Prion expression is activated by Adenovirus 5 infection and affects the adenoviral cycle in human cells.
The prion protein is a cell surface glycoprotein whose physiological role remains elusive, while its implication in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) has been demonstrated. Multiple interactions between the prion protein and viruses have been described: viruses can act as co-factors in TSEs and life cycles of different viruses have been found to be controlled by prion modulation. We present data showing that human Adenovirus 5 induces prion expression. Inactivated Adenovirus did not alter prion transcription, while variants encoding for early products did, suggesting that the prion is stimulated by an early adenoviral function. Down-regulation of the prion through RNA interference showed that the prion controls adenovirus replication and expression. These data suggest that the prion protein could play a role in the defense strategy mounted by the host during viral infection, in a cell autonomous manner. These results have implications for the study of the prion protein and of associated TSEs.
Caruso
Paola
P
Sapienza University of Rome Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Rome, Italy.
Burla
Romina
R
Piersanti
Stefania
S
Cherubini
Gioia
G
Remoli
Cristina
C
Martina
Yuri
Y
Saggio
Isabella
I
D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D011328:Prions