Murine AKAP7 Has a 2′,5′-Phosphodiesterase Domain That Can Complement an Inactive Murine Coronavirus ns2 Gene

ABSTRACTViral 2′,5′-phosphodiesterases (2′,5′-PDEs) help disparate RNA viruses evade the antiviral activity of interferon (IFN) by degrading 2′,5′-oligoadenylate (2-5A) activators of RNase L. A kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) bind the regulatory subunits of protein kinase A (PKA) to localize and organize cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling during diverse physiological processes. Among more than 43 AKAP isoforms, AKAP7 appears to be unique in its homology to viral 2′,5′-PDEs. Here we show that mouse AKAP7 rapidly degrades 2-5A with kinetics similar to that of murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) strain A59 ns2 and human rotavirus strain WA VP3 proteins. To determine whether AKAP7 could substitute for a viral 2′,5′-PDE, we inserted AKAP7 cDNA into an MHV genome with an inactivated ns2 gene. The AKAP7 PDE domain or N-terminally truncated AKAP7 (both lacking a nuclear localization motif), but not full-length AKAP7 or a mutant, AKAP7H185R, PDE domain restored the infectivity of ns2 mutant MHV in bone marrow macrophages and in livers of infected mice. Interestingly, the AKAP7 PDE domain and N-terminally deleted AKAP7 were present in the cytoplasm (the site of MHV replication), whereas full-length AKAP7 was observed only in nuclei. We suggest the possibility that viral acquisition of the host AKAP7 PDE domain might have occurred during evolution, allowing diverse RNA viruses to antagonize the RNase L pathway.IMPORTANCEEarly virus-host interactions determine whether an infection is established, highlighting the need to understand fundamental mechanisms regulating viral pathogenesis. Recently, our laboratories reported a novel mode of regulation of the IFN antiviral response. We showed that the coronavirus MHV accessory protein ns2 antagonizes the type I IFN response, promoting viral replication and hepatitis. ns2 confers virulence by cleaving 2′,5′-oligoadenylate (2-5A) activators of RNase L in macrophages. We also reported that the rotavirus VP3 C-terminal domain (VP3-CTD) cleaves 2-5A and that it may rescue ns2 mutant MHV. Here we report that a cellular protein, AKAP7, has an analogous 2′,5′-phosphodiesterase (2′,5′-PDE) domain that is able to restore the growth of chimeric MHV expressing inactive ns2. The proviral effect requires cytoplasmic localization of the AKAP7 PDE domain. We speculate that AKAP7 is the ancestral precursor of viral proteins, such as ns2 and VP3, that degrade 2-5A to evade the antiviral activity of RNase L.

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Activation of RNase L by Murine Coronavirus in Myeloid Cells Is Dependent on BasalOasGene Expression and Independent of Virus-Induced Interferon

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.03036-15 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 90 (6) ◽

pp. 3160-3172 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

L. Dillon Birdwell ◽

Zachary B. Zalinger ◽

Yize Li ◽

Patrick W. Wright ◽

Ruth Elliott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Antiviral Activity ◽

Hepatitis Virus ◽

Mouse Hepatitis Virus ◽

Myeloid Cells ◽

Type I ◽

Rnase L ◽

Oligoadenylate Synthetase ◽

Double Stranded Rna ◽

Murine Coronavirus

ABSTRACTThe oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)-RNase L pathway is a potent interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral activity. Upon sensing double-stranded RNA, OAS produces 2′,5′-oligoadenylates (2-5A), which activate RNase L. Murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) nonstructural protein 2 (ns2) is a 2′,5′-phosphodiesterase (PDE) that cleaves 2-5A, thereby antagonizing RNase L activation. PDE activity is required for robust replication in myeloid cells, as a mutant of MHV (ns2H126R) encoding an inactive PDE fails to antagonize RNase L activation and replicates poorly in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM), while ns2H126Rreplicates to high titer in several types of nonmyeloid cells, as well as in IFN receptor-deficient (Ifnar1−/−) BMM. We reported previously that myeloid cells express significantly higher basal levels of OAS transcripts than nonmyeloid cells. Here, we investigated the contributions ofOasgene expression, basal IFN signaling, and virus-induced IFN to RNase L activation. Infection with ns2H126Ractivated RNase L inIfih1−/−BMM to a similar extent as in wild-type (WT) BMM, despite the lack of IFN induction in the absence of MDA5 expression. However, ns2H126Rfailed to induce RNase L activation in BMM treated with IFNAR1-blocking antibody, as well as inIfnar1−/−BMM, both expressing low basal levels ofOasgenes. Thus, activation of RNase L does not require virus-induced IFN but rather correlates with adequate levels of basalOasgene expression, maintained by basal IFN signaling. Finally, overexpression of RNase L is not sufficient to compensate for inadequate basal OAS levels.IMPORTANCEThe oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)-RNase L pathway is a potent antiviral activity. Activation of RNase L during murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) infection of myeloid cells correlates with high basalOasgene expression and is independent of virus-induced interferon secretion. Thus, our data suggest that cells with high basalOasgene expression levels can activate RNase L and thereby inhibit virus replication early in infection upon exposure to viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) before the induction of interferon and prior to transcription of interferon-stimulated antiviral genes. These findings challenge the notion that activation of the OAS-RNase L pathway requires virus to induce type I IFN, which in turn upregulates OAS gene expression, as well as to provide dsRNA to activate OAS. Our data further suggest that myeloid cells may serve as sentinels to restrict viral replication, thus protecting other cell types from infection.

