pharmacological modulation of this pathway results in the inhibition of viral replication. In this study, we tested 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA), a chemical chaperone–based potent alleviator of ER stress, for its effects on herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 infection. Through in vitro studies, we observed that application of PBA to HSV-infected cells results in the down-regulation of a proviral, ER-localized host protein CREB3 and a resultant inhibition of viral protein synthesis. PBA treatment caused viral inhibition in cultured human corneas and human skin grafts as well as murine models of ocular and genital HSV infection. Thus, we propose that this drug can provide an alternative to current antivirals to treat both ocular HSV-1 and genital HSV-2 infections and may be a strong candidate for human trials.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Saad Yousuf ◽  
Samira Samtleben ◽  
Shawn M. Lamothe ◽  
Timothy Friedman ◽  
Ana Catuneanu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTNeuropathic pain is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) and current treatment options are ineffective. In this study, we investigated whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contributes to pain hypersensitivity in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS. Inflammatory cells and increased levels of ER stress markers are evident in post-mortem DRGs from MS patients. Similarly, we observed ER stress in the DRG of mice with EAE and relieving ER stress with a chemical chaperone, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), reduced pain hypersensitivity. In vitro, 4-PBA and the selective PERK inhibitor, AMG44, normalize cytosolic Ca2+ transients in putative DRG nociceptors. We went to assess disease-mediated changes in the functional properties of Ca2+-sensitive BK-type K+ channels in DRG neurons. We found that the conductance-voltage (GV) relationship of BK channels was shifted to a more positive voltage, together with a more depolarized resting membrane potential in EAE cells. Our results suggest that ER stress in sensory neurons of MS patients and mice with EAE is a source of pain and that ER stress modulators can effectively counteract this phenotype.


2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengchao Zhang ◽  
Chenhe Su ◽  
Zhangtao Jiang ◽  
Chunfu Zheng

ABSTRACT During viral infection, accumulation of viral proteins can cause stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and trigger the unfolded protein response (UPR) to restore ER homeostasis. The inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1)-dependent pathway is the most conserved of the three UPR signal pathways. Upon activation, IRE1 splices out an intron from the unspliced inactive form of X box binding protein 1 [XBP1(u)] mRNA and produces a transcriptionally potent spliced form [XBP1(s)]. Previous studies have reported that the IRE1/XBP1 pathway is inhibited upon herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is still elusive. Here, we uncovered a role of the HSV-1 UL41 protein in inhibiting the IRE1/XBP1 signal pathway. Ectopic expression of UL41 decreased the expression of XBP1 and blocked XBP1 splicing activation induced by the ER stress inducer thapsigargin. Wild-type (WT) HSV-1, but not the UL41-null mutant HSV-1 (R2621), decreased XBP1 mRNA induced by thapsigargin. Nevertheless, infection with both WT HSV-1 and R2621 without drug pretreatment could reduce the mRNA and protein levels of XBP1(s), and additional mechanisms might contribute to this inhibition of XBP1(s) during R2621 infection. Taking these findings together, our results reveal XBP1 as a novel target of UL41 and provide insights into the mechanism by which HSV-1 modulates the IRE1/XBP1 pathway. IMPORTANCE During viral infection, viruses hijack the host translation apparatus to produce large amounts of viral proteins, which leads to ER stress. To restore ER homeostasis, cells initiate the UPR to alleviate the effects of ER stress. The IRE1/XBP1 pathway is the most conserved UPR branch, and it activates ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) to reduce the ER load. The IRE1/XBP1 branch is repressed during HSV-1 infection, but little is known about the underlying molecular mechanism. Our results show for the first time that UL41 suppresses the IRE1/XBP1 signal pathway by reducing the accumulation of XBP1 mRNA, and characterization of the underlying molecular mechanism provides new insight into the modulation of UPR by HSV-1.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
K. Gutierrez ◽  
W. G. Glanzner ◽  
N. Dicks ◽  
R. C. Bohrer ◽  
L. G. Currin ◽  
...  

