Viral double-strand RNA-binding proteins can enhance innate immune signaling by toll-like Receptor 3.
Toll-like Receptor 3 (TLR3) detects double-stranded (ds) RNAs to activate innate immune responses. While poly(I:C) is an excellent agonist for TLR3 in several cell lines and in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, viral dsRNAs tend to be poor agonists, leading to the hypothesis that additional factor(s) are likely required to allow TLR3 to respond to viral dsRNAs. TLR3 signaling was examined in a lung epithelial cell line by quantifying cytokine production and in human embryonic kidney cells by quantifying luciferase reporter levels. Recombinant 1b hepatitis C virus polymerase was found to enhance TLR3 signaling in the lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells when added to the media along with either poly(I:C) or viral dsRNAs. The polymerase from the genotype 2a JFH-1 HCV was a poor enhancer of TLR3 signaling until it was mutated to favor a conformation that could bind better to a partially duplexed RNA. The 1b polymerase also co-localizes with TLR3 in endosomes. RNA-binding capsid proteins (CPs) from two positive-strand RNA viruses and the hepadenavirus hepatitis B virus (HBV) were also potent enhancers of TLR3 signaling by poly(I:C) or viral dsRNAs. A truncated version of the HBV CP that lacked an arginine-rich RNA-binding domain was unable to enhance TLR3 signaling. These results demonstrate that several viral RNA-binding proteins can enhance the dsRNA-dependent innate immune response initiated by TLR3.
Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
Yvonne
Y
Lai
Guanghui
G
Yi
Alice
A
Chen
Kanchan
K
Bhardwaj
Brady J
BJ
Tragesser
Rodrigo A Valverde
Adam
A
Zlotnick
Suchetana
S
Mukhopadhyay
C T
CT
Ranjith-Kumar
C Cheng
CC
Kao
D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D005838:Genotype; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021381:Protein Transport; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012398:Ross River virus / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C495344:TLR3 protein, human; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; D011070:Poly I-C