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RNase L Antiviral Activity Is Not a Critical Component of the Oas1b-Mediated Flavivirus Resistance Phenotype

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00946-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (22) ◽

Author(s):

J. C. Madden ◽

Dan Cui ◽

M. A. Brinton

Keyword(s):

Antiviral Activity ◽

Full Length ◽

Viral Rna ◽

Type I ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Rnase L ◽

Oligoadenylate Synthetase ◽

Resistant Mouse ◽

Resistance Phenotype

ABSTRACT In mice, resistance to central nervous system (CNS) disease induced by members of the genus Flavivirus is conferred by an allele of the 2′-5′ oligoadenylate synthetase 1b gene that encodes the inactive full-length protein (Oas1b-FL). The susceptibility allele encodes a C-terminally truncated protein (Oas1b-tr). We show that the efficiency of neuron infection in the brains of resistant and susceptible mice is similar after an intracranial inoculation of two flaviviruses, but amplification of viral proteins and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is inhibited in infected neurons in resistant mouse brains at later times. Active OAS proteins detect cytoplasmic dsRNA and synthesize short 2′-5′-linked oligoadenylates (2′-5′A) that interact with the latent endonuclease RNase L, causing it to dimerize and cleave single-stranded RNAs. To evaluate the contribution of RNase L to the resistance phenotype in vivo, we created a line of resistant RNase L−/− mice. Evidence of RNase L activation in infected RNase L+/+ mice was indicated by higher levels of viral RNA in the brains of infected RNase L−/− mice. Activation of type I interferon (IFN) signaling was detected in both resistant and susceptible brains, but Oas1a and Oas1b mRNA levels were lower in RNase L+/+ mice of both types, suggesting that activated RNase L also has a proflaviviral effect. Inhibition of virus replication was robust in resistant RNase L−/− mice, indicating that activated RNase L is not a critical factor in mediating this phenotype. IMPORTANCE The mouse genome encodes a family of Oas proteins that synthesize 2′-5′A in response to dsRNA. 2′-5′A activates the endonuclease RNase L to cleave single-stranded viral and cellular RNAs. The inactive, full-length Oas1b protein confers flavivirus-specific disease resistance. Although similar numbers of neurons were infected in resistant and susceptible brains after an intracranial virus infection, viral components amplified only in susceptible brains at later times. A line of resistant RNase L−/− mice was used to evaluate the contribution of RNase L to the resistance phenotype in vivo. Activation of RNase L antiviral activity by flavivirus infection was indicated by increased viral RNA levels in the brains of RNase L−/− mice. Oas1a and Oas1b mRNA levels were higher in infected RNase L−/− mice, indicating that activated RNase L also have a proflaviviral affect. However, the resistance phenotype was equally robust in RNase L−/− and RNase L+/+ mice.

