scholarly journals Mutation of a Single Envelope N-Linked Glycosylation Site Enhances the Pathogenicity of Bovine Leukemia Virus

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (17) ◽  
pp. 8945-8956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alix de Brogniez ◽  
Amel Baya Bouzar ◽  
Jean-Rock Jacques ◽  
Jean-Philippe Cosse ◽  
Nicolas Gillet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bovine Leukemia Virus ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Glycosylation Site ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Viral Envelope Protein ◽  
Cell Infection

ABSTRACTViruses have coevolved with their host to ensure efficient replication and transmission without inducing excessive pathogenicity that would indirectly impair their persistence. This is exemplified by the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) system in which lymphoproliferative disorders develop in ruminants after latency periods of several years. In principle, the equilibrium reached between the virus and its host could be disrupted by emergence of more pathogenic strains. Intriguingly but fortunately, such a hyperpathogenic BLV strain was never observed in the field or designedin vitro. In this study, we sought to understand the role of envelope N-linked glycosylation with the hypothesis that this posttranslational modification could either favor BLV infection by allowing viral entry or allow immune escape by using glycans as a shield. Using reverse genetics of an infectious molecular provirus, we identified a N-linked envelope glycosylation site (N230) that limits viral replication and pathogenicity. Indeed, mutation N230E unexpectedly leads to enhanced fusogenicity and protein stability.IMPORTANCEInfection by retroviruses requires the interaction of the viral envelope protein (SU) with a membrane-associated receptor allowing fusion and release of the viral genomic RNA into the cell. We show that N-linked glycosylation of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) SU protein is, as expected, essential for cell infectionin vitro. Consistently, mutation of all glycosylation sites of a BLV provirus destroys infectivityin vivo. However, single mutations do not significantly modify replicationin vivo. Instead, a particular mutation at SU codon 230 increases replication and accelerates pathogenesis. This unexpected observation has important consequences in terms of disease control and managing.

scholarly journals The YXXL Sequences of a Transmembrane Protein of Bovine Leukemia Virus Are Required for Viral Entry and Incorporation of Viral Envelope Protein into Virions

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 1293-1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazunori Inabe ◽  
Masako Nishizawa ◽  
Shigeru Tajima ◽  
Kazuyoshi Ikuta ◽  
Yoko Aida
Keyword(s):  
Viral Entry ◽  
Envelope Protein ◽  
Bovine Leukemia Virus ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Transient Transfection ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Tyrosine Residue ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Viral Envelope Protein

ABSTRACT The cytoplasmic domain of an envelope transmembrane glycoprotein (gp30) of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) has two overlapping copies of the (YXXL)2 motif. The N-terminal motif has been implicated in in vitro signal transduction pathways from the external to the intracellular compartment and is also involved in infection and maintenance of high viral loads in sheep that have been experimentally infected with BLV. To determine the role of YXXL sequences in the replication of BLV in vitro, we changed the tyrosine or leucine residues of the N-terminal motif in an infectious molecular clone of BLV, pBLV-IF, to alanine to produce mutated proviruses designated Y487A, L490A, Y498A, L501A, and Y487/498A. Transient transfection of African green monkey kidney COS-1 cells with proviral DNAs that encoded wild-type and mutant sequences revealed that all of the mutated proviral DNAs synthesized mature envelope proteins and released virus particles into the growth medium. However, serial passages of fetal lamb kidney (FLK) cells, which are sensitive to infection with BLV, after transient transfection revealed that mutation of a second tyrosine residue in the N-terminal motif completely prevented the propagation of the virus. Similarly, Y498A and Y487/498A mutant BLV that was produced by the stably transfected COS-1 cells exhibited significantly reduced levels of cell-free virion-mediated transmission. Analysis of the protein compositions of mutant viruses demonstrated that lower levels of envelope protein were incorporated by two of the mutant virions than by wild-type and other mutant virions. Furthermore, a mutation of a second tyrosine residue decreased the specific binding of BLV particles to FLK cells and the capacity for viral penetration. Our data indicate that the YXXL sequences play critical roles in both viral entry and the incorporation of viral envelope protein into the virion during the life cycle of BLV.

scholarly journals PRMT5 Is Required for Bovine Leukemia Virus Infection In Vivo and Regulates BLV Gene Expression, Syncytium Formation, and Glycosylation In Vitro

