ATPase‐driven oligomerization of RIG‐I on RNA allows optimal activation of type‐I interferon

The cytosolic pathogen sensor RIG‐I is activated by RNAs with exposed 5′‐triphosphate (5′‐ppp) and terminal double‐stranded structures, such as those that are generated during viral infection. RIG‐I has been shown to translocate on dsRNA in an ATP‐dependent manner. However, the precise role of the ATPase activity in RIG‐I activation remains unclear. Using in vitro‐transcribed Sendai virus defective interfering RNA as a model ligand, we show that RIG‐I oligomerizes on 5′‐ppp dsRNA in an ATP hydrolysis‐dependent and dsRNA length‐dependent manner, which correlates with the strength of type‐I interferon (IFN‐I) activation. These results establish a clear role for the ligand‐induced ATPase activity of RIG‐I in the stimulation of the IFN response.     

干扰素研究及应用进展

1957年,英国科学家Isaacs和Lindenmann利用鸡胚绒毛尿囊研究流感干扰现象时,发现一种能够干扰病毒繁殖的物质,称之为干扰素（IFN）,由于干扰素对许多疾病有很好的治疗作用,一直是医学领域研究的重要物质之一。现在干扰素已成功地用于肝炎、肿瘤治疗等方面。为了充分发挥干扰素的作用,人们稍用基因工程的方法来对干扰素的产量及功效进行改进,已达到更好的应用,因此基因工程干扰素越来越多地成了研究的重点。     

Inhibition of type I interferon induction and signalling by mosquito‐borne flaviviruses

The Flavivirus genus (Flaviviridae family) contains a number of important human pathogens, including dengue and Zika viruses, which have the potential to cause severe disease. In order to efficiently establish a productive infection in mammalian cells, flaviviruses have developed key strategies to counteract host immune defences, including the type I interferon response. They employ different mechanisms to control interferon signal transduction and effector pathways, and key research generated over the past couple of decades has uncovered new insights into their abilities to actively decrease interferon antiviral activity. Given the lack of antivirals or prophylactic treatments for many flaviviral infections, it is important to fully understand how these viruses affect cellular processes to influence pathogenesis and disease outcome. This review will discuss the strategies mosquito‐borne flaviviruses have evolved to antagonise type I interferon mediated immune responses.     

Paramyxovirus accessory proteins as interferon antagonists

A new role of the Paramyxovirus accessory proteins has been uncovered. The P gene of the subfamily Paramyxovirinae encodes accessory proteins including the V and/or C protein by means of pseudotemplated nucleotide addition (RNA editing) or by overlapping open reading frame. The Respirovirus (Sendai virus and human parainfluenza virus (hPIV)3) and Rubulavirus (simian virus (SV)5, SV41, mumps virus and hPIV2) circumvent the interferon (IFN) response by inhibiting IFN signaling. The responsible genes were mapped to the C gene for SeV and the V gene for rubulaviruses. On the other hand, wild type measles viruses isolated from clinical specimens suppress production of IFN, although responsible viral factors remain to be identified. Both human and bovine respiratory syncytial viruses (RSVs) counteract the antiviral effect of IFN with inhibiting neither IFN signaling nor IFN production. Bovine RSV NS1 and NS2 proteins cooperatively antagonize the antiviral effect of IFN. Studies on the molecular mechanism by which viruses circumvent the host IFN response will not only illustrate co-evolution of virus strategies of immune evasion but also provide basic information useful for engineering novel antiviral drugs as well as recombinant live vaccine.     

Sarbecovirus ORF6 proteins hamper induction of interferon signaling

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Characterization of interferon gamma receptors on osteoclasts: effect of interferon gamma on osteoclastic superoxide generation

Osteoclasts are the primary cells responsible for bone resorption. Osteoclast formation and bone resorption activities involve processes tightly controlled by a network of cytokines. The presence of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) receptors on osteoclasts is a necessary prerequisite for IFN-gamma to directly affect osteoclastic activity. To date, the presence of the IFN-gamma receptor on osteoclasts has not been established. This study provides evidence that osteoclasts express the IFN-gamma receptor. Specific binding of IFN-gamma to the osteoclastic receptor stimulates osteoclastic superoxide generation. The p91 and p47 components of the NADPH oxidase increase after IFN-gamma stimulation and may account for the enhanced superoxide generation. Antisense experiments targeting p91 and p47 subunits abrogate the increased osteoclastic superoxide production stimulated by IFN-gamma. Thus, superoxide generation by osteoclasts is stimulated by activation of a functional IFN-gamma receptor on the osteoclast.     

