Transcriptional regulation of the TFIIH transcription repair components XPB and XPD by the hepatitis B virus x protein in liver cells and transgenic liver tissue.

Human hepatitis B virus is a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The hepatitis B virus x protein (HBx) has been shown to inactivate the p53 tumor suppressor protein and impair DNA repair, cell cycle, and apoptosis mechanisms. Herein we report that HBx represses two components of the transcription-repair factor TFIIH, XPB (p89), and XPD (p80), both in p53-proficient and p53-deficient liver cells. This inhibition is observed while HBx maintains its transactivation function. Expression of HBx in liver cells results in down-regulation of endogenous XPB and XPD mRNAs and proteins; this inhibition is not observed with other TFIIH subunits, XPA or PCNA. In liver tissue from HBx transgenics, XPB and XPD proteins are down-regulated in comparison to matched normal liver tissue. HBx has been shown to interact with Sp1 transcription factor and affects its DNA binding activity. Sp1 is essential for the basal promoter activity of XPB in liver cells and Drosophila SL2 cells. In the Sp1-deficient SL2 cells, HBx-induced XPB and XPD inhibition is Sp1-dependent. In summary, our results provide evidence that HBx represses the expression of key TFIIH proteins at least in part through Sp1 elements; this repression may impair TFIIH function in DNA repair mechanisms.

Modulation of glutathione S-transferase alpha by hepatitis B virus and the chemopreventive drug oltipraz.

Persistent infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and exposure to chemical carcinogens correlates with the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in endemic areas. The precise nature of the interaction between these factors is not known. Glutathione S-transferases (GST) are responsible for the cellular metabolism and detoxification of a variety of cytotoxic and carcinogenic compounds by catalysis of their conjugation with glutathione. Diminished GST activity could enhance cellular sensitivity to chemical carcinogens. We have investigated GST isozyme expression in hepatocellular HepG2 cells and in an HBV-transfected subline. Total GST activity and selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase activity are significantly decreased in HBV transfected cells. On immunoblotting, HBV transfected cells demonstrate a significant decrease in the level of GST Alpha class. Cytotoxicity assays reveal that the HBV transfected cells are more sensitive to a wide range of compounds known to be detoxified by GST Alpha conjugation. Although no significant difference in protein half-life between the two cell lines was found, semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction shows a reduced amount of GST Alpha mRNA in the transfected cells. Because the HBV x protein (HBx) seems to play a role in HBV transfection, we also demonstrated that expression of the HBx gene into HepG2 cells decreased the amount of GST Alpha protein. Transient transfection experiments using both rat and human GST Alpha (rGSTA5 and hGSTA1) promoters in HepG2 cells show a decreased CAT activity upon HBx expression, supporting a transcriptional regulation of both genes by HBx. This effect is independent of HBx interaction with Sp1. Treatment with oltipraz, an inducer of GST Alpha, partially overcomes the effect of HBx on both promoters. Promoter deletion studies indicate that oltipraz works through responsive elements distinct from AP1 or NF-kappaB transcription factors. Thus, HBV infection alters phase II metabolizing enzymes via different mechanisms than those modulated by treatment with oltipraz.

Genomic cloning and characterization of the rat glutathione S-transferase-A3-subunit gene.