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wlaa Assi ◽  
Tomoya Hirose ◽  
Satoshi Wada ◽  
Ryosuke Matsuura ◽  
Shin-nosuke Takeshima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Bovine Leukemia Virus ◽  
Proviral Load ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Syncytium Formation ◽  
High Proviral Load

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, which is the most common neoplastic disease of cattle and is closely related to human T-cell leukemia viruses. We investigated the role of a new host protein, PRMT5, in BLV infection. We found that PRMT5 is overexpressed only in BLV-infected cattle with a high proviral load, but not in those with a low proviral load. Furthermore, this upregulation continued to the lymphoma stage. PRMT5 expression was upregulated in response to experimental BLV infection; moreover, PRMT5 upregulation began in an early stage of BLV infection rather than after a long period of proviral latency. Second, siRNA-mediated PRMT5 knockdown enhanced BLV gene expression at the transcript and protein levels. Additionally, a selective small-molecule inhibitor of PRMT5 (CMP5) enhanced BLV gene expression. Interestingly, CMP5 treatment, but not siRNA knockdown, altered the gp51 glycosylation pattern and increased the molecular weight of gp51, thereby decreasing BLV-induced syncytium formation. This was supported by the observation that CMP5 treatment enhanced the formation of the complex type of N-glycan more than the high mannose type. In conclusion, PRMT5 overexpression is related to the development of BLV infection with a high proviral load and lymphoma stage and PRMT5 inhibition enhances BLV gene expression. This is the first study to investigate the role of PRMT5 in BLV infection in vivo and in vitro and to reveal a novel function for a small-molecule compound in BLV-gp51 glycosylation processing.

scholarly journals Discordance between Bovine Leukemia Virus Tax Immortalization In Vitro and Oncogenicity In Vivo

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (21) ◽  
pp. 9895-9902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Twizere ◽  
Pierre Kerkhofs ◽  
Arsène Burny ◽  
Daniel Portetelle ◽  
Richard Kettmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Replication ◽  
Bovine Leukemia Virus ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Phosphorylation Sites ◽  
Primary Cells ◽  
Wild Type

ABSTRACT Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) Tax protein, a transcriptional activator of viral expression, is essential for viral replication in vivo. Tax is believed to be involved in leukemogenesis because of its second function, immortalization of primary cells in vitro. These activities of Tax can be dissociated on the basis of point mutations within specific regions of the protein. For example, mutation of the phosphorylation sites at serines 106 and 293 abrogates immortalization potential in vitro but maintains transcriptional activity. This type of mutant is thus particularly useful for unraveling the role of Tax immortalization activity during leukemogenesis independently of viral replication. In this report, we describe the biological properties of BLV recombinant proviruses mutated in the Tax phosphorylation sites (BLVTax106+293). Titration of the proviral loads by semiquantitative PCR revealed that the BLV mutants propagated at wild-type levels in vivo. Furthermore, two animals (sheep 480 and 296) infected with BLVTax106+293 developed leukemia or lymphosarcoma after 16 and 36 months, respectively. These periods of time are within the normal range of latencies preceding the onset of pathogenesis induced by wild-type viruses. The phenotype of the mutant-infected cells was characteristic of a B lymphocyte (immunoglobulin M positive) expressing CD11b and CD5 (except at the final stage for the latter marker), a pattern that is typical of wild-type virus-infected target cells. Interestingly, the transformed B lymphocytes from sheep 480 also coexpressed the CD8 marker, a phenotype rarely observed in tumor biopsies from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Finally, direct sequencing of the tax gene demonstrated that the leukemic cells did not harbor revertant proviruses. We conclude that viruses expressing a Tax mutant unable to transform primary cells in culture are still pathogenic in the sheep animal model. Our data thus provide a clear example of the discordant conclusions that can be drawn from in vitro immortalization assays and in vivo experiments. These observations could be of interest for other systems, such as the related human T-cell leukemia virus type 1, which currently lack animal models allowing the study of the leukemogenic process.

scholarly journals SERINC5 Potently Restricts Retrovirus Infection In Vivo

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uddhav Timilsina ◽  
Supawadee Umthong ◽  
Brian Lynch ◽  
Aimee Stablewski ◽  
Spyridon Stavrou
Keyword(s):  
Murine Leukemia Virus ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
The Other ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Retrovirus Infection ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
Murine Leukemia

