scholarly journals Interferon Regulatory Factor IRF-7 Induces the Antiviral Alpha Interferon Response and Protects against Lethal West Nile Virus Infection

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (17) ◽  
pp. 8465-8475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephane Daffis ◽  
Melanie A. Samuel ◽  
Mehul S. Suthar ◽  
Brian C. Keller ◽  
Michael Gale ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Type I interferon (IFN-α/β) comprises a family of immunomodulatory cytokines that are critical for controlling viral infections. In cell culture, many RNA viruses trigger IFN responses through the binding of RNA recognition molecules (RIG-I, MDA5, and TLR-3) and induction of interferon regulatory factor IRF-3-dependent gene transcription. Recent studies with West Nile virus (WNV) have shown that type I IFN is essential for restricting infection and that a deficiency of IRF-3 results in enhanced lethality. However, IRF-3 was not required for optimal systemic IFN production in vivo or in vitro in macrophages. To begin to define the transcriptional factors that regulate type I IFN after WNV infection, we evaluated IFN induction and virus control in IRF-7−/− mice. Compared to congenic wild-type mice, IRF-7−/− mice showed increased lethality after WNV infection and developed early and elevated WNV burdens in both peripheral and central nervous system tissues. As a correlate, a deficiency of IRF-7 blunted the systemic type I IFN response in mice. Consistent with this, IFN-α gene expression and protein production were reduced and viral titers were increased in IRF-7−/− primary macrophages, fibroblasts, dendritic cells, and cortical neurons. In contrast, in these cells the IFN-β response remained largely intact. Our data suggest that the early protective IFN-α response against WNV occurs through an IRF-7-dependent transcriptional signal.

2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wadzanai P. Mboko ◽  
Michaela M. Rekow ◽  
Mitchell P. Ledwith ◽  
Philip T. Lange ◽  
Kaitlin E. Schmitz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Gammaherpesviruses are ubiquitous pathogens that establish lifelong infection in >95% of adults worldwide and are associated with a variety of malignancies. Coevolution of gammaherpesviruses with their hosts has resulted in an intricate relationship between the virus and the host immune system, and perturbation of the virus-host balance results in pathology. Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) is a tumor suppressor that is also involved in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Here, we show that type I interferon (IFN) and IRF-1 cooperate to control acute gammaherpesvirus infection. Specifically, we demonstrate that a combination of IRF-1 and type I IFN signaling ensures host survival during acute gammaherpesvirus infection and supports IFN gamma-mediated suppression of viral replication. Thus, our studies reveal an intriguing cross talk between IRF-1 and type I and II IFNs in the induction of the antiviral state during acute gammaherpesvirus infection. IMPORTANCE Gammaherpesviruses establish chronic infection in a majority of adults, and this long-term infection is associated with virus-driven development of a range of malignancies. In contrast, a brief period of active gammaherpesvirus replication during acute infection of a naive host is subclinical in most individuals. Here, we discovered that a combination of type I interferon (IFN) signaling and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) expression is required to ensure survival of a gammaherpesvirus-infected host past the first 8 days of infection. Specifically, both type I IFN receptor and IRF-1 expression potentiated antiviral effects of type II IFN to restrict gammaherpesvirus replication in vivo, in the lungs, and in vitro, in primary macrophage cultures.


2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (17) ◽  
pp. 9100-9108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Bourne ◽  
Frank Scholle ◽  
Maria Carlan Silva ◽  
Shannan L. Rossi ◽  
Nathan Dewsbury ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Infection of cells with flaviviruses in vitro is reduced by pretreatment with small amounts of type I interferon (IFN-α/β). Similarly, pretreatment of animals with IFN and experiments using mice defective in IFN signaling have indicated a role for IFN in controlling flavivirus disease in vivo. These data, along with findings that flavivirus-infected cells block IFN signaling, suggest that flavivirus infection can trigger an IFN response. To investigate IFN gene induction by the very first cells infected during in vivo infection with the flavivirus West Nile virus (WNV), we infected mice with high-titer preparations of WNV virus-like particles (VLPs), which initiate viral genome replication in cells but fail to spread. These studies demonstrated a brisk production of IFN in vivo, with peak levels of over 1,000 units/ml detected in sera between 8 and 24 h after inoculation by either the intraperitoneal or footpad route. The IFN response was dependent on genome replication, and WNV genomes and WNV antigen-positive cells were readily detected in the popliteal lymph nodes (pLN) of VLP-inoculated mice. High levels of IFN mRNA transcripts and functional IFN were also produced in VLP-inoculated IFN regulatory factor 3 null (IRF3−/−) mice, indicating that IFN production was independent of the IRF3 pathways to IFN gene transcription, consistent with the IFN type produced (predominantly α).