猪I型与II型干扰素的克隆、表达及抗病毒活性比较

干扰素(IFN)是由多种细胞受病毒感染或其他生物诱导剂刺激而产生的天然蛋白质,主要功能为抗病毒增殖、调节免疫反应和激活免疫细胞等。本研究克隆并测序了猪干扰素(PoIFN)α、γ、αγ及ω基因。构建原核表达载体pET-His/PoIFN-α、pET-His/PoIFN-γ、pET-His/PoIFN-αγ和pET-His/PoIFN-ω,转化大肠杆菌Rosetta(DE3)进行表达,经纯化、复性得到具有生物学活性的蛋白。用细胞病变抑制法在Marc-145/PRRSV、Marc-145/VSV、PK-15/VSV、Vero/VSV、MDBK/VSV系统上进行抗病毒活性测定,结果表明猪α和αγ融合干扰素有较为显著的抗病毒活性,抗PRRSV活性高达108U/mg;猪γ干扰素活性效价约为α干扰素的1/2到1/3;猪ω干扰素几乎未检测到抗病毒活性,需进一步验证。本研究对干扰素在抗病毒、提高机体免疫方面的应用提供了理论依据。     

SUMOylation of p53 mediates interferon activities

There is growing evidence that many host proteins involved in innate and intrinsic immunity are regulated by SUMOylation, and that SUMO contributes to the regulatory process that governs the initiation of the type I interferon (IFN) response. The tumor suppressor p53 is a modulator of the IFN response that plays a role in virus-induced apoptosis and in IFN-induced senescence. Here we demonstrate that IFN treatment increases the levels of SUMOylated p53 and induces cellular senescence through a process that is partially dependent upon SUMOylation of p53. Similarly, we show that vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection induces p53 SUMOylation, and that this modification favors the control of VSV replication. Thus, our study provides evidence that IFN signaling induces p53 SUMOylation, which results in the activation of a cellular senescence program and contributes to the antiviral functions of interferon.     

Effect of interferon on the infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi in cultured HeLa cells

Results are presented on the effects of human lymphoblastoid interferon (HUIFN-α-ly) on the infectivity of metacyclic culture forms of Trypanosoma cruzi in HeLa cells. When cells were pretreated with interferon the parasitisation ratios of the cultures increased with respect to controls. This phenomenon also occurs when interferon was added during the period of parasite-cell interaction. When parasites were pretreated with interferon but cells were not, no increase in the parasitisation ratios was observed.     

The errors in assembly of MuLV in interferon treated cells

Interferon treatment of JLSV-6 cells chronically infected with Rauscher MuLV leads to the formation of noninfectious particles (interferon virions) containing the structural proteins of env and gag genes as well as additional viral polypeptides. In the control virions the major glycoprotein detected is gp71, interferon virions contain in addition to gp71 and 85k dalton (gp85) glucosamine-containing, fucose-deficient glycoprotein which is recognized by antiserum to MuLV but not by the gp71 antiserum. The surface iodination of the intact virions indicates that both gp71 and gp85 are the major components of the external virions envelope. However, unlike the control virions in which gp71 associates with p15E (gp90), the gp71-p15E complex was not detected in interferon virions. The analysis of the iodinated proteins of the disrupted interferon virions revealed the presence of 85k and 65k dalton polypeptides preciptable with antiserum against MuLV, which are not present in the control virions. The difference in the polypeptide pattern of virions produced in the presence of interferon does not seem to be a consequence of the slowdown in the synthesis of viral proteins or their processing in the interferon-treated cells. Both the structural proteins of env and gag genes seem to be synthesized and processed at a comparable rate in the interferon-treated and -untreated cells. These results indicate an alteration of virus assembly in the presence of interferon.     

Prediction of the secondary and tertiary structures of interferon from four homologous amino acid sequences

The secondary and tertiary structures of interferon were predicted from four homologous amino acid sequences. Three methods of secondary structure prediction gave differing results that were interpreted to suggest that there might be four α-helices that are important in the tertiary fold. The validity of this interpretation was assessed by the application of the methods to predict the secondary structures of two proteins known to consist of four α-helices. A possible tertiary model for interferon is then proposed in which the four α-helices pack into a right-handed bundle similar to that observed in several known protein structures. This model was shown to be stereochemically feasible by an α-helix docking algorithm. One of the resultant structures is shown to be compatible with the known disulphide linkages in interferon. Certain residues that are conserved between the different sequences lie near each other in our model and these residues might form a functional site. In the absence of a crystal structure for interferon, a predicted tertiary model will help further structural and functional studies.     

The evolution of the type I interferon gene family in mammals

A phylogenetic analysis of mammalian type I interferon (IFN) genes showed: (1) that the three main subfamilies of these genes in mammals (IFN-, IFN-, and IFN-) diverged after the divergence of birds and mammals but before radiation of the eutherian orders and (2) that IFN- diverged first. Although apparent cases of interlocus recombination among mouse IFN- genes were identified, the hypothesis that coding regions of IFN- genes have been homogenized within species by interlocus recombination was not supported. Flanking regions as well as coding regions of IFN- were more similar within human and mouse than between these species; and reconstruction of the pattern of nucleotide substitution in IFN- coding regions of four mammalian species by the maximum parsimony method suggested that parallel substitutions have occurred far more frequently between species than within species. Therefore, it seems likely that IFN- genes have duplicated independently within different eutherian orders. In general, type I IFN genes are subject to purifying selection, which in the case of IFN- and IFN- is strongest in the putative receptor-binding domains. However, analysis of the pattern of nucleotide substitution among IFN- genes suggested that positive Darwinian selection may have acted in some cases to diversify members of this subfamily at the amino acid level.