The rat glutathione S-transferase-A3-subunit (GSTA3) gene is a member of the class Alpha GSTs, which we have previously reported to be overexpressed in anti-cancer-drug-resistant cells. In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of the entire rat GSTA3 (rGST Yc1) subunit gene. The rat GSTA3 subunit gene is approximately 15 kb in length and consists of seven exons interrupted by introns of different lengths. Exon 1, with a length of 219 bp, contains only the 5'-untranslated region of the gene. Each exon-intron splicing junction exhibited the consensus sequence for a mammalian splice site. The transcription start site and exon 1 of rat GSTA3 were characterized by a combination of primer extension and rapid amplification of the cDNA ends. Position +1 was identified 219 bp upstream of the first exon-intron splicing junction. The proximal promoter region of the rat GSTA3 subunit gene does not contain typical TATA or CAAT boxes. A computer-based search for potential transcription-factor binding sites revealed the existence of a number of motifs such as anti-oxidant-responsive element, ras-response element, activator protein-1, nuclear factor-kappaB, cAMP-response-element-binding protein, Barbie box and E box. The functional activity of the regulatory region of the rat GSTA3 subunit gene was shown by its ability to drive the expression of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene in rat mammary carcinoma cells, and its activity was greater in melphalan-resistant cells known to have transcriptional activation of this gene by previous studies. The structure of the gene, with a large intron upstream of the translation-initiation site, may explain why the isolation of this promoter has been so elusive. This information will provide the opportunity to examine the involvement of the rat GSTA3 subunit gene in drug resistance and carcinogenesis.

Identification of the Yc1 glutathione S-transferase mRNA as the overexpressed species in a nitrogen mustard-resistant rat mammary carcinoma cell line.

Glutathione transferase (GSTs) have been shown to be overexpressed in a number of tumor cell lines selected for resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and have been implicated in some studies of clinical specimens. In tumor cell lines selected for resistance to chemicals that alkylate DNA, the isoform most frequently overexpressed is GST-Yc, a member of the alpha class GSTs. To date, two variations of the cDNA designated Yc1 with subtle differences have been described, and Yc2 is shown to be clearly distinct. Transfection of a Yc1 cDNA constitutively expressed in rat liver into rat mammary cancer cells confers resistance to alkylators, however, to a lesser extent than is observed in the cells selected for resistance. It has therefore been widely suggested that the GST that is overexpressed in selected resistant cells represents a distinct and novel isoform. We have previously described a rat mammary carcinoma cell line (MLNr) that is resistant to alkylating agents, and overexpresses a GST with characteristics similar to GST-Yc1 and not Yc2. It has many features common to the several other GST-Yc overexpressing alkylator resistant cell lines. We have cloned the specific Yc cDNA overexpressed in MLNr and analyzed it in detail and found that it is identical to one of the previously reported Yc1 cDNAs, suggesting that there is no additional Yc gene specifically induced by nitrogen mustards. Another hypothesis to explain the difference in the level of resistance in selected versus GST-Yc transfected cells is the lack of concurrent increased glutathione (GSH) in the transfectants, which is a common feature in the selected resistant cells. Experiments in which we modulated GSH levels suggest that this is not likely. These studies add to our speculation that other mechanisms may be involved in alkylator resistance.

Allele-specific PCR analysis of p53 codon 249 AGT transversion in liver tissues from patients with viral hepatitis.

AGG to AGT mutations in codon 249 of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene are frequently observed in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) from areas where exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB) occurs. We developed a sensitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) assay to detect this point mutation in non-neoplastic human liver tissues. Three oligonucleotide primers, 1 specific for the mutant allele and 2 specific for the wild-type allele were used. The mutant allele primer differed from the wild-type allele due to a G-to-T transversion in its terminal 3' nucleotide. The first stage involved amplification of exon 7 of p53 followed by a selective amplification of mutant codon 249 sequences. This method allowed for the detection of a mutant codon 249 allele in the presence of as many as 105 copies of the wild-type allele and was 100-fold more sensitive than the restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR technique. We have applied this AS-PCR protocol to examine codon 249 AGT transversion in tumor and matched non-tumor liver samples from North American patients with hepatitis and from Mozambiquan patients exposed to AFB. Mutations were detected in 5 of 6 samples of non-neoplastic liver from Mozambiquan patients, all of whom were HBsAg- or HBcAg-positive and AFB-exposed. In contrast, no mutations were detected in non-neoplastic liver from North American patients with either HBV- or HCV-derived hepatitis and cirrhosis. This procedure is a simple and powerful approach for screening p53 codon 249 AGT mutation in heterogeneous non-neoplastic hepatocyte populations.