Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF5) suppresses Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Replication and HCV-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma [Cell Biology]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major risk factor for the development of chronic liver disease. The disease typically progresses from chronic HCV to fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and death. Chronic inflammation associated with HCV infection is implicated in cirrhosis and HCC, but the molecular players and signaling pathways contributing to these processes remain largely unknown. Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) is a molecule of interest in HCV-associated HCC because it has critical roles in virus-, Tolllike receptor (TLR)-, and interferon (IFN)- induced signaling pathways. IRF5 is also a tumor suppressor, and its expression is dysregulated in several human cancers. Here, we present first evidence that IRF5 expression and signaling are modulated during HCV infection. Using HCV infection of human hepatocytes and cells with autonomously replicating HCV RNA, we found that levels of IRF5 mRNA and protein expression were downregulated. Of note, reporter assays indicated that IRF5 re-expression inhibited HCV protein translation and RNA replication. Gene expression analysis revealed significant differences in the expression of cancer pathway mediators and autophagy proteins rather than in cytokines between IRF5- and empty vector-transfected HCV replicon cells. IRF5 reexpression induced apoptosis via loss in mitochondrial membrane potential, downregulated autophagy, and inhibited hepatocyte cell migration/invasion. Analysis of clinical HCC specimens support a pathologic role for IRF5 in HCV-induced HCC, as IRF5 expression was down-regulated in livers from HCV-positive versus HCV-negative HCC patients or healthy donor livers. These results identify IRF5 as an important suppressor of HCV replication and HCC pathogenesis.

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2ib4jaQ
via IFTTT