A simian virus 5 (SV5) P/V mutant is less cytopathic than wild-type SV5 in human dendritic cells and is a more effective activator of dendritic cell maturation and function

Human epithelial cells infected with the parainfluenza virus simian virus 5 (SV5) show minimal activation of host cell interferon (IFN), cytokine, and cell death pathways. In contrast, a recombinant SV5 P/V gene mutant (rSV5-P/V-CPI-) overexpresses viral gene products and is a potent inducer of IFN, proinflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis in these cells. In this study, we have compared the outcomes of wild-type (WT) SV5 and rSV5-P/V-CPI- infections of primary human dendritic cells (DC), important antigen-presenting cells for initiating adaptive immune responses. We have tested the hypothesis that a P/V mutant which activates host antiviral responses will be a more potent inducer of DC maturation and function than WT rSV5, which suppresses host cell responses. Infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived immature DC with WT rSV5 resulted in high levels of viral protein and progeny virus but very little increase in cell surface costimulatory molecules or secretion of IFN and proinflammatory cytokines. In contrast, immature DC infected with the rSV5-P/V-CPI- mutant produced only low levels of viral protein and progeny virus, but these infected cells were induced to secrete IFN-alpha and other cytokines and showed elevated levels of maturation markers. Unexpectedly, DC infected with WT rSV5 showed extensive cytopathic effects and increased levels of active caspase-3, while infection of DC with the P/V mutant was largely noncytopathic. In mixed-culture assays, WT rSV5-infected DC were impaired in the ability to stimulate proliferation of autologous CD4+ T cells, whereas DC infected with the P/V mutant were very effective at activating T-cell proliferation. The addition of a pancaspase inhibitor to DC infected with WT rSV5 reduced cytopathic effects and resulted in higher surface expression levels of maturation markers. Our finding that the SV5 P/V mutant has both a reduced cytopathic effect in human DC compared to WT SV5 and an enhanced ability to induce DC function has implications for the rational design of novel recombinant paramyxovirus vectors based on engineered mutations in the viral P/V gene.     

Degradation of STAT1 and STAT2 by the V proteins of simian virus 5 and human parainfluenza virus type 2, respectively: consequences for virus replication in the presence of alpha/beta and gamma interferons

Human cell lines were isolated that express the V protein of either simian virus 5 (SV5) or human parainfluenza virus type 2 (hPIV2); the cell lines were termed 2f/SV5-V and 2f/PIV2-V, respectively. STAT1 was not detectable in 2f/SV5-V cells, and the cells failed to signal in response to either alpha/beta interferons (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, or IFN-alpha/beta) or gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). In contrast, STAT2 was absent from 2f/PIV2-V cells, and IFN-alpha/beta but not IFN-gamma signaling was blocked in these cells. Treatment of both 2f/SV5-V and 2f/PIV2-V cells with a proteasome inhibitor allowed the respective STAT levels to accumulate at rates similar to those seen in 2fTGH cells, indicating that the V proteins target the STATs for proteasomal degradation. Infection with SV5 can lead to a complete loss of both phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated forms of STAT1 by 6 h postinfection. Since the turnover of STAT1 in uninfected cells is longer than 24 h, we conclude that degradation of STAT1 is the main mechanism by which SV5 blocks interferon (IFN) signaling. Pretreatment of 2fTGH cells with IFN-alpha severely inhibited both SV5 and hPIV2 protein synthesis. However, and in marked contrast, pretreatment of 2fTGH cells with IFN-gamma had little obvious effect on SV5 protein synthesis but did significantly reduce the replication of hPIV2. Pretreament with IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma did not induce an antiviral state in 2f/SV5-V cells, indicating either that the induction of an antiviral state is completely dependent on STAT signaling or that the V protein interferes with other, STAT-independent cell signaling pathways that may be induced by IFNs. Even though SV5 blocked IFN signaling, the addition of exogenous IFN-alpha to the culture medium of 2fTGH cells 12 h after a low-multiplicity infection with SV5 significantly reduced the subsequent cell-to-cell spread of virus. The significance of the results in terms of the strategy that these viruses have evolved to circumvent the IFN response is discussed.     

