Differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profile

Abstract Background An infection with hepatitis D virus (HDV) is considered the most extreme form of viral hepatitis. Infection with HDV elicits strong increases in inflammation and hepatic injury, therefore pushing liver cirrhosis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite this, lit...

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Main Authors: Keerthihan Thiyagarajah, Mirco Glitscher, Kai-Henrik Peiffer, Eberhard Hildt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Cell Communication and Signaling
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02290-0
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author Keerthihan Thiyagarajah
Mirco Glitscher
Kai-Henrik Peiffer
Eberhard Hildt
author_facet Keerthihan Thiyagarajah
Mirco Glitscher
Kai-Henrik Peiffer
Eberhard Hildt
author_sort Keerthihan Thiyagarajah
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background An infection with hepatitis D virus (HDV) is considered the most extreme form of viral hepatitis. Infection with HDV elicits strong increases in inflammation and hepatic injury, therefore pushing liver cirrhosis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite this, little is known on how HDV influences the host-cell’s equilibrium. As the pathogenesis is majorly driven by host-responses, a deep understanding is required in terms of how signalling cascades are modulated by the virus in order to identify targets for preventive and therapeutic strategies. Accordingly, this study aims to establish the kinome profile for HDAg-expressing and HDV-replicating cells which could serve as base for future research characterizing HDV-host interaction. Methods We performed kinome profiling in Huh7 cells ectopically expressing the two HDV protein isoforms S- and LHDAg or replicating HDV genomes. Significantly deregulated kinases were identified using an array-based screening. Results The different HDAg isoforms revealed a differential impact on the overall signalling landscape predominantly in nucleoplasm. Enrichment analyses indicated that HDAg and HDV-replication elicit kinomic changes overlapping with footprints of several diseases such as viral carcinogenesis and HCC. The responsible kinases therefore present promising targets of intervention. Moreover, pathways of innate immunity, inflammation, growth-factor-response yet also distinct modulatory signalling cascades were identified. Most prominently, the MAPK- and PI3K-Akt-cascades were affected by all experimental conditions. Within these cascades AKT1, GSK3A and PRKACA were identified as the most influential hits. A hierarchical pathway map of identified deregulated kinases indicated major changes in inflammatory processes, cell cycle control and metabolic control. Conclusions A detailed analysis of the impact of HDV on the cellular kinome was established. Based on this, host-factors, single hits and even entire signalling cascades were identified. These advance understanding of HDV life cycle, and support development of novel therapeutics, yet also help to assess pathogenic processes.
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spelling doaj-art-6a4ef1ab24474c4fb5ddc177a68927cb2025-08-20T03:22:54ZengBMCCell Communication and Signaling1478-811X2025-06-0123111710.1186/s12964-025-02290-0Differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profileKeerthihan Thiyagarajah0Mirco Glitscher1Kai-Henrik Peiffer2Eberhard Hildt3Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Research GroupPaul-Ehrlich-Institut, Research GroupDivision Gastroenterology, University Hospital MünsterPaul-Ehrlich-Institut, Research GroupAbstract Background An infection with hepatitis D virus (HDV) is considered the most extreme form of viral hepatitis. Infection with HDV elicits strong increases in inflammation and hepatic injury, therefore pushing liver cirrhosis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite this, little is known on how HDV influences the host-cell’s equilibrium. As the pathogenesis is majorly driven by host-responses, a deep understanding is required in terms of how signalling cascades are modulated by the virus in order to identify targets for preventive and therapeutic strategies. Accordingly, this study aims to establish the kinome profile for HDAg-expressing and HDV-replicating cells which could serve as base for future research characterizing HDV-host interaction. Methods We performed kinome profiling in Huh7 cells ectopically expressing the two HDV protein isoforms S- and LHDAg or replicating HDV genomes. Significantly deregulated kinases were identified using an array-based screening. Results The different HDAg isoforms revealed a differential impact on the overall signalling landscape predominantly in nucleoplasm. Enrichment analyses indicated that HDAg and HDV-replication elicit kinomic changes overlapping with footprints of several diseases such as viral carcinogenesis and HCC. The responsible kinases therefore present promising targets of intervention. Moreover, pathways of innate immunity, inflammation, growth-factor-response yet also distinct modulatory signalling cascades were identified. Most prominently, the MAPK- and PI3K-Akt-cascades were affected by all experimental conditions. Within these cascades AKT1, GSK3A and PRKACA were identified as the most influential hits. A hierarchical pathway map of identified deregulated kinases indicated major changes in inflammatory processes, cell cycle control and metabolic control. Conclusions A detailed analysis of the impact of HDV on the cellular kinome was established. Based on this, host-factors, single hits and even entire signalling cascades were identified. These advance understanding of HDV life cycle, and support development of novel therapeutics, yet also help to assess pathogenic processes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02290-0SHDAgLHDAgHost-factorsPathway analysisVirus-host interplayViral life cycle
spellingShingle Keerthihan Thiyagarajah
Mirco Glitscher
Kai-Henrik Peiffer
Eberhard Hildt
Differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profile
Cell Communication and Signaling
SHDAg
LHDAg
Host-factors
Pathway analysis
Virus-host interplay
Viral life cycle
title Differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profile
title_full Differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profile
title_fullStr Differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profile
title_full_unstemmed Differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profile
title_short Differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profile
title_sort differential impact of hepatitis delta virus replication and expression of viral antigens on the cellular kinome profile
topic SHDAg
LHDAg
Host-factors
Pathway analysis
Virus-host interplay
Viral life cycle
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02290-0
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AT kaihenrikpeiffer differentialimpactofhepatitisdeltavirusreplicationandexpressionofviralantigensonthecellularkinomeprofile
AT eberhardhildt differentialimpactofhepatitisdeltavirusreplicationandexpressionofviralantigensonthecellularkinomeprofile