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DNA Methyltransferases 1 and 3b Expression in Huh-7 Cells Expressing HCV Core Protein of Different Genotypes

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Abstract

Background

Hepatitis C virus infects ~3 % of the population and it is a risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis. The epigenetic mechanisms of HCV-induced hepatocyte transformation towards malignancy in this context are unclear.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of HCV core proteins of different genotypes on DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) induction.

Materials/Methods

We investigated DNMT1, DNMT3b and E-Cadherin (CDH1) mRNA and protein expression levels in an in vitro model of Huh-7 cells expressing the HCV core protein of different genotypes: 1b, 2a, 3a, 4h and 5a.

Results

We found that both mRNA and protein expression levels of DNMT1 and 3b were upregulated in genotype 1b HCV core expressing cells as compared to control cells. DNMT3b mRNA levels did not change in genotypes 2a, 3a, 4h and 5a, but were upregulated at the protein level by genotype 1b, 2a, 3a. CDH1 mRNA expression was downregulated only in genotype 1b, whereas its protein expression resulted in downregulation by the HCV core of genotypes 1b, 2a and 3a. Conversely, no significant changes were observed for DNMTs and CDH1 investigated in Huh-7 cells expressing the genotypes 4h and 5a. Furthermore, we present evidence that HCV core 1b protein expression induces DNMTs overexpression through STAT3 protein as demonstrated by NSC74859 treatment. Moreover, SIRT1 inhibition affected DNMT1 and 3b expression only in HCV core protein genotype 1b expressing cells as demonstrated by treatment with its inhibitor sirtinol.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that HCV core protein could play a role in HCC development at least in part by altering DNMTs expression.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Francesco Negro in whose laboratory the plasmids pIRES2-EGFP/Core of different genotypes were generated. This work was supported by the “Italian Ministry of Health” from grant RC1103GA48, through the Research Unit of Gastroenterology, “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy.

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest is declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastroenterology Unit , I.R.C.C.S “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, viale dei Cappuccini n.1, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy

    Giorgia Benegiamo, Ada Piepoli, Angelo Andriulli & Valerio Pazienza

  2. Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, London, UK

    Manlio Vinciguerra

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy

    Gianluigi Mazzoccoli

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  1. Giorgia Benegiamo
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  2. Manlio Vinciguerra
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  3. Gianluigi Mazzoccoli
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  4. Ada Piepoli
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  6. Valerio Pazienza
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Correspondence to Valerio Pazienza.

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Benegiamo, G., Vinciguerra, M., Mazzoccoli, G. et al. DNA Methyltransferases 1 and 3b Expression in Huh-7 Cells Expressing HCV Core Protein of Different Genotypes. Dig Dis Sci 57, 1598–1603 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-012-2160-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-012-2160-1

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