Shilin Yuan1, Guanghong Liao1, Menghuan Zhang2, Yuanfei Zhu3, Kun Wang2, Weidi Xiao4, Caiwei Jia5, Minhui Dong6, Na Sun7, Axel Walch7, Ping Xu8, Jiming Zhang9, Qiang Deng10, Ronggui Hu11. 1. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. 2. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China. 3. Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE & MOH), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. 4. State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Research Unit of Proteomics & Research and Development of New Drug of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China. 5. Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, China. 6. Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOH & MOE), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai 200040, China. 7. Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany. 8. State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Research Unit of Proteomics & Research and Development of New Drug of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China. Electronic address: xuping_bprc@126.com. 9. Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOH & MOE), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai 200040, China. Electronic address: jmzhang@vip.126.com. 10. Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE & MOH), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: qdeng@fudan.edu.cn. 11. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200031, China; School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advance Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China. Electronic address: coryhu@sibcb.ac.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: HBV remains a global threat to human health. It remains incompletely understood how HBV self-restricts in the host during most adult infections. Thus, we performed multi-omics analyses to systematically interrogate HBV-host interactions and the life cycle of HBV. METHODS: RNA-sequencing and ribosome profiling were conducted with cell-based models for HBV replication and gene expression. The novel translational events or products hereby detected were then characterized, and functionally assessed in both cell and mouse models. Moreover, quasi-species analyses of HBV subpopulations were conducted with patients at immune tolerance or activation phases, using next- or third-generation sequencing. RESULTS: We identified EnhI-SL (Enhancer I-stem loop) as a new cis element in the HBV genome; mutations disrupting EnhI-SL were found to elevate viral polymerase expression. Furthermore, while re-discovering HpZ/P', a previously under-explored isoform of HBV polymerase, we also identified HBxZ, a novel short isoform of HBX. Having confirmed their existence, we functionally characterized them as potent suppressors of HBV gene expression and genome replication. Mechanistically, HpZ/P' was found to repress HBV gene expression partially by interacting with, and sequestering SUPV3L1. Activation of the host immune system seemed to reduce the abundance of HBV mutants deficient in HpZ/P' or with disruptions in EnhI-SL. Finally, SRSF2, a host RNA spliceosome protein that is downregulated by HBV, was found to promote the splicing of viral pre-genomic RNA and HpZ/P' biogenesis. CONCLUSION: This study has identified multiple self-restricting HBV-host interactions. In particular, SRSF2-HpZ/P' appeared to constitute another negative feedback mechanism in the HBV life cycle. Targeting host splicing machinery might thus represent a strategy to intervene in HBV-host interactions. LAY SUMMARY: There remain many unknowns about the natural history of HBV infection in adults. Herein, we identified new HBV-host mechanisms which could be responsible for self-restricting infections. Targeting these mechanisms could be a promising strategy for the treatment of HBV infections.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: HBV remains a global threat to human health. It remains incompletely understood how HBV self-restricts in the host during most adult infections. Thus, we performed multi-omics analyses to systematically interrogate HBV-host interactions and the life cycle of HBV. METHODS: RNA-sequencing and ribosome profiling were conducted with cell-based models for HBV replication and gene expression. The novel translational events or products hereby detected were then characterized, and functionally assessed in both cell and mouse models. Moreover, quasi-species analyses of HBV subpopulations were conducted with patients at immune tolerance or activation phases, using next- or third-generation sequencing. RESULTS: We identified EnhI-SL (Enhancer I-stem loop) as a new cis element in the HBV genome; mutations disrupting EnhI-SL were found to elevate viral polymerase expression. Furthermore, while re-discovering HpZ/P', a previously under-explored isoform of HBV polymerase, we also identified HBxZ, a novel short isoform of HBX. Having confirmed their existence, we functionally characterized them as potent suppressors of HBV gene expression and genome replication. Mechanistically, HpZ/P' was found to repress HBV gene expression partially by interacting with, and sequestering SUPV3L1. Activation of the host immune system seemed to reduce the abundance of HBV mutants deficient in HpZ/P' or with disruptions in EnhI-SL. Finally, SRSF2, a host RNA spliceosome protein that is downregulated by HBV, was found to promote the splicing of viral pre-genomic RNA and HpZ/P' biogenesis. CONCLUSION: This study has identified multiple self-restricting HBV-host interactions. In particular, SRSF2-HpZ/P' appeared to constitute another negative feedback mechanism in the HBV life cycle. Targeting host splicing machinery might thus represent a strategy to intervene in HBV-host interactions. LAY SUMMARY: There remain many unknowns about the natural history of HBV infection in adults. Herein, we identified new HBV-host mechanisms which could be responsible for self-restricting infections. Targeting these mechanisms could be a promising strategy for the treatment of HBV infections.