Single amino acid substitution in the V protein of simian virus 5 differentiates its ability to block interferon signaling in human and murine cells

Previous work has demonstrated that the V protein of simian virus 5 (SV5) targets STAT1 for proteasome-mediated degradation (thereby blocking interferon [IFN] signaling) in human but not in murine cells. In murine BF cells, SV5 establishes a low-grade persistent infection in which the virus fluxes between active and repressed states in response to local production of IFN. Upon passage of persistently infected BF cells, virus mutants were selected that were better able to replicate in murine cells than the parental W3 strain of SV5 (wild type [wt]). Viruses with mutations in the Pk region of the N-terminal domain of the V protein came to predominate the population of viruses carried in the persistently infected cell cultures. One of these mutant viruses, termed SV5 mci-2, was isolated. Sequence analysis of the V/P gene of SV5 mci-2 revealed two nucleotide differences compared to wt SV5, only one of which resulted in an amino acid substitution (asparagine [N], residue 100, to aspartic acid [D]) in V. Unlike the protein of wt SV5, the V protein of SV5 mci-2 blocked IFN signaling in murine cells. Since the SV5 mci-2 virus had additional mutations in genes other than the V/P gene, a recombinant virus (termed rSV5-V/P N(100)D) was constructed that contained this substitution alone within the wt SV5 backbone to evaluate what effect the asparagine-to-aspartic-acid substitution in V had on the virus phenotype. In contrast to wt SV5, rSV5-V/P N(100)D blocked IFN signaling in murine cells. Furthermore, rSV5-V/P N(100)D virus protein synthesis in BF cells continued for significantly longer periods than that for wt SV5. However, even in cells infected with rSV5-V/P N(100)D, there was a late, but significant, inhibition in virus protein synthesis. Nevertheless, there was an increase in virus yield from BF cells infected with rSV5-V/P N(100)D compared to wt SV5, demonstrating a clear selective advantage to SV5 in being able to block IFN signaling in these cells.     

Simian virus 5 is a poor inducer of chemokine secretion from human lung epithelial cells: identification of viral mutants that activate interleukin-8 secretion by distinct mechanisms

We have compared chemokine secretion from human lung A549 cells infected with simian virus 5 (SV5) with other members of the Rubulavirus genus of paramyxoviruses. High levels of the chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were secreted from A549 cells infected with Human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV-2) but not from cells infected with wild-type (WT) SV5. The lack of IL-8 secretion from SV5-infected cells was not due to a global block in all signal transduction pathways leading to IL-8 secretion, since SV5-infected A549 cells secreted IL-8 after stimulation with exogenously added tumor necrosis factor alpha or by coinfection with HPIV-2. A previously described, recombinant SV5 containing substitutions in the shared region of the P/V gene (rSV5-P/V-CPI-) induced IL-8 secretion by a mechanism that was dependent on viral gene expression. By contrast, an SV5 variant isolated from persistently infected cells (Wake Forest strain of Canine parainfluenza virus) induced IL-8 secretion by a mechanism that was largely not affected by inhibitors of viral gene expression. Together, these data demonstrate that SV5 is unusual compared to other closely related paramyxoviruses, since SV5 is a very poor inducer of the cytokines IL-8 and MCP-1. The isolation of two recombinant SV5 mutants that are defective in preventing chemokine induction will allow an identification of mechanisms utilized by WT SV5 to avoid activation of host cell innate immune responses to infection.     