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Activation of RNase L in Egyptian Rousette Bat-Derived RoNi/7 Cells Is Dependent Primarily on OAS3 and Independent of MAVS Signaling

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.02414-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yize Li ◽

Beihua Dong ◽

Zuzhang Wei ◽

Robert H. Silverman ◽

Susan R. Weiss

Keyword(s):

Antiviral Activity ◽

Viral Replication ◽

Viral Infection ◽

Rna Viruses ◽

Primary Response ◽

Human Cells ◽

Secondary Effect ◽

Rnase L ◽

Interferon Signaling ◽

Highly Pathogenic

ABSTRACT Bats are reservoirs for many RNA viruses that are highly pathogenic in humans yet relatively apathogenic in the natural host. It has been suggested that differences in innate immunity are responsible. The antiviral OAS-RNase L pathway is well characterized in humans, but there is little known about its activation and antiviral activity in bats. During infection, OASs, upon sensing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), produce 2′-5′ oligoadenylates (2-5A), leading to activation of RNase L which degrades viral and host RNA, limiting viral replication. Humans encode three active OASs (OAS1 to -3). Analysis of the Egyptian Rousette bat genome combined with mRNA sequencing from bat RoNi/7 cells revealed three homologous OAS proteins. Interferon alpha treatment or viral infection induced all three OAS mRNAs, but RNase L mRNA is constitutively expressed. Sindbis virus (SINV) or vaccinia virus (VACVΔE3L) infection of wild-type (WT) or OAS1-KO (knockout), OAS2-KO, or MAVS-KO RoNi/7 cells, but not RNase L-KO or OAS3-KO cells, induces robust RNase L activation. SINV replication is 100- to 200-fold higher in the absence of RNase L or OAS3 than in WT cells. However, MAVS-KO had no detectable effect on RNA degradation or replication. Thus, in RoNi/7 bat cells, as in human cells, activation of RNase L during infection and its antiviral activity are dependent primarily on OAS3 while MAVS signaling is not required for the activation of RNase L and restriction of infection. Our findings indicate that OAS proteins serve as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to recognize viral dsRNA and that this pathway is a primary response to virus rather than a secondary effect of interferon signaling. IMPORTANCE Many RNA viruses that are highly pathogenic in humans are relatively apathogenic in their bat reservoirs, making it important to compare innate immune responses in bats to those well characterized in humans. One such antiviral response is the OAS-RNase L pathway. OASs, upon sensing dsRNA, produce 2-5A, leading to activation of RNase L which degrades viral and host RNA, limiting viral replication. Analysis of Egyptian Rousette bat sequences revealed three OAS genes expressing OAS1, OAS2, and OAS3 proteins. Interferon treatment or viral infection induces all three bat OAS mRNAs. In these bat cells as in human cells, RNase L activation and its antiviral activity are dependent primarily on OAS3 while MAVS signaling is not required. Importantly, our findings indicate the OAS-RNase L system is a primary response to virus rather than a secondary effect of interferon signaling and therefore can be activated early in infection or while interferon signaling is antagonized.

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IFN-λ1 Displays Various Levels of Antiviral Activity In Vitro in a Select Panel of RNA Viruses

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13081602 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1602

Author(s):

Marina Plotnikova ◽

Alexey Lozhkov ◽

Ekaterina Romanovskaya-Romanko ◽

Irina Baranovskaya ◽

Mariia Sergeeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antiviral Activity ◽

Rna Viruses ◽

Antiviral Effect ◽

Vero Cells ◽

Genome Replication ◽

Type I ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Cellular Models ◽

Viral Genome Replication

Type III interferons (lambda IFNs) are a quite new, small family of three closely related cytokines with interferon-like activity. Attention to IFN-λ is mainly focused on direct antiviral activity in which, as with IFN-α, viral genome replication is inhibited without the participation of immune system cells. The heterodimeric receptor for lambda interferons is exposed mainly on epithelial cells, which limits its possible action on other cells, thus reducing the likelihood of developing undesirable side effects compared to type I IFN. In this study, we examined the antiviral potential of exogenous human IFN-λ1 in cellular models of viral infection. To study the protective effects of IFN-λ1, three administration schemes were used: ‘preventive’ (pretreatment); ‘preventive/therapeutic’ (pre/post); and ‘therapeutic’ (post). Three IFN-λ1 concentrations (from 10 to 500 ng/mL) were used. We have shown that human IFN-λ1 restricts SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero cells with all three treatment schemes. In addition, we have shown a decrease in the viral loads of CHIKV and IVA with the ‘preventive’ and ‘preventive/therapeutic’ regimes. No significant antiviral effect of IFN-λ1 against AdV was detected. Our study highlights the potential for using IFN-λ as a broad-spectrum therapeutic agent against respiratory RNA viruses.

