Herpes simplex virus-1 infection causes the secretion of a type I interferon-antagonizing protein and inhibits signaling at or before Jak-1 activation

Virology. 2010 Jan 5;396(1):21-9. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.09.021. Epub 2009 Oct 31.

Abstract

Host cells respond to viral infection by the production of type I interferons (IFNs), which induce the expression of antiviral genes. Herpes simplex virus I (HSV-1) encodes many mechanisms that inhibit the type I IFN response, including the ICP27-dependent inhibition of type I IFN signaling. Here we show inhibition of Stat-1 nuclear accumulation in cells that express ICP27. ICP27 expression also induces the secretion of a small, heat-stable type I IFN antagonizing protein that inhibits Stat-1 nuclear accumulation. We show that the inhibition of IFN-induced Stat-1 phosphorylation occurs at or upstream of Jak-1 phosphorylation. Finally, we show that ISG15 expression is induced after IFNalpha treatment in mock-infected cells, but not cells infected with WT HSV-1 or ICP27(-) HSV-1. These data suggest that HSV-1 has evolved multiple mechanisms to inhibit IFN signaling not only in infected cells, but also in neighboring cells, thereby allowing for increased viral replication and spread.

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / pathogenicity*
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / physiology
  • Interferon Type I / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Janus Kinase 1 / physiology
  • Phosphorylation
  • RNA Splicing
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / analysis
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / genetics
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Ubiquitins / genetics
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • ICP27 protein, human herpesvirus 1
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Interferon Type I
  • RNA, Messenger
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Ubiquitins
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta
  • ISG15 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 1