Dengue Virus Targets the Adaptor Protein MITA to Subvert Host Innate Immunity

Dengue is one of the most important arboviral diseases caused by infection of four serotypes of dengue virus (DEN). We found that activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) triggered by viral infection and by foreign DNA and RNA stimulation was blocked by DEN-encoded NS2B3 through a protease-dependent mechanism. The key adaptor protein in type I interferon pathway, human mediator of IRF3 activation (MITA) but not the murine homologue MPYS, was cleaved in cells infected with DEN-1 or DEN-2 and with expression of the enzymatically active protease NS2B3. The cleavage site of MITA was mapped to LRR↓⁹⁶G and the function of MITA was suppressed by dengue protease. DEN replication was reduced with overexpression of MPYS but not with MITA, while DEN replication was enhanced by MPYS knockdown, indicating an antiviral role of MITA/MPYS against DEN infection. The involvement of MITA in DEN-triggered innate immune response was evidenced by reduction of IRF3 activation and IFN induction in cells with MITA knockdown upon DEN-2 infection. NS2B3 physically interacted with MITA, and the interaction and cleavage of MITA could be further enhanced by poly(dA:dT) stimulation. Thus, we identified MITA as a novel host target of DEN protease and provide the molecular mechanism of how DEN subverts the host innate immunity.     

线粒体抗病毒信号蛋白(MAVS)在宿主天然免疫信号通路中的调节作用

线粒体抗病毒信号蛋白(MAVS)作为一种接头蛋白在调节宿主天然免疫信号通路过程中扮演重要角色．Toll样受体(TLR)和RIG-Ⅰ样受体(RLR)等细胞模式识别受体识别入侵的病原体并将信号传递给MAVS,MAVS通过刺激下游的TBK1复合体和IKK复合体分别活化NF-κB和IRF3等信号通路,进而激活干扰素α／β表达,诱发细胞内抗感染天然免疫反应．MAVS除定位线粒体外,也可定位于过氧化物酶体上．MAVS在细胞内的不同定位决定了其在早期快速和持续性抗病毒天然免疫中的不同调节机制．MAVS只有同时定位在过氧化物酶体和线粒体上才可诱导干扰素刺激基因(ISG)快速且稳定地表达．本文通过对MAVS的发现、结构、细胞定位及其在天然免疫信号通路中的调控机制等最新进展进行综述,以期揭示MAVS蛋白在细胞内天然免疫信号通路中的重要调节作用,为研究病毒逃逸宿主天然免疫的机制和研究新型抗病毒免疫治疗策略提供新思路．     

The Receptor-like Cytoplasmic Kinase BIK1 Localizes to the Nucleus and Regulates Defense Hormone Expression during Plant Innate Immunity

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A Novel Cell Lysis Approach Reveals That Caspase-2 Rapidly Translocates from the Nucleus to the Cytoplasm in Response to Apoptotic Stimuli

Unlike other caspases, caspase-2 appears to be a nuclear protein although immunocytochemical studies have suggested that it may also be localized to the cytosol and golgi. Where and how caspase-2 is activated in response to apoptotic signals is not clear. Earlier immunocytochemistry studies suggest that caspase-2 is activated in the nucleus and through cleavage of BID leads to increased mitochondrial permeability. More recent studies using bimolecular fluorescence complementation found that caspase-2 oligomerization that leads to activation only occurs in the cytoplasm. Thus, apoptotic signals may lead to activation of caspase-2 which may already reside in the cytoplasm or lead to release of nuclear caspase-2 to the extra-nuclear cytoplasmic compartment. It has not been possible to study release of nuclear caspase-2 to the cytoplasm by cell fractionation studies since cell lysis is known to release nuclear caspase-2 to the extra-nuclear fraction. This is similar to what is known about unliganded nuclear estrogen receptor-α (ERα ) when cells are disrupted. In this study we found that pre-treatment of cells with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), which alkylates cysteine thiol groups in proteins, completely prevents redistribution of caspase-2 and ERα from the nucleus to the extra-nuclear fraction when cells are lysed. Using this approach we provide evidence that apoptotic signals rapidly leads to a shift of caspase-2 from the nucleus to the extra-nuclear fraction, which precedes the detection of apoptosis. These findings are consistent with a model where apoptotic signals lead to a rapid shift of caspase-2 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm where activation occurs.     