ABSTRACT The serine incorporator (SERINC) proteins are multipass transmembrane proteins that affect sphingolipid and phosphatidylserine synthesis. Human SERINC5 and SERINC3 were recently shown to possess antiretroviral activity for a number of retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), murine leukemia virus (MLV), and equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). In the case of MLV, the glycosylated Gag (glyco-Gag) protein was shown to counteract SERINC5-mediated restriction in in vitro experiments and the viral envelope was found to determine virion sensitivity or resistance to SERINC5. However, nothing is known about the in vivo function of SERINC5. Antiretroviral function of a host factor in vitro is not always associated with antiretroviral function in vivo. Using SERINC5−/− mice that we had generated, we showed that mouse SERINC5 (mSERINC5) restriction of MLV infection in vivo is influenced not only by glyco-Gag but also by the retroviral envelope. Finally, we also examined the in vivo function of the other SERINC gene with known antiretroviral functions, SERINC3. By using SERINC3−/− mice, we found that the murine homologue, mSERINC3, had no antiretroviral role either in vivo or in vitro. To our knowledge, this report provides the first data showing that SERINC5 restricts retrovirus infection in vivo and that restriction of retrovirus infectivity in vivo is dependent on the presence of both glyco-Gag and the viral envelope. IMPORTANCE This study examined for the first time the in vivo function of the serine incorporator (SERINC) proteins during retrovirus infection. SERINC3 and SERINC5 (SERINC3/5) restrict a number of retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and murine leukemia virus (MLV), by blocking their entry into cells. Nevertheless, HIV-1 and MLV encode factors, Nef and glycosylated Gag, respectively, that counteract SERINC3/5 in vitro. We recently developed SERINC3 and SERINC5 knockout mice to examine the in vivo function of these genes. We found that SERINC5 restriction is dependent on the absence of glycosylated Gag and the expression of a specific viral envelope glycoprotein. On the other hand, SERINC3 had no antiviral function. Our findings have implications for the development of therapeutics that target SERINC5 during retrovirus infection.

scholarly journals Ebola Virus Glycoprotein Toxicity Is Mediated by a Dynamin-Dependent Protein-Trafficking Pathway

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 547-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy J. Sullivan ◽  
Mary Peterson ◽  
Zhi-yong Yang ◽  
Wing-pui Kong ◽  
Heinricus Duckers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Cellular Damage ◽  
Cell Surface Expression

ABSTRACT Ebola virus infection causes a highly lethal hemorrhagic fever syndrome associated with profound immunosuppression through its ability to induce widespread inflammation and cellular damage. Though GP, the viral envelope glycoprotein, mediates many of these effects, the molecular events that underlie Ebola virus cytopathicity are poorly understood. Here, we define a cellular mechanism responsible for Ebola virus GP cytotoxicity. GP selectively decreased the expression of cell surface molecules that are essential for cell adhesion and immune function. GP dramatically reduced levels of αVβ3 without affecting the levels of α2β1 or cadherin, leading to cell detachment and death. This effect was inhibited in vitro and in vivo by brefeldin A and was dependent on dynamin, the GTPase. GP also decreased cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, which alters recognition by immune cells, and this effect was also dependent on the mucin domain previously implicated in GP cytotoxicity. By altering the trafficking of select cellular proteins, Ebola virus GP inflicts cell damage and may facilitate immune escape by the virus.

scholarly journals Suboptimal Enhancer Sequences Are Required for Efficient Bovine Leukemia Virus Propagation In Vivo: Implications for Viral Latency

2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (15) ◽  
pp. 6977-6988 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Merezak ◽  
C. Pierreux ◽  
E. Adam ◽  
F. Lemaigre ◽  
G. G. Rousseau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bovine Leukemia Virus ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Viral Proteins ◽  
Transient Transfection ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Viral Expression ◽  
E Box

