Journal
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
Volume 79, Issue 15, Pages 9725-9734Publisher
AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.79.15.9725-9734.2005
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Funding
- NIDDK NIH HHS [DK061566, R01 DK061566] Funding Source: Medline
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease, which can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, the activation of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) has been implicated in the HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we focus on the signaling pathway leading to Cox-2 activation induced by HCV gene expression. Here, we demonstrate that the HCV-induced reactive oxygen species and subsequent activation of NF-kappa B mediate the activation of Cox-2. The HCV-induced Cox-2 was sensitive to antioxidant (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate), Ca2+ chelator (BAPTA-AM), and calpain inhibitor (N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-Met-H). The levels of prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), the product of Cox-2 activity, are increased in HCV-expressing cells. Furthermore, HCV-expressing cells treated with the inhibitors of Cox-2 (celecoxib and NS-398) showed significant reduction in PGE(2) levels. We also observed the enhanced phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream substrates glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta and proapoptotic Bad in the HCV replicon-expressing cells. These phosphorylation events were sensitive to inhibitors of Cox-2 (celecoxib and NS-398) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (LY294002). Our results also suggest a potential role of Cox-2 and PGE(2) in HCV RNA replication. These studies provide insight into the mechanisms by which HCV induces intracellular events relevant to liver pathogenesis associated with viral infection.
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