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HCV NS5A and NS5B enhance expression of human ceramide glucosyltransferase gene

Virologica Sinica volume 27, pages 38–47 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Host genes involved in lipid metabolism are differentially affected during the early stages of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Here we demonstrate that artificial up-regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis has a positive effect on the replication of the HCV full-length replicon when cells were treated with nystatin. Conversely, the HCV RNA replication was decreased when fatty acid biosynthesis was inhibited with 25-hydroxycholesterol and PDMP(D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol). In agreement with these results, the expression level of GlcT-1(ceramide glucosyltransferase), a host glucosyltransferase in the first step of GSL (glycosphingolipid) biosynthesis, was found to be closely associated with the expression and replication of HCV RNA. On the other hand, the viral RNA can also activate GlcT-1 in the early stage of viral RNA transfection in vitro. To identify viral factors that are responsible for GlcT-1 activation, we constructed ten stable Vero cell lines that express individual HCV proteins. Based on the analyses of these cell lines and transient transfection assay of the GlcT-1 promoter regions, we conclude that HCV proteins, especially NS5A and NS5B, have positive effects on the expression of GlcT-1. It is possible that NS5A and NS5B stimulate transcription factor(s) to activate the expression of GlcT-1 by increasing its transcription level.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Jia Guo, Ran Yan, Guo-dong Xu & Cong-yi Zheng

  2. China Center for Type Culture Collection, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Cong-yi Zheng

Authors
  1. Jia Guo
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  2. Ran Yan
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  3. Guo-dong Xu
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  4. Cong-yi Zheng
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Correspondence to Cong-yi Zheng.

Additional information

Foundation item: the National “973” Program of China (No. 2011CB504800).

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Guo, J., Yan, R., Xu, Gd. et al. HCV NS5A and NS5B enhance expression of human ceramide glucosyltransferase gene. Virol. Sin. 27, 38–47 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12250-012-3226-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12250-012-3226-0

Key words

  • Hepatitis C virus
  • Fatty acid biosynthesis
  • Ceramide glucosyltransferase
  • Stable cell lines