2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Luiz Proenca-Modena ◽  
Jennifer L. Hyde ◽  
Renata Sesti-Costa ◽  
Tiffany Lucas ◽  
Amelia K. Pinto ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Interferon (IFN)-regulatory factor 5 (IRF-5) is a transcription factor that induces inflammatory responses after engagement and signaling by pattern recognition receptors. To define the role of IRF-5 during bunyavirus infection, we evaluated Oropouche virus (OROV) and La Crosse virus (LACV) pathogenesis and immune responses in primary cells and in mice with gene deletions in Irf3 , Irf5 , and Irf7 or in Irf5 alone. Deletion of Irf3 , Irf5 , and Irf7 together resulted in uncontrolled viral replication in the liver and spleen, hypercytokinemia, extensive liver injury, and an early-death phenotype. Remarkably, deletion of Irf5 alone resulted in meningoencephalitis and death on a more protracted timeline, 1 to 2 weeks after initial OROV or LACV infection. The clinical signs in OROV-infected Irf5 −/− mice were associated with abundant viral antigen and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in several regions of the brain. Circulating dendritic cell (DC) subsets in Irf5 −/− mice had higher levels of OROV RNA in vivo yet produced lower levels of type I IFN than wild-type (WT) cells. This result was supported by data obtained in vitro , since a deficiency of IRF-5 resulted in enhanced OROV infection and diminished type I IFN production in bone marrow-derived DCs. Collectively, these results indicate a key role for IRF-5 in modulating the host antiviral response in peripheral organs that controls bunyavirus neuroinvasion in mice. IMPORTANCE Oropouche virus (OROV) and La Crosse virus (LACV) are orthobunyaviruses that are transmitted by insects and cause meningitis and encephalitis in subsets of individuals in the Americas. Recently, we demonstrated that components of the type I interferon (IFN) induction pathway, particularly the regulatory transcription factors IRF-3 and IRF-7, have key protective roles during OROV infection. However, the lethality in Irf3 −/− Irf7 −/− (DKO) mice infected with OROV was not as rapid or complete as observed in Ifnar −/− mice, indicating that other transcriptional factors associated with an IFN response contribute to antiviral immunity against OROV. Here, we evaluated bunyavirus replication, tissue tropism, and cytokine production in primary cells and mice lacking IRF-5. We demonstrate an important role for IRF-5 in preventing neuroinvasion and the ensuing encephalitis caused by OROV and LACV.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. e0006886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agathe M. G. Colmant ◽  
Sonja Hall-Mendelin ◽  
Scott A. Ritchie ◽  
Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann ◽  
Jessica J. Harrison ◽  
...  

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Hee Ra Jung ◽  
Seongman Jo ◽  
Min Jae Jeon ◽  
Hyelim Lee ◽  
Yeonjeong Chu ◽  
...  

In cancer immunotherapy, the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is an attractive target for switching the tumor immunophenotype from ‘cold’ to ‘hot’ through the activation of the type I interferon response. To develop a new chemical entity for STING activator to improve cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP)-induced innate immune response, we identified KAS-08 via the structural modification of DW2282, which was previously reported as an anti-cancer agent with an unknown mechanism. Further investigation revealed that direct STING binding or the enhanced phosphorylation of STING and downstream effectors were responsible for DW2282-or KAS-08-mediated STING activity. Furthermore, KAS-08 was validated as an effective STING pathway activator in vitro and in vivo. The synergistic effect of cGAMP-mediated immunity and efficient anti-cancer effects successfully demonstrated the therapeutic potential of KAS-08 for combination therapy in cancer treatment.


2009 ◽  
Vol 01 (01) ◽  
pp. 036-042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Duan ◽  
Monique Ferguson ◽  
Lintian Yuan ◽  
Fangling Xu ◽  
Guangyu Li

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kinda Al-Hourani ◽  
Narayan Ramamurthy ◽  
Emanuele Marchi ◽  
Ruth M Eichinger ◽  
Lian N Lee ◽  
...  

First-line defence against viral infection is contingent upon rapid detection of conserved viral structural and genomic motifs by germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors, followed by activation of the type I IFN system and establishment of an intracellular antiviral state. Novel antiviral functions of bone morphogenetic protein and related activin cytokines, acting in conjunction with, and independently of, type I IFN, have recently been described. Activin A mediates multiple innate and adaptive immune functions, including antiviral effects. However, how such effects are mediated and how activin might be triggered by viral infection have not been defined. Here we addressed this in vivo and in vitro, in humans and mice. Transcriptomic analyses delineated strikingly congruent patterns of gene regulation in hepatocytes stimulated with recombinant activin A and IFNα in vitro. Activin A mRNA, encoded by INHBA, is induced upon activation of RIG-I, MDA5 and TLR7/8 viral nucleic acid sensors in vitro, across multiple cell lines and in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In vivo, infection of mice with influenza A also upregulated Inhba mRNA in the lung; this local upregulation of Inhba is retained in MAVS knockout mice, indicating a role for non-RIG-I-like receptors in its induction. Activin induction and signalling were also detectable in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Together, these data suggest Activin A is triggered in parallel with type I IFN responses and can trigger related antiviral effector functions. This model has implications for the development of targeted antiviral therapies, in addition to revealing novel facets of activin biology.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (20) ◽  
pp. 5253-5258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Yanai ◽  
Shiho Chiba ◽  
Sho Hangai ◽  
Kohei Kometani ◽  
Asuka Inoue ◽  
...  

IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is a transcription regulator of cellular responses in many cell types that is known to be essential for innate immunity. To confirm IRF3’s broad role in immunity and to more fully discern its role in various cellular subsets, we engineered Irf3-floxed mice to allow for the cell type-specific ablation of Irf3. Analysis of these mice confirmed the general requirement of IRF3 for the evocation of type I IFN responses in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, immune cell ontogeny and frequencies of immune cell types were unaffected when Irf3 was selectively inactivated in either T cells or B cells in the mice. Interestingly, in a model of lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock, selective Irf3 deficiency in myeloid cells led to reduced levels of type I IFN in the sera and increased survival of these mice, indicating the myeloid-specific, pathogenic role of the Toll-like receptor 4–IRF3 type I IFN axis in this model of sepsis. Thus, Irf3-floxed mice can serve as useful tool for further exploring the cell type-specific functions of this transcription factor.


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