The hepatitis C envelope 2 protein inhibits LFA-1-transduced protein kinase C signaling for T-lymphocyte migration

The ability of viruses to escape the host immune response represents a globally important problem related to a wide variety of pathogens. Hepatitis C is one of the major causes of liver disease worldwide. Clearance rates of this virus are low, and this condition normally involves a chronic inflammatory process. This raises a possibility that the virus may have developed mechanisms enabling it to evade T-cell-mediated immune surveillance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the hepatitis C envelope protein E2 on LFA-1-stimulated T-cell migration and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta) secretion.

T cells were stimulated through the leukocyte function-associated molecule-1 (LFA-1) receptor by incubating with either intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1)-Fc fusion protein or anti-LFA-1 immobilized on 8-well chamber slides. Subcellular localization of protein kinase C (PKC)-beta, CD81, and LFA-1 was determined by immunofluorescence analysis. Lipid raft formation was assessed using the Cellomics Kineticscan reader. MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

We report that the hepatitis C envelope protein E2 can dramatically inhibit T-lymphocyte motility and chemokine release induced via LFA-1 integrin ligation. We have demonstrated a novel T-lymphocyte-directed viral inhibitory mechanism involving the PKC-beta enzyme as a definitive intracellular target. E2-CD81 interaction stimulates translocation of PKC-beta to lipid rafts, thereby preventing its association with the centrosome and microtubule cytoskeleton, which is crucial to the process of T-cell migration.

These studies identify a mechanism whereby the hepatitis C virus can evade the host immune response by inhibition of T-cell migration.