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Murine Coronavirus Delays Expression of a Subset of Interferon-Stimulated Genes

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00211-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 84 (11) ◽

pp. 5656-5669 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Kristine M. Rose ◽

Ruth Elliott ◽

Luis Martínez-Sobrido ◽

Adolfo García-Sastre ◽

Susan R. Weiss

Keyword(s):

Sindbis Virus ◽

Sendai Virus ◽

Hepatitis Virus ◽

Type I ◽

Interferon Stimulated Genes ◽

A Cell ◽

Infected Cells ◽

Ifn Treatment ◽

Β Receptor ◽

Murine Coronavirus

ABSTRACT The importance of the type I interferon (IFN-I) system in limiting coronavirus replication and dissemination has been unequivocally demonstrated by rapid lethality following infection of mice lacking the alpha/beta IFN (IFN-α/β) receptor with mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), a murine coronavirus. Interestingly, MHV has a cell-type-dependent ability to resist the antiviral effects of IFN-α/β. In primary bone-marrow-derived macrophages and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, MHV replication was significantly reduced by the IFN-α/β-induced antiviral state, whereas IFN treatment of cell lines (L2 and 293T) has only minor effects on replication (K. M. Rose and S. R. Weiss, Viruses 1:689-712, 2009). Replication of other RNA viruses, including Theiler's murine encephalitis virus (TMEV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), Sindbis virus, Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and Sendai virus (SeV), was significantly inhibited in L2 cells treated with IFN-α/β, and MHV had the ability to rescue only SeV replication. We present evidence that MHV infection can delay interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) induction mediated by both SeV and IFN-β but only when MHV infection precedes SeV or IFN-β exposure. Curiously, we observed no block in the well-defined IFN-β signaling pathway that leads to STAT1-STAT2 phosphorylation and translocation to the nucleus in cultures infected with MHV. This observation suggests that MHV must inhibit an alternative IFN-induced pathway that is essential for early induction of ISGs. The ability of MHV to delay SeV-mediated ISG production may partially involve limiting the ability of IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) to function as a transcription factor. Transcription from an IRF-3-responsive promoter was partially inhibited by MHV; however, IRF-3 was transported to the nucleus and bound DNA in MHV-infected cells superinfected with SeV.

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Zika Virus Production Is Resistant to RNase L Antiviral Activity

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00313-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (16) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jillian N. Whelan ◽

Yize Li ◽

Robert H. Silverman ◽

Susan R. Weiss

Keyword(s):

Antiviral Activity ◽

Zika Virus ◽

Viral Genome ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Virus Production ◽

Type I ◽

Rnase L ◽

Oligoadenylate Synthetase ◽

Zikv Infection ◽

Initial Report

SUMMARYThere is currently no knowledge of how the emerging human pathogen Zika virus (ZIKV) interacts with the antiviral endoribonuclease L (RNase L) pathway during infection. Since activation of RNase L during infection typically limits virus production dramatically, we used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to knockout (KO) targeted host genes involved in the RNase L pathway to evaluate the effects of RNase L on ZIKV infection in human A549 cells. RNase L was activated in response to ZIKV infection, which degraded ZIKV genomic RNA. Surprisingly, despite viral genome reduction, RNase L activity did not reduce ZIKV infectious titers. In contrast, both the flavivirus dengue virus and the alphavirus Sindbis virus replicated to significantly higher titers in RNase L KO cells compared to wild-type (WT) cells. Using MAVS/RNase L double KO cells, we demonstrated that the absence of increased ZIKV production in RNase L KO cells was not due to compensation by enhanced type I interferon transcripts to thus inhibit virus production. Finally, when synthetic double-stranded RNA was detected by OAS3 to induce RNase L antiviral activity prior to ZIKV infection, we observed reduced ZIKV replication factory formation, as well as a 42-fold reduction in virus yield in WT but not RNase L KO cells. This study proposes that ZIKV evades RNase L antiviral activity by generating a viral genome reservoir protected from RNase L cleavage during early infection, allowing for sufficient virus production before RNase L activation is detectable.IMPORTANCEWith the onset of the 2015 ZIKV outbreak, ZIKV pathogenesis has been of extreme global public health interest, and a better understanding of interactions with the host would provide insight into molecular mechanisms driving the severe neurological outcomes of ZIKV disease. Here is the initial report on the relationship between ZIKV and the host oligoadenylate synthetase-RNase L (OAS-RNase L) system, a potent antiviral pathway effective at restricting replication of diverse viruses. Our study elucidated a unique mechanism whereby ZIKV production is impervious to antiviral RNase L activity, through a mechanism of viral RNA protection that is not mimicked during infection with numerous other RNase L-activating viruses, thus identifying a distinct replication strategy potentially important for ZIKV pathogenesis.

