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Hepatitis C virus–induced oxidative stress suppresses hepcidin expression through increased histone deacetylase activity
Author(s) -
Miura Kouichi,
Taura Kojiro,
Kodama Yuzo,
Schnabl Bernd,
Brenner David A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.22486
Subject(s) - hepcidin , histone deacetylase , trichostatin a , oxidative stress , replicon , hepatitis c virus , chemistry , reactive oxygen species , biology , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , inflammation , immunology , histone , virus , biochemistry , dna , plasmid , gene
Chronic hepatitis C is characterized by iron accumulation in the liver, and excessive iron is hepatotoxic. However, the mechanism by which hepatitis C virus (HCV) regulates iron metabolism is poorly understood. Hepcidin plays a pivotal role as a negative regulator of iron absorption. The aim of the current study was to elucidate the mechanisms that govern hepcidin expression by HCV. Huh 7 cells, Huh7.5 cells, full‐length HCV replicon cells established from Huh7.5 cells, and adenoviruses expressing HCV‐core or HCV nonstructural proteins 3 through 5 (NS3‐5) were used. Hepcidin expression was significantly lower in HCV replicon cells and in HCV core–expressing Huh7 cells. The expression was inversely correlated with the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Anti‐oxidants restored hepcidin expression in HCV replicon cells and Huh7 cells expressing HCV core. In HCV replicon cells, histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity was elevated at baseline and after exposure to hydrogen peroxide. Anti‐oxidants reduced HDAC activity in a dose‐dependent manner. HDAC inhibition increased hepcidin expression without affecting ROS production in HCV replicon cells. HCV‐induced ROS stabilized the expression of two negative hepcidin regulators, HIF1α and HIF2α, and its expression was decreased by a HDAC inhibitor or an anti‐oxidant. HCV‐induced ROS also caused hypoacetylation of histones and inhibited binding of two positive regulators, C/EBPα and STAT3, to the hepcidin promoter, whereas anti‐oxidant treatment of cells recovered C/EBPα and STAT3 binding to the hepcidin promoter. In addition, an HDAC inhibitor restored their binding to the hepcidin promoter via acetylation of histones. Conclusion: HCV‐induced oxidative stress suppresses hepcidin expression through increased HDAC activity. (H EPATOLOGY 2008.)