) Approximately 170 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus causes about a million deaths and 2-3 million new infections each year. HCV establishes chronic hepatotropic infection in the majority of infected individuals. However, not all chronically infected persons develop liver diseases. The viral and host factors, and their interactions, that determines the development of HCV persistence and liver diseases remains obscure largely due to the lack of an appropriate small animal model. Notably, HCV induced liver diseases develops after years or decades of persistent viral infection in humans, the natural host of HCV, and therefore an informative liver disease model should develop long term viral persistence leading to chronic liver inflammation and diseases. Only chimpanzees can serve as immunocompetent hosts to study HCV infection but are unavailable. Considering the strict species tropism of HCV, the best alternative is to develop a surrogate model where the virus and its infection in the host mirror HCV infection in humans and chimpanzees. GBV-B served as an informative surrogate model but it mostly causes acute resolving infection (of a few months). Rodent hepaciviruses (RHV) are animal homologs of HCV. We isolated a RHV from wild rats (Rattus norvegicus), designated RHV-rn1 (preliminary data). We determined that RHV-rn1 possesses HCV?s defining hallmarks: hepatotropism, propensity to life-long persistence and slow progressing liver disease. Immune responses elicited by RHV-rn1 and HCV are similar including the induction of interferon stimulated genes in the liver during acute and chronic viral infection Taken together, we showed that RHV-rn1 infection of immunocompetent rats is an innovative model to study HCV-related persistence and pathogenesis. We propose to characterize the host factors that dictate viral infection outcomes and diseases. Since, their better characterization is critical for developing new means of preventing viral persistence and diseases.
Aim -1 is to study natural history of virus pathogenesis and dynamics of innate immune responses culminating in different infection outcomes and liver pathologies.
Aim -2 is high-resolution mapping of innate immune responses in the liver of infected rats. We will study serial gene expression changes using cell-type specific and single-cell RNA-seq analysis of virus infected and uninfected hepatocytes, sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells and natural killer cells.
Aim -3 is to target the viral genomes and specific innate immune responses for achieving virus clearance or averting liver diseases. We will use miRNA expressing Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors to inhibit virus replication or repress/de- repress host gene expression. Consequently, we will know the precise role of the targeted host responses in hepacivirus persistence and pathogenesis. We believe that the proposed studies will provide unprecedented insights into the in vivo relevance of host responses during HCV pathogenesis. Additionally, further characterization of our novel fully immunocompetent and tractable model will allow development of innovative means to prevent viral persistence and liver diseases. !

Public Health Relevance

An estimated 2-3% of the world?s population is chronically infected with hepatitis C virus. Each year, 3?4 million people are newly infected with HCV and 476,000 patients die from HCV-associated end-stage liver disease and its complications. We will develop a tractable surrogate animal model to study HCV-related viruses for studies of virus infection and pathogenesis. Our studies will provide new insight into the immunopathogenesis of these viruses paving the way for the development of strategies to prevent HCV-driven diseases. !

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI137567-04
Application #
10084805
Study Section
Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section (HBPP)
Program Officer
Koshy, Rajen
Project Start
2018-02-01
Project End
2023-01-31
Budget Start
2021-02-01
Budget End
2022-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2021
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
147212963
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43205