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Murine Coronavirus Induces Type I Interferon in Oligodendrocytes through Recognition by RIG-I and MDA5

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00016-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 84 (13) ◽

pp. 6472-6482 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Jianfeng Li ◽

Yin Liu ◽

Xuming Zhang

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Translocation ◽

Type I Interferon ◽

Hepatitis Virus ◽

Uv Light ◽

Critical Role ◽

Nuclear Factor Κb ◽

Binding Activity ◽

Type I ◽

Small Interfering Rnas ◽

Murine Coronavirus

ABSTRACT The murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) induced the expression of type I interferon (alpha/beta interferon [IFN-α/β]) in mouse oligodendrocytic N20.1 cells. This induction is completely dependent on virus replication, since infection with UV light-inactivated virus could no longer induce IFN-α/β. We show that MHV infection activated both transcription factors, the IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), as evidenced by phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF-3 and an increased promoter binding activity for IRF-3 and NF-κB. Furthermore, the cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptor retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) was induced by MHV infection. Knockdown of RIG-I by small interfering RNAs blocked the activation of IRF-3 and subsequent IFN-α/β production induced by MHV infection. Knockdown of another cytoplasmic receptor, the melanoma-differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5), by small interfering RNAs also blocked IFN-β induction. These results demonstrate that MHV is recognized by both RIG-I and MDA5 and induces IFN-α/β through the activation of the IRF-3 signaling pathway. However, knockdown of RIG-I only partially blocked NF-κB activity induced by MHV infection and inhibition of NF-κB activity by a decoy peptide inhibitor had little effect on IFN-α/β production. These data suggest that activation of the NF-κB pathway might not play a critical role in IFN-α/β induction by MHV infection in oligodendrocytes.

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MDA5 Is Critical to Host Defense during Infection with Murine Coronavirus

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01470-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 89 (24) ◽

pp. 12330-12340 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Zachary B. Zalinger ◽

Ruth Elliott ◽

Kristine M. Rose ◽

Susan R. Weiss

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Viral Replication ◽

Liver Damage ◽

Type I Interferon ◽

Hepatitis Virus ◽

Mouse Hepatitis Virus ◽

Type I ◽

Wide Range ◽

Murine Coronavirus

ABSTRACTInfection with the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) activates the pattern recognition receptors melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) to induce transcription of type I interferon. Type I interferon is crucial for control of viral replication and spread in the natural host, but the specific contributions of MDA5 signaling to this pathway as well as to pathogenesis and subsequent immune responses are largely unknown. In this study, we use MHV infection of the liver as a model to demonstrate that MDA5 signaling is critically important for controlling MHV-induced pathology and regulation of the immune response. Mice deficient in MDA5 expression (MDA5−/−mice) experienced more severe disease following MHV infection, with reduced survival, increased spread of virus to additional sites of infection, and more extensive liver damage than did wild-type mice. Although type I interferon transcription decreased in MDA5−/−mice, the interferon-stimulated gene response remained intact. Cytokine production by innate and adaptive immune cells was largely intact in MDA5−/−mice, but perforin induction by natural killer cells and levels of interferon gamma, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in serum were elevated. These data suggest that MDA5 signaling reduces the severity of MHV-induced disease, at least in part by reducing the intensity of the proinflammatory cytokine response.IMPORTANCEMulticellular organisms employ a wide range of sensors to detect viruses and other pathogens. One such sensor, MDA5, detects viral RNA and triggers induction of type I interferons, chemical messengers that induce inflammation and help regulate the immune responses. In this study, we sought to determine the role of MDA5 during infection with mouse hepatitis virus, a murine coronavirus used to model viral hepatitis as well as other human diseases. We found that mice lacking the MDA5 sensor were more susceptible to infection than were mice with MDA5 and experienced decreased survival. Viral replication in the liver was similar in mice with and without MDA5, but liver damage was increased in MDA5−/−mice, suggesting that the immune response is causing the damage. Production of several proinflammatory cytokines was elevated in MDA5−/−mice, suggesting that MDA5 may be responsible for keeping pathological inflammatory responses in check.

