PRRSV Nsp11 Antagonizes Broad Antiviral Effects of MCPIP1 via Inducing IL-17 Expression

Monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) is an inflammatory regulator in immune response and has broad antiviral effects by targeting viral RNA. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a major viral pathogen in pigs, causes immune suppression leading to co-infection of swine pathogens but the mechanisms are not fully clarified. In this study, MCPIP1 expression was found to be significantly up-regulated in lungs of PRRSV-infected piglets, as well as in Marc-145 and PAM cells upon PRRSV stimulation. MCPIP1 overexpression significantly inhibited PRRSV replication while MCPIP1 knock-down increased virus titer. Various mutations in RNase functional domains of MCPIP1 impaired the inhibitory activity against PRRSV, while those in deubiquitinase domains failed to. MCPIP1 expression started to decrease from 60 h post PRRSV infection in PAMs. Meanwhile, infection with higher dose of PRRSV further down-regulated MCPIP1, indicating the antagonizing effects from PRRSV against MCPIP1. Moreover, it was confirmed that MCPIP1 expression was down-regulated in 3D4 cells with either IL-17 or nsp11 overexpression, while IL-17 inhibitor abolished the decrease of MCPIP1 caused by nsp11, indicating nsp11 employs IL-17 induction to inhibit MCPIP1. Furthermore, PRRSV nsp11 mutant with deficiency in IL-17 induction showed the recovered expression of MCPIP1 in infected cells, inspiring a strategy for virus attenuation. This is the first report about the role of MCPIP1 against PRRSV and the function of PRRSV nsp11 against innate immunity to facilitate virus replication via IL-17. The study not only illuminates PRRSV infection machinery but also enlightens alternative antiviral strategies, such as vaccine candidates. Importance Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) suppresses the innate immunity and leads to co-infection of swine pathogens. Monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) is a broad-spectrum host antiviral protein. Therefore, to further clarify the mechanism of PRRSV against innate immunity, we explored the relationship between MCPIP1 and PRRSV infection. The results showed that MCPIP1 inhibited PRRSV infection in the early stage of virus infection. Importantly, PRRSV nsp11 subsequently employed IL-17 induction to suppress MCPIP1 expression and antagonized anti-PRRSV effects. Furthermore, PRRSV with mutation of nsp11 S74A failed to induce MCPIP1 reduction. These findings confirmed the function of MCPIP1 against swine viruses and revealed that PRRSV nsp11 plays an important role in virus against innate immunity. This study enlightens a new strategy to develop safer attenuated vaccines against PRRSV by nsp11 mutation.