Journal: The Journal of Clinical Investigation
Article Title: PGLYRP2 drives hepatocyte-intrinsic innate immunity by trapping and clearing hepatitis B virus
doi: 10.1172/JCI188083
Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A ) Schematic representation depicts the HBV promoter–luciferase reporter construct containing BCP/Enh II, Enh I, and NRE regions, alongside a CMV promoter–driven luciferase reporter for control purposes (top). The cotransfection setup in C3A cells (bottom) involves varying concentrations of PGLYRP2 expression plasmid (0–400 ng) or a control vector, alongside a Renilla luciferase reporter to assess transfection efficiency. Dots indicate biological replicates ( n = 3–12; independent experiments). ( B ) Truncated HBV promoter constructs assessed for luciferase activities with PGLYRP2 cotransfection. Dots indicate biological replicates (right, n = 3). ( C ) Schematic representation of HBV genome (1.1 copies) under a Tet-off CMV promoter in HepAD38 cells. ( D – G ) Monitoring HBV replication in modified HepAD38 cell lines. HepAD38 lines (control, PGLYRP2 expressing,or PGLYRP2 knockdown) either control vector, PGLYRP2, or shRNA against PGLYRP2 were cultured in Tet-free conditions for 9 days. Intracellular pgRNA ( D ), extracellular/ intracellular HBV DNA ( E and F ), and supernatant HBeAg/HBsAg ( G , ELISA) were analyzed. ( H and I ) HBV infection assay in modified Huh7-NTCP and PHH cells (control or PGLYRP2-suppressed). Levels of intracellular pgRNA and HBV DNA after infection were analyzed (day 9; n = 3). ( J ) cccDNA quantification in HepAD38 cells treated with ExoI/ExoIII/T5 nuclease (day 9 in Tet-free medium). PCR ( J ; n = 3) and Southern blot ( K , normalized to control). Western blot shows PGLYRP2/GAPDH levels. ( L ) Evaluation of cccDNA binding activity by EMSA. Purified PGLYRP2 or control peptides were incubated with Mfei-cut cccDNA, resolved via native agarose gel, and analyzed by Southern and Western blotting. Data are represented as mean ± SD. Two-tailed Student’s t test ( A , left), 1-way ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni’s test ( A , right, and G ), 2-way ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni’s test ( D – F ), and 2-tailed Student’s t test ( B and H – J ) were used for statistical analysis. * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.001.
Article Snippet: The assay began with an overnight incubation at 4°C, where mouse anti-HBc antibody (NB110-7396, Novus) and rabbit anti-PGLYRP2 antibody (NBP2-32042, Novus) were applied to the samples, followed by the Streptavidin PLA-PLUS probe (Merck).
Techniques: Luciferase, Construct, Control, Cotransfection, Expressing, Plasmid Preparation, Transfection, Modification, Knockdown, shRNA, Cell Culture, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Infection, Southern Blot, Western Blot, Binding Assay, Activity Assay, Purification, Incubation, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, Two Tailed Test