Conserved cysteine-rich domain of paramyxovirus simian virus 5 V protein plays an important role in blocking apoptosis

The paramyxovirus family includes many well-known human and animal pathogens as well as emerging viruses such as Hendra virus and Nipah virus. The V protein of simian virus 5 (SV5), a prototype of the paramyxoviruses, contains a cysteine-rich C-terminal domain which is conserved among all paramyxovirus V proteins. The V protein can block both interferon (IFN) signaling by causing degradation of STAT1 and IFN production by blocking IRF-3 nuclear import. Previously, it was reported that recombinant SV5 lacking the C terminus of the V protein (rSV5VDeltaC) induces a severe cytopathic effect (CPE) in tissue culture whereas wild-type (wt) SV5 infection does not induce CPE. In this study, the nature of the CPE and the mechanism of the induction of CPE were investigated. Through the use of DNA fragmentation, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling, and propidium iodide staining assays, it was shown that rSV5VDeltaC induced apoptosis. Expression of wt V protein prevented apoptosis induced by rSV5VDeltaC, suggesting that the V protein has an antiapoptotic function. Interestingly, rSV5VDeltaC induced apoptosis in U3A cells (a STAT1-deficient cell line) and in the presence of neutralizing antibody against IFN, suggesting that the induction of apoptosis by rSV5VDeltaC was independent of IFN and IFN-signaling pathways. Apoptosis induced by rSV5VDeltaC was blocked by a general caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, but not by specific inhibitors against caspases 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13, suggesting that rSV5VDeltaC-induced apoptosis can occur in a caspase 12-dependent manner. Endoplasmic reticulum stress can lead to activation of caspase 12; compared to the results seen with mock and wt SV5 infection, rSV5VDeltaC infection induced ER stress, as demonstrated by increased expression levels of known ER stress indicators GRP 78, GRP 94, and GADD153. These data suggest that rSV5VDeltaC can trigger cell death by inducing ER stress.     

The SH integral membrane protein of the paramyxovirus simian virus 5 is required to block apoptosis in MDBK cells

In some cell types the paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5) causes little cytopathic effect (CPE) and infection continues productively for long periods of time; e.g., SV5 can be produced from MDBK cells for up to 40 days with little CPE. SV5 differs from most paramyxoviruses in that it encodes a small (44-amino-acid) hydrophobic integral membrane protein (SH). When MDBK cells were infected with a recombinant SV5 containing a deletion of the SH gene (rSV5DeltaSH), the MDBK cells exhibited an increase in CPE compared to cells infected with wild-type SV5 (recovered from cDNA; rSV5). The increased CPE correlated with an increase in apoptosis in rSV5DeltaSH-infected cells over mock-infected and rSV5-infected cells when assayed for annexin V binding, DNA content (propidium iodide staining), and DNA fragmentation (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay). In rSV5DeltaSH-infected MDBK cells an increase in caspase-2 and caspase-3 activities was observed. By using peptide inhibitors of individual caspases it was found that caspase-2 and caspase-3 were activated separately in rSV5DeltaSH-infected cells. Expression of caspase-2 and -3 in rSV5DeltaSH-infected MDBK cells appeared not to require STAT1 protein, as STAT1 protein could not be detected in SV5-infected MDBK cells. When mutant mice homologous for a targeted disruption of STAT1 were used as a model animal system and infected with the viruses it was found that rSV5DeltaSH caused less mortality than wild-type rSV5, consistent with the notion of clearance of apoptotic cells in a host species.     

The p127 subunit (DDB1) of the UV-DNA damage repair binding protein is essential for the targeted degradation of STAT1 by the V protein of the paramyxovirus simian virus 5

