Constitutive signaling of the human cytomegalovirus-encoded chemokine receptor US28

Previously it was shown that the HHV-8-encoded chemokine receptor ORF74 shows considerable agonist-independent, constitutive activity giving rise to oncogenic transformation (Arvanitakis, L., Geras-Raaka, E., Varma, A., Gershengorn, M. C., and Cesarman, E. (1997) Nature 385, 347-350). In this study we report that a second viral-encoded chemokine receptor, the human cytomegalovirus-encoded US28, also efficiently signals in an agonist-independent manner. Transient expression of US28 in COS-7 cells leads to the constitutive activation of phospholipase C and NF-kappaB signaling via G(q/11) protein-dependent pathways. Whereas phospholipase C activation is mediated via Galpha(q/11) subunits, the activation of NF-kappaB strongly depends on betagamma subunits with a preference for the beta(2)gamma(1) dimer. The CC chemokines RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1) act as neutral antagonists at US28, whereas the CX(3)C chemokine fractalkine acts as a partial inverse agonist with IC(50) values of 1-5 nm. Our data suggest that a high level of constitutive activity might be a more general characteristic of viral G protein-coupled receptors and that human cytomegalovirus might exploit this G protein-coupled receptor property to modulate the homeostasis of infected cells via the early gene product US28.     

The expression of the cytomegalovirus chemokine receptor homolog US28 sequesters biologically active CC chemokines and alters IL-8 production

We hypothesized that US28, a cytomegalovirus (CMV) CC chemokine receptor homolog, plays a role in modulating the host antiviral defense. Monocyte chemotaxis was induced by supernatants from fibroblasts infected with a US28 deletion mutant of CMV (CMV Delta US28) due to endogenously produced CC chemokines MCP-1 and RANTES. However, these chemokines were sequestered from the supernatants of CMV-infected cells that did express US28. US28 was also capable of sequestering exogenously added RANTES. Surprisingly, cells infected with CMV Delta US28 transcribed and secreted increased levels IL-8, a CXC chemokine, when compared to CMV-infected cells. Finally, because chemokines are potent mediators of immune cell migration through the endothelium, we characterized the CC chemokine binding potential of CMV-infected endothelial cells. We propose that US28 functions as a 'chemokine sink' by sequestering endogenously and exogenously produced chemokines and alters the production of the CXC chemokine IL-8, suggesting that CMV could significantly alter the inflammatory milieu surrounding infected cells.     

Identification of the first nonpeptidergic inverse agonist for a constitutively active viral-encoded G protein-coupled receptor

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), named US28, which shows homology to chemokine receptors and binds several chemokines with high affinity. US28 induces migration of smooth muscle cells, a feature essential for the development of atherosclerosis, and may serve as a co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 entry into cells. Previously, we have shown that HCMV-encoded US28 displays constitutive activity, whereas its mammalian homologs do not. In this study we have identified a small nonpeptidergic molecule (VUF2274) that inhibits US28-mediated phospholipase C activation in transiently transfected COS-7 cells and in HCMV-infected fibroblasts. Moreover, VUF2274 inhibits US28-mediated HIV entry into cells. In addition, VUF2274 fully displaces radiolabeled RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) binding at US28, apparently with a noncompetitive behavior. Different analogues of VUF2274 have been synthesized and pharmacologically characterized, to understand which features are important for its inverse agonistic activity. Finally, by means of mutational analysis of US28, we have identified a glutamic acid in transmembrane 7 (TM 7), which is highly conserved among chemokine receptors, as a critical residue for VUF2274 binding to US28. The identification of a full inverse agonist provides an important tool to investigate the relevance of US28 constitutive activity in viral pathogenesis.     

The human cytomegalovirus chemokine receptor US28 mediates vascular smooth muscle cell migration

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vivo has been linked to a viral etiology of vascular disease. In this report, we demonstrate that HCMV infection of primary arterial SMCs results in significant cellular migration. Ablation of the chemokine receptor, US28, abrogates SMC migration, which is rescued only by expression of the viral homolog and not a cellular G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Expression of US28 in the presence of CC chemokines including RANTES or MCP-1 was sufficient to promote SMC migration by both chemokinesis and chemotaxis, which was inhibited by protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. US28-mediated SMC migration provides a molecular basis for the correlative evidence that links HCMV to the acceleration of vascular disease.     

