GRIM-19 restricts HCV replication by attenuating intracellular lipid accumulation

Gene-associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality 19 (GRIM-19) targets multiple signaling pathways involved in cell death and growth. However, the role of GRIM-19 in the pathogenesis of hepatitis virus infections remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the restrictive effects of GRIM-19 on the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV). We found that GRIM-19 protein levels were reduced in HCV-infected Huh7 cells and Huh7 cells harboring HCV replicons. Moreover, ectopically expressed GRIM-19 caused a reduction in both intracellular viral RNA levels and secreted viruses in HCVcc-infected cell cultures. The restrictive effect on HCV replication was restored by treatment with siRNA against GRIM-19. Interestingly, GRIM-19 overexpression did not alter the level of phosphorylated STAT3 or its subcellular distribution. Strikingly, forced expression of GRIM-19 attenuated an increase in intracellular lipid droplets after oleic acid (OA) treatment or HCVcc infection. GRIM-19 overexpression abrogated fatty acid-induced upregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1 (SREBP-1c), resulting in attenuated expression of its target genes such as fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC). Treatment with OA or overexpression of SREBP-1c in GRIM-19-expressing, HCVcc-infected cells restored HCV replication. Our results suggest that GRIM-19 interferes with HCV replication by attenuating intracellular lipid accumulation and therefore is an anti-viral host factor that could be a promising target for HCV treatment.