病原DNA识别及其诱导天然免疫调节机制研究进展

机体天然免疫系统拥有一系列可以探测和抵制微生物侵袭的机制.目前,关于病原RNA的细胞内识别机制有了较为深入的研究和相关报道,但细胞内病原DNA的识别和相应的天然免疫应答机制仍未完全被揭示.阐明上述机制有助于了解和治疗一系列微生物感染相关的疾病,包括病毒和细菌感染类疾病、病毒相关的肿瘤、自身免疫性疾病等.近年来,细胞内多个充当"DNA传感器"的分子和干扰素调节分子被认为在细胞质DNA诱导宿主天然免疫反应过程中起着关键性调节作用.综述了对细胞内病原DNA的主要识别分子、信号通路以及相关的天然免疫调控机制.     

The Transcription Factors TFEB and TFE3 Link the FLCN-AMPK Signaling Axis to Innate Immune Response and Pathogen Resistance

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Both TRIF and IPS-1 Adaptor Proteins Contribute to the Cerebral Innate Immune Response against Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and RNA helicases (RLHs) are important cell sensors involved in the immunological control of viral infections through production of type I interferon (IFN). The impact of a deficiency in the TRIF and IPS-1 adaptor proteins, respectively, implicated in TLR3 and RLH signaling pathways, was investigated during herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis. TRIF^−/−, IPS-1^−/−, and C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice were infected intranasally with 7.5 × 10⁵ PFU of HSV-1. Mice were monitored for neurological signs and survival over 20 days. Groups of mice were sacrificed on days 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 postinfection for determination of brain viral replication by quantitative PCR (qPCR), plaque assay, and immunohistochemistry and for alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) levels and phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factors 3 and 7 (IRF-3 and -7) in brain homogenates by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting, respectively. TRIF^−/− and IPS-1^−/− mice had higher mortality rates than WT mice (P = 0.02 and P = 0.09, respectively). Viral antigens were more disseminated throughout the brain, correlating with a significant increase in brain viral load for TRIF^−/− (days 5 to 9) and IPS-1^−/− (days 7 and 9) mice compared to results for the WT. IFN-β production was reduced in brain homogenates of TRIF^−/− and IPS-1^−/− mice on day 5 compared to results for the WT, whereas IFN-α levels were increased on day 7 in TRIF^−/− mice. Phosphorylation levels of IRF-3 and IRF-7 were decreased in TRIF^−/− and IPS-1^−/− mice, respectively. These data suggest that both the TRIF and IPS-1 signaling pathways are important for the control of HSV replication in the brain and survival through IFN-β production.     

The N-Terminal Domain of cGAS Determines Preferential Association with Centromeric DNA and Innate Immune Activation in the Nucleus

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Soluble Interleukin-6 Receptor-Mediated Innate Immune Response to DNA and RNA Viruses

The interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, which exists as membrane-bound and soluble forms, plays critical roles in the immune response. The soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL6R) has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for preventing coronary heart disease. However, little is known about the role of this receptor during viral infection. In this study, we show that sIL6R, but not IL-6, is induced by viral infection via the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway. Interestingly, sIL6R, but not IL-6, exhibited extensive antiviral activity against DNA and RNA viruses, including hepatitis B virus, influenza virus, human enterovirus 71, and vesicular stomatitis virus. No synergistic effects on antiviral action were observed by combining sIL6R and IL-6. Furthermore, sIL6R mediated antiviral action via the p28 pathway and induced alpha interferon (IFN-α) by promoting the nuclear translocation of IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and NF-κB, which led to the activation of downstream IFN effectors, including 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS), double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), and myxovirus resistance protein (Mx). Thus, our results demonstrate that sIL6R, but not IL-6, plays an important role in the host antiviral response.     

Crosstalk between the Circadian Clock and Innate Immunity in Arabidopsis

The circadian clock integrates temporal information with environmental cues in regulating plant development and physiology. Recently, the circadian clock has been shown to affect plant responses to biotic cues. To further examine this role of the circadian clock, we tested disease resistance in mutants disrupted in CCA1 and LHY, which act synergistically to regulate clock activity. We found that cca1 and lhy mutants also synergistically affect basal and resistance gene-mediated defense against Pseudomonas syringae and Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. Disrupting the circadian clock caused by overexpression of CCA1 or LHY also resulted in severe susceptibility to P. syringae. We identified a downstream target of CCA1 and LHY, GRP7, a key constituent of a slave oscillator regulated by the circadian clock and previously shown to influence plant defense and stomatal activity. We show that the defense role of CCA1 and LHY against P. syringae is at least partially through circadian control of stomatal aperture but is independent of defense mediated by salicylic acid. Furthermore, we found defense activation by P. syringae infection and treatment with the elicitor flg22 can feedback-regulate clock activity. Together this data strongly supports a direct role of the circadian clock in defense control and reveal for the first time crosstalk between the circadian clock and plant innate immunity.