Intracellular Signaling by the Chemokine Receptor US28 during Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

In patients with impaired cell-mediated immune responses (e.g., lung transplant recipients and AIDS patients), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection causes severe disease such as pneumonitis. However, although immunocompetency in the host can protect from CMV disease, the virus persists by evading the host immune defenses. A model of CMV infection of the endothelium has been developed in which inflammatory stimuli, such as the CC chemokine RANTES, bind to the endothelial cell surface, stimulating calcium flux during late times of CMV infection. At 96 h postinfection, CMV-infected cells express mRNA of the CMV-encoded CC chemokine receptor US28 but do not express mRNA of other CC chemokine receptors that bind RANTES (CCR1, CCR4, CCR5). Cloning and stable expression of the receptor CMV US28 in human kidney epithelial cells (293 cells) with and without the heterotrimeric G protein α₁₆ indicated that CMV US28 couples to both Gα_i and Gα₁₆ proteins to activate calcium flux in response to the chemokines RANTES and MCP-3. Furthermore, cells that coexpress US28 and Gα₁₆ responded to RANTES stimulation with activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, which could be attributed, in part, to specific Gα₁₆ coupling. Thus, through expression of the CC chemokine receptor US28, CMV may utilize resident G proteins of the infected cell to manipulate cellular responses stimulated by chemokines.     

The human cytomegalovirus-encoded chemokine receptor US28 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis

Viral subversion of apoptosis regulation plays an important role in the outcome of host/virus interactions. Although human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes several immediate early (IE) antiapoptotic proteins (IE1, IE2, vMIA and vICA), no proapoptotic HCMV protein has yet been identified. Here we show that US28, a functional IE HCMV-encoded chemokine receptor, which may be involved in both viral dissemination and immune evasion, constitutively induces apoptosis in several cell types. In contrast, none of nine human cellular chemokine receptors, belonging to three different subfamilies, induced any significant level of apoptosis. US28-induced cell death involves caspase 10 and caspase 8 activation, but does not depend on the engagement of cell-surface death receptors of the tumour necrosis factor receptor/CD95 family. US28 cell-death induction is prevented by coexpression of C-FLIP, a protein that inhibits Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD)-mediated activation of caspase 10 and caspase 8, and by coexpression of the HCMV antiapoptotic protein IE1. The use of US28 mutants indicated that the DRY sequence of its third transmenbrane domain, required for constitutive G-protein signalling, and the US28 intracellular terminal domain required for constitutive US28 endocytosis, are each partially required for cell-death induction. Thus, in HCMV-infected cells, US28 may function either as a chemokine receptor, a phospholipase C activator, or a proapoptotic factor, depending on expression levels of HCMV and/or cellular antiapoptotic proteins.     

Differential Ligand Binding to a Human Cytomegalovirus Chemokine Receptor Determines Cell Type–Specific Motility

While most chemokine receptors fail to cross the chemokine class boundary with respect to the ligands that they bind, the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded chemokine receptor US28 binds multiple CC-chemokines and the CX₃C-chemokine Fractalkine. US28 binding to CC-chemokines is both necessary and sufficient to induce vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration in response to HCMV infection. However, the function of Fractalkine binding to US28 is unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that Fractalkine binding to US28 not only induces migration of macrophages but also acts to inhibit RANTES-mediated SMC migration. Similarly, RANTES inhibits Fractalkine-mediated US28 migration in macrophages. While US28 binding of both RANTES and Fractalkine activate FAK and ERK-1/2, RANTES signals through Gα12 and Fractalkine through Gαq. These findings represent the first example of differential chemotactic signaling via a multiple chemokine family binding receptor that results in migration of two different cell types. Additionally, the demonstration that US28-mediated chemotaxis is both ligand-specific and cell type–specific has important implications in the role of US28 in HCMV pathogenesis.     