The V protein of simian virus 5 (SV5) blocks interferon signaling by targeting STAT1 for proteasome-mediated degradation. Here we present three main pieces of evidence which demonstrate that the p127 subunit (DDB1) of the UV damage-specific DNA binding protein (DDB) plays a central role in this degradation process. First, the V protein of an SV5 mutant which fails to target STAT1 for degradation does not bind DDB1. Second, mutations in the N and C termini of V which abolish the binding of V to DDB1 also prevent V from blocking interferon (IFN) signaling. Third, treatment of HeLa/SV5-V cells, which constitutively express the V protein of SV5 and thus lack STAT1, with short interfering RNAs specific for DDB1 resulted in a reduction in DDB1 levels with a concomitant increase in STAT1 levels and a restoration of IFN signaling. Furthermore, STAT1 is degraded in GM02415 (2RO) cells, which have a mutation in DDB2 (the p48 subunit of DDB) which abolishes its ability to interact with DDB1, thereby demonstrating that the role of DDB1 in STAT1 degradation is independent of its association with DDB2. Evidence is also presented which demonstrates that STAT2 is required for the degradation of STAT1 by SV5. These results suggest that DDB1, STAT1, STAT2, and V may form part of a large multiprotein complex which leads to the targeted degradation of STAT1 by the proteasome.     

Activation of human macrophages by bacterial components relieves the restriction on replication of an interferon-inducing parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) P/V mutant

Macrophages regulate immune responses during many viral infections, and can be a major determinant of pathogenesis, virus replication and immune response to infection. Here, we have addressed the question of the outcome of infection of primary human macrophages with parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) and a PIV5 mutant (P/V-CPI-) that is unable to counteract interferon (IFN) responses. In cultures of na?ve monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), WT PIV5 established a highly productive infection, whereas the P/V-CPI- mutant was restricted for replication in MDMs by IFN-beta. Restricted replication in vitro was relieved in MDM that had been activated by prior exposure to heat killed Gram positive bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Bacillus anthracis. Enhanced replication of the P/V mutant in MDM previously activated by bacterial components correlated with a reduced ability to produce IFN-beta in response to virus infection, whereas IFN signaling was intact. Activated MDM were found to upregulate the synthesis of IRAK-M, which has been previously shown to negatively regulate factors involved in TLR signaling and IFN-beta production. We discuss these results in terms of the implications for mixed bacteria-virus infections and for the use of live RNA virus vectors that have been engineered to be attenuated for IFN sensitivity.     

Sendai virus and simian virus 5 block activation of interferon-responsive genes: importance for virus pathogenesis

Sendai virus (SeV) is highly pathogenic for mice. In contrast, mice (including SCID mice) infected with simian virus 5 (SV5) showed no overt signs of disease. Evidence is presented that a major factor which prevented SV5 from productively infecting mice was its inability to circumvent the interferon (IFN) response in mice. Thus, in murine cells that produce and respond to IFN, SV5 protein synthesis was rapidly switched off. In marked contrast, once SeV protein synthesis began, it continued, even if the culture medium was supplemented with alpha/beta IFN (IFN-alpha/beta). However, in human cells, IFN-alpha/beta did not inhibit the replication of either SV5 or SeV once virus protein synthesis was established. To begin to address the molecular basis for these observations, the effects of SeV and SV5 infections on the activation of an IFN-alpha/beta-responsive promoter and on that of the IFN-beta promoter were examined in transient transfection experiments. The results demonstrated that (i) SeV, but not SV5, inhibited an IFN-alpha/beta-responsive promoter in murine cells; (ii) both SV5 and SeV inhibited the activation of an IFN-alpha/beta-responsive promoter in human cells; and (iii) in both human and murine cells, SeV was a strong inducer of the IFN-beta promoter, whereas SV5 was a poor inducer. The ability of SeV and SV5 to inhibit the activation of IFN-responsive genes in human cells was confirmed by RNase protection experiments. The importance of these results in terms of paramyxovirus pathogenesis is discussed.     