ABSTRACT Repression of viral expression is a major strategy developed by retroviruses to escape from the host immune response. The absence of viral proteins (or derived peptides) at the surface of an infected cell does not permit the establishment of an efficient immune attack. Such a strategy appears to have been adopted by animal oncoviruses such as bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV). In BLV-infected animals, only a small fraction of the infected lymphocytes (between 1 in 5,000 and 1 in 50,000) express large amounts of viral proteins; the vast majority of the proviruses are repressed at the transcriptional level. Induction of BLV transcription involves the interaction of the virus-encoded Tax protein with the CREB/ATF factors; the resulting complex is able to interact with three 21-bp Tax-responsive elements (TxRE) located in the 5′ long terminal repeat (5′ LTR). These TxRE contain cyclic AMP-responsive elements (CRE), but, remarkably, the “TGACGTCA” consensus is never strictly conserved in any viral strain (e.g.,AGACGTCA, TGACGGCA, TGACCTCA). To assess the role of these suboptimal CREs, we introduced a perfect consensus sequence within the TxRE and showed by gel retardation assays that the binding efficiency of the CREB/ATF proteins was increased. However,trans-activation of a luciferase-based reporter by Tax was not affected in transient transfection assays. Still, in the absence of Tax, the basal promoter activity of the mutated LTR was increased as much as 20-fold. In contrast, mutation of other regulatory elements within the LTR (the E box, NF-κB, and glucocorticoid- or interferon-responsive sites [GRE or IRF]) did not induce a similar alteration of the basal transcription levels. To evaluate the biological relevance of these observations made in vitro, the mutations were introduced into an infectious BLV molecular clone. After injection into sheep, it appeared that all the recombinants were infectious in vivo and did not revert into a wild-type virus. All of them, except one, propagated at wild-type levels, indicating that viral spread was not affected by the mutation. The sole exception was the CRE mutant; proviral loads were drastically reduced in sheep infected with this type of virus. We conclude that a series of sites (NF-κB, IRF, GRE, and the E box) are not required for efficient viral spread in the sheep model, although mutation of some of these motifs might induce a minor phenotype during transient transfection assays in vitro. Remarkably, a provirus (pBLV-Δ21-bp) harboring only two TxRE was infectious and propagated at wild-type levels. And, most importantly, reconstitution of a consensus CRE, within the 21-bp enhancers increases binding of CREB/ATF proteins but abrogates basal repression of LTR-directed transcription in vitro. Suboptimal CREs are, however, essential for efficient viral spread within infected sheep, although these sites are dispensable for infectivity. These results suggest an evolutionary selection of suboptimal CREs that repress viral expression with escape from the host immune response. These observations, which were obtained in an animal model for HTLV-1, are of interest for oncovirus-induced pathogenesis in humans.

scholarly journals Viral Source-Independent High Susceptibility of Dendritic Cells to Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Infection Compared to That of T Lymphocytes

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (20) ◽  
pp. 10580-10590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandrine Alais ◽  
Renaud Mahieux ◽  
Hélène Dutartre
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Infection ◽  
Cell Leukemia Virus Type ◽  
Human T Cell

ABSTRACTHuman T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected CD4+T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) are present in peripheral blood from HTLV-1 carriers. While T-cell infection requires cell-cell contact, DCs might be infected with cell-free virus, at leastin vitro. However, a thorough comparison of the susceptibilities of the two cell types to HTLV-1 infection using cell-associated and cell-free viral sources has not been performed. We first determined that human primary monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) were more susceptible to HTLV-1 infection than their autologous lymphocyte counterparts after contact with chronically infected cells. Next, a comparison of infection efficiency using nonconcentrated or concentrated supernatants from infected cells as well as purified viral biofilm was performed. Integrated provirus was found after exposure of MDDCs or primary lymphocytes to viral biofilm but not to a viral supernatant. Using a large series of primary cell samples (n= 21), we demonstrated a higher proviral load in MDDCs exposed to viral biofilm than in lymphocytes. This higher susceptibility is correlated to a higher expression of neuropilin-1 on MDDCs than on autologous activated T lymphocytes. Moreover, we show that MDDCs infected with viral biofilm can transmit the virus to lymphocytes. In conclusion, MDDCs are more susceptible to HTLV-1 infection than autologous lymphocytesin vitro, supporting a model in which DC infection might represent an important step during primo-infectionin vivo.IMPORTANCEHTLV-1 is able to infect several cell types, but viral DNA is mainly found in T lymphocytesin vivo. This supports a model in which T lymphocytes are the main target of infection. However, during the primo-infection of new individuals, incoming viruses might first encounter dendritic cells (DCs), the specialized immune cells responsible for the antiviral response of the host. HTLV-1 cell-free purified viruses can infect dendritic cellsin vitro, while T-cell infection is restricted to cell-to-cell transmission. In order to understand the sequence of HTLV-1 dissemination, we undertook a direct comparison of the susceptibilities of the two cell types using cell-associated and cell-free viral sources. We report here that MDDCs are more susceptible to HTLV-1 infection than autologous lymphocytesin vitroand are able to efficiently transmit the virus to lymphocytes. Our results suggest that DCs may represent a true viral reservoir, as the first cell type to be infectedin vivo.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Oncogenic Potential of Bovine Leukemia Virus G4 Protein