Early developing embryos are very sensitive to their developmental milieu. For instance, variations in temperature, pH, or culture media composition can trigger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Endoplasmic reticulum stress has been shown to reduce early embryo development and embryo quality. In response to ER stress, embryos activate coping mechanisms, such as the unfolded protein response, to re-establish ER homeostasis. The X box binding protein (XBP1) is one of the main transducers of the unfolded protein response. Under ER stress, XBP1 mRNA is unconventionally spliced by IRE1α to yield its activated isoform (XBP1s), which allows expression of genes involved in protein folding, transport, and degradation. XBP1s has been detected in oocytes and early stage embryos of different species, including Drosophila, Xenopus, zebrafish, mice, and pigs, suggesting an important role during early embryo development. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to investigate the effect of XBP1 dysregulation during development of porcine embryos in vitro. Pig zygotes were produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection using in vitro-matured oocytes. Treatments consisted of (a) Cas9 mRNA (Cas9) + 1 single guide RNAs targeting XBP1 gene region 1 (sgRNA-1); (b) Cas9 + 1 single guide RNAs targeting XBP1 gene region 2 (sgRNA-2); (c) Cas9 + sgRNA-1 + sgRNA-2; (d) Cas9 alone; and (e) sgRNA-1 + sgRNA-2. After injection, embryos were cultured in vitro for 5 to 7 days to assess development and cell numbers. Experiments were repeated 5 or more times, and data were analysed by ANOVA and means compared using Student’s t-test or Tukey–Kramer Honestly Significant Difference test. Embryo cleavage was similar between the groups (a = 59.8 ± 4.9%, b = 58.8 ± 5.3%, c = 68.86 ± 2.2%, d = 66.4 ± 5.9%, and e = 70.10 ± 1.9%), but development to the blastocyst stage was substantially reduced (P < 0.05) in the groups injected with Cas9 + sgRNAs (a = 18 ± 4.5%, b = 16 ± 1.5%, and c = 5.3 ± 2.8%) compared with controls (d = 33.7 ± 6.2% and e = 31.4 ± 1.2%). Moreover, we observed that only 22.7% of the embryos treated with Cas9 + sgRNA-1 + sgRNA-2 were able to develop beyond 8-cell stage compared with 62.5% in the control group injected with Cas9 alone. These findings suggest that XBP1 activity is required for maintenance of ER homeostasis and development of porcine embryos beyond the main period of embryo genome activation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (5) ◽  
pp. L846-L854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Nguyen ◽  
Bruce D. Uhal

Recent work from this laboratory showed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) is regulated by the autocrine angiotensin (ANG)II/ANG1-7 system. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 or surfactant protein C (SP-C) BRICHOS domain mutation G100S induced apoptosis in human AECs by activating the proapoptotic cathepsin D and reducing antiapoptotic angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2). This study tested the hypothesis that ER stress-induced apoptosis of human AECs might be mediated by influence of the unfolded protein response (UPR) on the autocrine ANGII/ANG1-7 system. A549 cells were challenged with MG132 or SP-C BRICHOS domain mutant G100S to induce ER stress and activation of UPR pathways. The results showed that either MG132 or G100S SP-C mutation activated all three canonical pathways of the UPR (IRE1/XBP1, ATF6, and PERK/eIF2α), which led to a significant increase in cathepsin D or in TACE (an ACE-2 ectodomain shedding enzyme) and eventually caused AEC apoptosis. However, ER stress-induced AEC apoptosis could be prevented by chemical chaperone or by UPR blockers. It is also suggested that ATF6 and IRE1 pathways might play important role in regulation of angiotensin system. These data demonstrate that ER stress induces apoptosis in human AECs through mediation of UPR pathways, which in turn regulate the autocrine ANGII/ANG1-7 system. They also demonstrated that ER stress-induced AEC apoptosis can be blocked by inhibition of UPR signaling pathways.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1493-1508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Xiong Tan ◽  
Mariati Teo ◽  
Yuen T. Lam ◽  
Ian W. Dawes ◽  
Gabriel G. Perrone

