Work

Simian varicella virus inhibits the interferon gamma signalling pathway

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: The alphaherpesvirus simian varicella virus (SVV) causes varicella and zoster in nonhuman primates. Herpesviruses evolved elaborate mechanisms to escape host immunity, but the immune evasion strategies employed by SVV remain ill-defined. We analysed whether SVV impairs the cellular response to key antiviral cytokine interferon-γ (IFNγ). SVV infection inhibited the expression of IFNγ-induced genes like C-X-C motif chemokine 10 and interferon regulatory factor 1. Phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) was blocked in SVV-infected cells, which did not involve cellular and viral phosphatases. SVV infection did not downregulate IFNγ receptor α and β chain expression on the cell surface. Instead, STAT1, Janus tyrosine kinases 1 (JAK1) and JAK2 protein levels were significantly decreased in SVV-infected cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate that SVV targets three proteins in the IFNγ signal transduction pathway to escape the antiviral effects of IFNγ.

Source: Journal of General Virology

DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000925

Authors: Werner J. D. Ouwendijk, Suzanne van Veen, Ravi Mahalingam, Georges M. G. M. Verjans

Institutions: Erasmus MC, University of Colorado Anschutz, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation

Language: English

Topic: Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke