Phenotypic Analysis of NS5A Variant from Liver Transplant Patient with Increased Cyclosporine Susceptibility
02/2013
Journal Article
Authors:
Ansari, I.U.;
Allen, T.;
Berical, A.;
Stock, P.G.;
Barin, B.;
Striker, R.
Secondary:
Virology
Volume:
436
Pagination:
268-273
URL:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23290631
Keywords:
Antiviral Agents; Conditioning/adverse effects; Cyclophilin inhibitor; Cyclosporine; Hepatitis C virus; liver transplantation; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation/Point Mutation; NS-5 protein; Proline/genetics; Viral Nonstructural Proteins
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication is limited by cyclophilin inhibitors but it remains unclear how viral genetic variations influence susceptibility to cyclosporine (cyclosporine A, CsA), a cyclophilin inhibitor. In this study HCV from liver transplant patients was sequenced before and after CsA exposure. Phenotypic analysis of NS5A sequence was performed by using HCV sub genomic replicon to determine CsA susceptibility. The data indicates an atypical proline at position 328 in NS5A causes increases CsA sensitivity both in the context of genotype 1a and 1b residues. Point mutants mimicking other naturally occurring residues at this position also increased (Ala) or decreased (Arg) replicon sensitivity to CsA relative to the typical threonine (genotype 1a) or serine (genotype 1b) at this position. This work has implications for treatment of HCV by cyclophilin inhibitors.