CC and CX3C chemokines differentially interact with the N terminus of the human cytomegalovirus-encoded US28 receptor

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the causative agent of life-threatening systemic diseases in immunocompromised patients as well as a risk factor for vascular pathologies, like atherosclerosis, in immunocompetent individuals. HCMV encodes a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), referred to as US28, that displays homology to the human chemokine receptor CCR1 and binds several chemokines of the CC family as well as the CX3C chemokine fractalkine with high affinity. Most importantly, following HCMV infection, US28 activates several intracellular pathways, either constitutively or in a chemokine-dependent manner. In this study, our goal was to understand the molecular interactions between chemokines and the HCMV-encoded US28 receptor. To achieve this goal, a double approach has been used, consisting in the analysis of both receptor and ligand mutants. This approach has led us to identify several amino acids located in the N terminus of US28 that differentially contribute to the high affinity binding of CC versus CX3C chemokines. Additionally, our results highlight the importance of secondary modifications occurring at US28, such as sulfation, for ligand recognition. Finally, the effects of chemokine dimerization and interaction with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on chemokine binding and activation of US28 were investigated as well using CCL4 as model ligand. In line with the two-state model describing chemokine/receptor interaction, we show that an aromatic residue in the N-loop region of CCL4 promotes tight binding to US28, whereas receptor activation depends on the presence of the N terminus of CCL4, as shown previously for CCR5.     

Functional Analysis of the Human Cytomegalovirus US28 Gene by Insertion Mutagenesis with the Green Fluorescent Protein Gene

The protein encoded by the US28 gene of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has homology to G protein-coupled receptors (GCR). Previous studies demonstrated that recombinant US28 protein can bind the β class of chemokines (K. Neote, D. DiGregorio, J. Y. Mak, R. Horuk, and T. J. Schall, Cell 72:415–425, 1993) and induce a rise in intracellular calcium after the binding of chemokines (J. L. Gao and P. M. Murphy, J. Biol. Chem. 269:28539–28542, 1994). In order to investigate the function of the US28 protein in virus-infected cells, a recombinant HCMV (HV5.8) was constructed, with the US28 open reading frame disrupted by the insertion of the Escherichia coli gpt gene and the gene for the green fluorescent protein. The US28 gene is not required for growth in human fibroblasts (HF). HF infected with wild-type HCMV bound RANTES at 24 h postinfection and demonstrated an intracellular calcium flux induced by RANTES. In cells infected with HV5.8, RANTES did not bind or induce a calcium flux, demonstrating that US28 is responsible for the β-chemokine binding and induced calcium signaling in HCMV-infected cells. The ability of the US28 gene to bind chemokines was shown to cause a significant reduction in the concentration of RANTES in the medium of infected cells. Northern analysis of RNA from infected cells showed that US28 is an early gene, while US27 (another GCR) is a late gene.Open reading frames (ORF) with homology to cellular seven transmembrane spanning receptors have been identified in the genomes of both beta and gamma herpesviruses (15, 37). Many cellular seven transmembrane spanning receptors have been shown to be G protein-coupled receptors (GCR) and comprise a superfamily of genes encoding the receptors for a variety of biological compounds, including neurotransmitters, hormones, odorants, and chemotactic agents. GCR link the binding of an extracellular ligand to processes within the cell by their activation of associated G proteins. G proteins can activate serine/threonine kinases, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phospholipases, or Ras (9). These proteins, in turn, can stimulate mitogen-activated protein kinase or generate second messenger molecules, such as diacylglycerol and inositol triphosphate, resulting in the activation of protein kinase C and increases in intracellular Ca²⁺ levels (9). Ultimately, these processes result in the amplification of the initial signal transduced by the ligand-GCR interaction into complex cellular processes such as chemotaxis.GCR are receptors for chemokines, derived from chemotactic cytokine, a multigene family of 70- to 90-amino-acid soluble proteins that are excreted from a variety of cell types and play important roles in leukocyte trafficking and immune regulation (7). Two classes of these structurally similar proteins are defined by the first two of four conserved cysteines. In the α class (e.g., interleukin-8 [IL-8], MGSA, and GCP-2) the first two cysteines are separated by an intervening residue (C-X-C), while in the β class (e.g., RANTES, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and MCP-1) they are adjacent (C-C). In general, the α-chemokines attract primarily neutrophils, while β-chemokines can have activity on monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils (46).The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) US28 ORF shows approximately 33% homology to the cellular β-chemokine receptor CCR-1 (35). Conserved features of viral and cellular proteins include the putative seven-membrane spanning regions and cysteines implicated in disulfide bond formation. The sequence homology between US28 and cellular GCR led to the identification of β-chemokines as the ligand for the viral receptor. Recombinant HCMV US28 protein expressed in 293 cells was shown to bind β-chemokines (35), and as with the binding of chemokines by their cellular receptors, the binding of ligand by recombinant US28 expressed in K562 cells led to an increase in intracellular calcium (21).During an acute infection, HCMV can be found in the blood as well as in numerous tissues, with the lungs, kidneys, salivary gland, and liver being commonly involved. HCMV has been identified in a wide variety of cells both in culture and in patients’ tissue, including epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, monocytes/macrophages, and lymphocytes (33, 47, 52). Because HCMV can infect cell types that respond to chemokines and cell types that produce chemokines, the viral GCR may mimic the functions of cellular GCR, but the role of the expression of a viral GCR in viral biology and the cell type in which it is important are not known.While researchers examined US28 function with recombinant protein in previous studies (21, 36), we have investigated the functions of the US28 gene expressed from the viral genome. We have constructed a recombinant HCMV with the US28 ORF disrupted by the genes for the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (GPT) and have demonstrated that US28 is responsible for the functions of a GCR in HCMV-infected cells.     