Genome-wide screening for sensitivity to chronic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by dithiothreitol and tunicamycin (TM) identified mutants deleted for Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) function (SOD1, CCS1) or affected in NADPH generation via the pentose phosphate pathway (TKL1, RPE1). TM-induced ER stress led to an increase in cellular superoxide accumulation and an increase in SOD1 expression and Sod1p activity. Prior adaptation of the hac1 mutant deficient in the unfolded protein response (UPR) to the superoxide-generating agent paraquat reduced cell death under ER stress. Overexpression of the ER oxidoreductase Ero1p known to generate hydrogen peroxide in vitro, did not lead to increased superoxide levels in cells subjected to ER stress. The mutants lacking SOD1, TKL1, or RPE1 exhibited decreased UPR induction under ER stress. Sensitivity of the sod1 mutant to ER stress and decreased UPR induction was partially rescued by overexpression of TKL1 encoding transketolase. These data indicate an important role for SOD and cellular NADP(H) in cell survival during ER stress, and it is proposed that accumulation of superoxide affects NADP(H) homeostasis, leading to reduced UPR induction during ER stress.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suvadip Mallick ◽  
Surajit Chakraborty ◽  
Bibhabasu Hazra ◽  
Sujata Dev ◽  
Sriparna Mukherjee ◽  
...  

AbstractChandipura virus (CHPV) and Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) are known to infect neurons followed by their successful propagation. Increased incidences of central nervous system invasion by the abovementioned viruses have been reported in case of children and elderly thus culminating into severe neurological damage. Literature suggests induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress related proteins upon CHPV and JEV infection which help promote viral reproduction. Since earlier studies underscore the pleotropic role of atorvastatin (AT) in neuroprotection against flaviviruses like Hepatitis C and dengue, it was hypothesized that AT might also act as a neuroprotective agent against RNA viruses like CHPV and JEV. AT-mediated antiviral activity was evaluated by assessing survivability of virus-infected mouse pups treated with the drug. Balb C mice were used for in vivo experiments. Neuro2A cell line was used as the model for in vitro experiments. Cells subjected to AT treatment were infected by CHPV and JEV followed by evaluation of ER stress-related and apoptosis-related proteins by immunoblotting technique and immunofluorescence microscopy. Interaction of host protein with viral genome was assessed by RNA-Co-IP. AT treatment exhibited significant anti-viral activity against CHPV and JEV infections via hnRNPC-dependent manner. Viral genome-hnRNPC interaction was found to be abrogated upon AT action. AT was also observed to reduce secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by the neurons in response to viral infection. Moreover, AT treatment was also demonstrated to reduce neuronal death by abrogating virus-induced miR-21 upregulation in hnRNPC-dependent fashion. This study thus suggests probable candidature of AT as antiviral against CHPV and JEV infections.


1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 7153-7164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabrouk M. Elgadi ◽  
Christopher E. Hayes ◽  
James R. Smiley

ABSTRACT The herpes simplex virus virion host shutoff (vhs) protein (UL41 gene product) is a component of the HSV virion tegument that triggers shutoff of host protein synthesis and accelerated mRNA degradation during the early stages of HSV infection. Previous studies have demonstrated that extracts from HSV-infected cells and partially purified HSV virions display vhs-dependent RNase activity and that vhs is sufficient to trigger accelerated RNA degradation when expressed as the only HSV protein in an in vitro translation system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. We have used the rabbit reticulocyte translation system to characterize the mode of vhs-induced RNA decay in more detail. We report here that vhs-dependent RNA decay proceeds through endoribonucleolytic cleavage, is not affected by the presence of a 5′ cap or a 3′ poly(A) tail in the RNA substrate, requires Mg2+, and occurs in the absence of ribosomes. Intriguingly, sites of preferential initial cleavage were clustered over the 5′ quadrant of one RNA substrate that was characterized in detail. The vhs homologue of pseudorabies virus also induced accelerated RNA decay in this in vitro system.


