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The RNA Sensor RIG-I Dually Functions as an Innate Sensor and Direct Antiviral Factor for Hepatitis B Virus

  • Seiichi Sato
  • , Kai Li
  • , Takeshi Kameyama
  • , Takaya Hayashi
  • , Yuji Ishida
  • , Shuko Murakami
  • , Tsunamasa Watanabe
  • , Sayuki Iijima
  • , Yu Sakurai
  • , Koichi Watashi
  • , Susumu Tsutsumi
  • , Yusuke Sato
  • , Hidetaka Akita
  • , Takaji Wakita
  • , Charles M. Rice
  • , Hideyoshi Harashima
  • , Michinori Kohara
  • , Yasuhito Tanaka
  • , Akinori Takaoka*
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Hokkaido University
  • PhoenixBio Co., Ltd.
  • Nagoya City University
  • National Institute of Infectious Diseases
  • Rockefeller University
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Host innate recognition triggers key immune responses for viral elimination. The sensing mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV), a DNA virus, and the subsequent downstream signaling events remain to be fully clarified. Here we found that type III but nottype I interferons are predominantly induced in human primary hepatocytes in response to HBV infection, through retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-mediated sensing of the 5'-ε region of HBV pregenomic RNA. In addition, RIG-I could also counteract the interaction of HBV polymerase (P protein) with the 5'-ε region in an RNA-binding dependent manner, which consistently suppressed viral replication. Liposome-mediated delivery and vector-based expression of this ε region-derived RNA in liver abolished the HBV replication in human hepatocyte-chimeric mice. These findings identify an innate-recognition mechanism by which RIG-I dually functions as an HBV sensor activating innate signaling and to counteract viral polymerase in human hepatocytes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-132
Number of pages10
JournalImmunity
Volume42
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Jan 2015
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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