Chemokine receptor desensitization in tumor-bearing mice

We found that the murine breast cancer cell line 4T1 constitutively produced several chemokines capable of recruiting T cells. Additionally, supernatants from the tumor cell line mediated chemotaxis of T cells in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner, indicating that these chemokines were functional. However, we also found an impaired chemotactic ability of splenic T cells in mice bearing these same tumors. The receptors for RANTES, MCP-1, and SLC were desensitized. Thus, the impaired chemotactic ability of T cells in tumor-bearing mice may explain why tumors that secrete chemokines grow progressively in a host.     

Viral regulation of RANTES expression during human cytomegalovirus infection of endothelial cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) evades healthy immune responses during infection, and this evasion may allow HCMV to establish latency in the host. The human vasculature has been recognized as a site of HCMV infection and may also be a site of latent HCMV infection. As the interface between circulating cells and underlying parenchymal cells, the vascular endothelium provides signals for local reaction of inflammatory cells. We propose that HCMV down-regulates expression of the proinflammatory chemokine RANTES from the infected endothelium, which may result in reduced recruitment of mononuclear cells to the site of infection. Abortive HCMV infection of primary endothelial cells with the clinical isolate HCMV 4010, under conditions in which viral gene expression could not occur, induced high levels of RANTES expression. Replicative HCMV infection, however, induced cells in parallel cultures to express significantly lower levels of RANTES. Expression of the chemokines interleukin 8 and MCP-1 by endothelial cells was found to be unaffected by replicative HCMV infection and thus may not play an important role during early HCMV infection of the endothelium. HCMV may regulate RANTES expression from endothelial cells as a mechanism to evade the local immune response to infection.     