Author(s):  
Chao Li

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress triggers a series of signaling and transcriptional events termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). Severe ER stress is associated with the development of fibrosis in different organs including lung, liver, kidney, heart, and intestine. ER stress is an essential response of epithelial and immune cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn&rsquo;s disease. Intestinal epithelial cells are susceptible to ER stress-mediated damage due to secretion of a large amount of proteins that are involved in mucosal defense. In other cells, ER stress is linked to myofibroblast activation, extracellular matrix production, macrophage polarization, and immune cell differentiation. This review focuses on the role of UPR in the pathogenesis in IBD from an immunologic perspective. The roles of macrophage and mesenchymal cells in the UPR from in vitro and in vivo animal models are discussed. The links between ER stress and other signaling pathways such as senescence and autophagy are introduced. Recent advances in the understanding of the epigenetic regulation of UPR signaling are also updated here. The future directions of development of the UPR research and therapeutic strategies to manipulate ER stress levels are also reviewed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Miguel Vela

Outbreaks of emerging infections, such as COVID-19 pandemic especially, confront health professionals with the unique challenge of treating patients. With no time to discover new drugs, repurposing of approved drugs or in clinical development is likely the only solution. Replication of coronaviruses (CoVs) occurs in a modified membranous compartment derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), causes host cell ER stress and activates pathways to facilitate adaptation of the host cell machinery to viral needs. Accordingly, modulation of ER remodeling and ER stress response might be pivotal in elucidating CoV-host interactions and provide a rationale for new therapeutic, host-based antiviral approaches. The sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) is a ligand-operated, ER membrane-bound chaperone that acts as an upstream modulator of ER stress and thus a candidate host protein for host-based repurposing approaches to treat COVID-19 patients. Sig-1R ligands are frequently identified in in vitro drug repurposing screens aiming to identify antiviral compounds against CoVs, including severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Sig-1R regulates key mechanisms of the adaptive host cell stress response and takes part in early steps of viral replication. It is enriched in lipid rafts and detergent-resistant ER membranes, where it colocalizes with viral replicase proteins. Indeed, the non-structural SARS-CoV-2 protein Nsp6 interacts with Sig-1R. The activity of Sig-1R ligands against COVID-19 remains to be specifically assessed in clinical trials. This review provides a rationale for targeting Sig-1R as a host-based drug repurposing approach to treat COVID-19 patients. Evidence gained using Sig-1R ligands in unbiased in vitro antiviral drug screens and the potential mechanisms underlying the modulatory effect of Sig-1R on the host cell response are discussed. Targeting Sig-1R is not expected to reduce dramatically established viral replication, but it might interfere with early steps of virus-induced host cell reprogramming, aid to slow down the course of infection, prevent the aggravation of the disease and/or allow a time window to mature a protective immune response. Sig-1R-based medicines could provide benefit not only as early intervention, preventive but also as adjuvant therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 8177
Author(s):  
Nataša Pavlović ◽  
Maria Kopsida ◽  
Pär Gerwins ◽  
Femke Heindryckx

The P2Y12 receptor is an adenosine diphosphate responsive G protein-coupled receptor expressed on the surface of platelets and is the pharmacologic target of several anti-thrombotic agents. In this study, we use liver samples from mice with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma to show that P2Y12 is expressed by macrophages in the liver. Using in vitro methods, we show that inhibition of P2Y12 with ticagrelor enhances tumor cell phagocytosis by macrophages and induces an anti-tumoral phenotype. Treatment with ticagrelor also increases the expression of several actors of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways, suggesting activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Inhibiting the UPR with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (Tudca) diminishes the pro-phagocytotic effect of ticagrelor, thereby indicating that P2Y12 mediates macrophage function through activation of ER stress pathways. This could be relevant in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease and cancer, as macrophages are considered key players in these inflammation-driven pathologies.


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