1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 2554-2559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Kerkhofs ◽  
Hubertine Heremans ◽  
Arsène Burny ◽  
Richard Kettmann ◽  
Luc Willems
Keyword(s):  
Bovine Leukemia Virus ◽  
Posttranscriptional Regulation ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Cell Leukemia Virus Type ◽  
Oncogenic Potential ◽  
Viral Propagation ◽  
Human T Cell

ABSTRACT In addition to the genes involved in the structure of the viral particle, the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) genome contains a region called X which contains at least four genes. Among them, thetax and rex genes, respectively, are involved in transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of viral transcription. Two other genes, R3 and G4, were identified after cloning of the corresponding mRNAs from BLV-infected lymphocytes. Although the function of the two latter genes is still unknown, they appear to have important roles, since deletion of them restricts viral propagation in vivo. In order to assess the oncogenic potential of the R3 and G4 proteins, we first analyzed their ability to immortalize and/or transform primary rat embryo fibroblasts (Refs). In this assay, the G4 but not the R3 protein cooperated with the Ha-rasoncogene to induce tumors in nude mice. It thus appears that G4 exhibited oncogenic potential in vitro. To extend these observations in vivo, the pathology induced by recombinant viruses with mutations in G4 and in R3 and G4 was next evaluated with the sheep animal model. Viral propagation, as measured by semiquantitative PCR, appeared to be reduced when the R3 and G4 genes were deleted. These observations confirm and extend our previous data underlining the biological function of these genes. In addition, we present the results of a clinical survey that involves 39 sheep infected with six different BLV recombinants. Over a period of 40 months, 83% of the sheep infected with a wild-type virus developed leukemias and/or lymphosarcomas. In contrast, none out of 13 sheep infected with viruses with mutations in G4 or in R3 and G4 developed disease. We conclude that in addition to its oncogenic potential in vitro, G4 is required for pathogenesis in vivo. These observations should help us gain insight into the process of leukemogenesis induced by the related human T-cell leukemia virus type 1.

scholarly journals A Mutant Form of the Tax Protein of Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV), with Enhanced Transactivation Activity, Increases Expression and Propagation of BLV In Vitro but Not In Vivo

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 1894-1903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeru Tajima ◽  
Masahiko Takahashi ◽  
Shin-nosuke Takeshima ◽  
Satoru Konnai ◽  
Shan Ai Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bovine Leukemia Virus ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Viral Proteins ◽  
Mutant Protein ◽  
Mutant Form ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transactivation Activity ◽  
Tax Protein

ABSTRACT In a previous study, we identified an interesting mutant form of the Tax protein of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), designated D247G. This mutant protein strongly transactivated the long terminal repeat of BLV and was also able to transactivate the cellular proto-oncogene c-fos. This finding suggested that BLV that encode the mutant protein might propagate and induce lymphoma more efficiently than wild-type BLV. To characterize the effects of the strong transactivation activity of the mutant Tax protein, we constructed an infectious molecular clone of BLV that encoded D247G and examined the replication and propagation of the virus in vitro and in vivo. Cultured cells were transfected with the wild-type and mutant BLV, and then levels of viral proteins and particles and the propagation of viruses were compared. As expected, in vitro, mutant BLV produced more viral proteins and particles and was transmitted very effectively. We injected the wild-type and mutant BLV into sheep, which are easily infected with BLV, and monitored the proportion of BLV-positive cells in the blood and the expression of BLV RNA for 28 weeks. By contrast to the results of our analyses in vitro, we found no significant difference in the viral load or the expression of viral RNA between sheep inoculated with wild-type or mutant BLV. Our observations indicate that the mutant D247G Tax protein does not enhance the expansion of BLV and that there might be a dominant mechanism for regulation of the expression of BLV in vivo.

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