Role for the phosphoprotein P subunit of the paramyxovirus polymerase in limiting induction of host cell antiviral responses

Six amino acid substitutions in the shared N-terminal region of the P subunit of the viral polymerase and the accessory V protein convert the noncytopathic paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5), which is a poor inducer of host cell responses, into a P/V mutant (P/V-CPI-) that induces high levels of apoptosis, interferon-beta (IFN-beta), and proinflammatory cytokines. In this study, we addressed the question of whether these new mutant phenotypes are due to the presence of an altered P protein or of an altered V protein or of both proteins. By the use of the P/V-CPI- mutant as a backbone, new mutant viruses were engineered to express the wild-type (WT) V protein (+V-wt) or WT P protein (+P-wt) from an additional gene inserted between the HN and L genes. In human epithelial cell lines, the +V-wt virus showed reduced activation of apoptosis and lower secretion of IFN-beta and proinflammatory cytokines compared to the parental P/V-CPI- virus. The presence of a V protein lacking the C-terminal cysteine-rich domain (corresponding to the SV5 I protein) did not reduce these host cell responses to P/V-CPI- infection. Unexpectedly, the +P-wt virus, which expressed a WT P subunit of the viral polymerase, also induced much lower levels of host cell responses than the parental P/V-CPI- mutant. For both +V-wt and +P-wt viruses, reduced levels of IFN-beta synthesis correlated with reduced IRF-3 dimerization and nuclear localization of IRF-3 and NF-kappaB, suggesting that the WT P and V proteins acted at an early stage in antiviral pathways. Host cell responses induced by the various P/V mutants directly correlated with levels of viral mRNA accumulation but not with steady-state levels of genomic RNA. Our results support the hypothesis that WT P and V proteins limit induction of antiviral responses by controlling the production of key viral inducers. A model is presented for the mechanism by which both the P subunit of the viral polymerase and the V accessory protein contribute to the ability of a paramyxovirus to limit activation of antiviral responses.     

Inhibition of interferon signaling by the New York 99 strain and Kunjin subtype of West Nile virus involves blockage of STAT1 and STAT2 activation by nonstructural proteins

The interferon (IFN) response is the first line of defense against viral infections, and the majority of viruses have developed different strategies to counteract IFN responses in order to ensure their survival in an infected host. In this study, the abilities to inhibit IFN signaling of two closely related West Nile viruses, the New York 99 strain (NY99) and Kunjin virus (KUN), strain MRM61C, were analyzed using reporter plasmid assays, as well as immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses. We have demonstrated that infections with both NY99 and KUN, as well as transient or stable transfections with their replicon RNAs, inhibited the signaling of both alpha/beta IFN (IFN-alpha/beta) and gamma IFN (IFN-gamma) by blocking the phosphorylation of STAT1 and its translocation to the nucleus. In addition, the phosphorylation of STAT2 and its translocation to the nucleus were also blocked by KUN, NY99, and their replicons in response to treatment with IFN-alpha. IFN-alpha signaling and STAT2 translocation to the nucleus was inhibited when the KUN nonstructural proteins NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, and NS4B, but not NS1 and NS5, were expressed individually from the pcDNA3 vector. The results clearly demonstrate that both NY99 and KUN inhibit IFN signaling by preventing STAT1 and STAT2 phosphorylation and identify nonstructural proteins responsible for this inhibition.     

Mumps virus V protein antagonizes interferon without the complete degradation of STAT1

Mumps virus (MuV) has been shown to antagonize the antiviral effects of interferon (IFN) through proteasome-mediated complete degradation of STAT1 by using the viral V protein (T. Kubota et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 283:255-259, 2001). However, we found that MuV could inhibit IFN signaling and the generation of a subsequent antiviral state long before the complete degradation of cellular STAT1 in infected cells. In MuV-infected cells, nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT2 tyrosine residue (Y) at 701 and 689, respectively, by IFN-beta were significantly inhibited but the phosphorylation of Jak1 and Tyk2 was not inhibited. The transiently expressed MuV V protein also inhibited IFN-beta-induced Y701-STAT1 and Y689-STAT2 phosphorylation, suggesting that the V protein could block IFN-beta-induced signal transduction without the aid of other viral components. Finally, a substitution of an alanine residue in place of a cysteine residue in the C-terminal V-unique region known to be required for STAT1 degradation and inhibition of anti-IFN signaling resulted in the loss of V protein function to inhibit the Y701-STAT1 and Y689-STAT2 phosphorylation.