MCP-1 is induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-{kappa}B ligand, promotes human osteoclast fusion, and rescues granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor suppression of osteoclast formation

Human osteoclast formation from monocyte precursors under the action of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) was suppressed by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), with down-regulation of critical osteoclast-related nuclear factors. GM-CSF in the presence of RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor resulted in mononuclear cells that were negative for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and negative for bone resorption. CD1a, a dendritic cell marker, was expressed in GM-CSF, RANKL, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor-treated cells and absent in osteoclasts. Microarray showed that the CC chemokine, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), was profoundly repressed by GM-CSF. Addition of MCP-1 reversed GM-CSF suppression of osteoclast formation, recovering the bone resorption phenotype. MCP-1 and chemokine RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) permitted formation of TRAP-positive multinuclear cells in the absence of RANKL. However, these cells were negative for bone resorption. In the presence of RANKL, MCP-1 significantly increased the number of TRAP-positive multinuclear bone-resorbing osteoclasts (p = 0.008). When RANKL signaling through NFATc1 was blocked with cyclosporin A, both MCP-1 and RANTES expression was down-regulated. Furthermore, addition of MCP-1 and RANTES reversed the effects of cyclosporin A and recovered the TRAP-positive multinuclear cell phenotype. Our model suggests that RANKL-induced chemokines are involved in osteoclast differentiation at the stage of multinucleation of osteoclast precursors and provides a rationale for increased osteoclast activity in inflammatory conditions where chemokines are abundant.     

Identification of novel allosteric nonpeptidergic inhibitors of the human cytomegalovirus-encoded chemokine receptor US28

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread human pathogen, possessing onco-modulatory properties. Constitutive signaling of the HCMV-encoded chemokine receptor US28 and its ability to bind a broad spectrum of chemokines might facilitate HCMV-associated tumor progression. Novel nonpeptidergic chemotypes were identified as neutral antagonists or inverse agonists on US28, that allosterically inhibit chemokine binding to US28.     

Surface expression and endocytosis of the human cytomegalovirus-encoded chemokine receptor US28 is regulated by agonist-independent phosphorylation

Human cytomegalovirus encodes the G protein-coupled chemokine receptor homologue US28 that binds several CC chemokines and sequesters extracellular chemokines from the environment of infected cells. Mechanistically, it has been shown that US28 undergoes rapid constitutive receptor endocytosis and recycling. Monoclonal antibodies were raised that allowed the characterization of a ligand-independent phosphorylation and low surface expression of the US28 receptor in transiently transfected HEK293A cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis defined C-terminal serine and threonine residues as phospho-acceptor sites for constitutive receptor phosphorylation. Coexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 and US28 enhanced ligand-independent receptor phosphorylation. C-terminal serine to alanine mutagenesis of US28 resulted in a decreased phosphorylation rate that correlated with enhanced surface expression. Maximal surface expression was detected when all C-terminal serines were substituted. Exchange of all C-terminal serines also significantly reduced receptor endocytosis. Thus, constitutive US28 phosphorylation regulates receptor endocytosis and receptor surface display and may thereby provide a pathogenic mechanism for a potential decoy function of the virally encoded receptor.     

Identification of a gammaherpesvirus selective chemokine binding protein that inhibits chemokine action

Chemokines are involved in recruitment and activation of hematopoietic cells at sites of infection and inflammation. The M3 gene of gammaHV68, a gamma-2 herpesvirus that infects and establishes a lifelong latent infection and chronic vasculitis in mice, encodes an abundant secreted protein during productive infection. The M3 gene is located in a region of the genome that is transcribed during latency. We report here that the M3 protein is a high-affinity broad-spectrum chemokine scavenger. The M3 protein bound the CC chemokines human regulated upon activation of normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), murine macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha (MIP-1alpha), and murine monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), as well as the human CXC chemokine interleukin-8, the murine C chemokine lymphotactin, and the murine CX(3)C chemokine fractalkine with high affinity (K(d) = 1. 6 to 18.7 nM). M3 protein chemokine binding was selective, since the protein did not bind seven other CXC chemokines (K(d) > 1 microM). Furthermore, the M3 protein abolished calcium signaling in response to murine MIP-1alpha and murine MCP-1 and not to murine KC or human stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), consistent with the binding data. The M3 protein was also capable of blocking the function of human CC and CXC chemokines, indicating the potential for therapeutic applications. Since the M3 protein lacks homology to known chemokines, chemokine receptors, or chemokine binding proteins, these studies suggest a novel herpesvirus mechanism of immune evasion.