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RNase L-Independent Specific 28S rRNA Cleavage in Murine Coronavirus-Infected Cells

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.74.19.8793-8802.2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 74 (19) ◽

pp. 8793-8802 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Sangeeta Banerjee ◽

Sungwhan An ◽

Aimin Zhou ◽

Robert H. Silverman ◽

Shinji Makino

Keyword(s):

Dna Fragmentation ◽

Hepatitis Virus ◽

Degradation Mechanism ◽

Fibroblast Cell ◽

28S Rrna ◽

Rnase L ◽

Infected Cells ◽

Rrna Cleavage ◽

Rrna Degradation ◽

Murine Coronavirus

ABSTRACT We characterized a novel 28S rRNA cleavage in cells infected with the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). The 28S rRNA cleavage occurred as early as 4 h postinfection (p.i.) in MHV-infected DBT cells, with the appearance of subsequent cleavage products and a decrease in the amount of intact 28S rRNA with increasing times of infection; almost all of the intact 28S rRNA disappeared by 24 h p.i. In contrast, no specific 18S rRNA cleavage was detected in infected cells. MHV-induced 28S rRNA cleavage was detected in all MHV-susceptible cell lines and all MHV strains tested. MHV replication was required for the 28S rRNA cleavage, and mature cytoplasmic 28S rRNA underwent cleavage. In certain combination of cells and viruses, pretreatment of virus-infected cells with interferon activates a cellular endoribonuclease, RNase L, that causes rRNA degradation. No interferon was detected in the inoculum used for MHV infection. Addition of anti-interferon antibody to MHV-infected cells did not inhibit 28S rRNA cleavage. Furthermore, 28S rRNA cleavage occurred in an MHV-infected mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line derived from RNase L knockout mice. Thus, MHV-induced 28S rRNA cleavage was independent of the activation of RNase L. MHV-induced 28S rRNA cleavage was also different from apoptosis-related rRNA degradation, which usually occurs concomitantly with DNA fragmentation. In MHV-infected 17Cl-1 cells, 28S rRNA cleavage preceded DNA fragmentation by at least 18 h. Blockage of apoptosis in MHV-infected 17Cl-1 cells by treatment with a caspase inhibitor did not block 28S rRNA cleavage. Furthermore, MHV-induced 28S rRNA cleavage occurred in MHV-infected DBT cells that do not show apoptotic signs, including activation of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation. Thus, MHV-induced 28S rRNA cleavage appeared to differ from any rRNA degradation mechanism described previously.

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A Short Hairpin RNA Screen of Interferon-Stimulated Genes Identifies a Novel Negative Regulator of the Cellular Antiviral Response

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.00385-13 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Jianqing Li ◽

Steve C. Ding ◽

Hyelim Cho ◽

Brian C. Chung ◽

Michael Gale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Nile Virus ◽

Antiviral Activity ◽

Type I Interferon ◽

Rna Viruses ◽

Negative Regulator ◽

Type I ◽

Hairpin Rna ◽

Interferon Stimulated Genes ◽

Short Hairpin ◽

Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT The type I interferon (IFN) signaling pathway restricts infection of many divergent families of RNA and DNA viruses by inducing hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), some of which have direct antiviral activity. We screened 813 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs targeting 245 human ISGs using a flow cytometry approach to identify genes that modulated infection of West Nile virus (WNV) in IFN-β-treated human cells. Thirty ISGs with inhibitory effects against WNV were identified, including several novel genes that had antiviral activity against related and unrelated positive-strand RNA viruses. We also defined one ISG, activating signal cointegrator complex 3 (ASCC3), which functioned as a negative regulator of the host defense response. Silencing of ASCC3 resulted in upregulation of multiple antiviral ISGs, which correlated with inhibition of infection of several positive-strand RNA viruses. Reciprocally, ectopic expression of human ASCC3 or mouse Ascc3 resulted in downregulation of ISGs and increased viral infection. Mechanism-of-action and RNA sequencing studies revealed that ASCC3 functions to modulate ISG expression in an IRF-3- and IRF-7-dependent manner. Compared to prior ectopic ISG expression studies, our shRNA screen identified novel ISGs that restrict infection of WNV and other viruses and defined a new counterregulatory ISG, ASCC3, which tempers cell-intrinsic immunity. IMPORTANCE West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-transmitted virus that continues to pose a threat to public health. Innate immune responses, especially those downstream of type I interferon (IFN) signaling, are critical for controlling virus infection and spread. We performed a genetic screen using a gene silencing approach and identified 30 interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that contributed to the host antiviral response against WNV. As part of this screen, we also identified a novel negative regulatory protein, ASCC3, which dampens expression of ISGs, including those with antiviral or proinflammatory activity. In summary, our studies define a series of heretofore-uncharacterized ISGs with antiviral effects against multiple viruses or counterregulatory effects that temper IFN signaling and likely minimize immune-mediated pathology.

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