title: Induction of autophagy enhances porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus replication.
abstract: Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosome-dependent degradation pathway that acts in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and plays important functions in viral replication and pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of autophagy in the replication of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), an agent that has caused devastating losses in the international swine industry since the late 1980s. Using protein quantification and microscopy, we observed that PRRSV infection results in LC3-I/II conversion, an increased accumulation of punctate GFP-LC3-expressing cells, and a higher number of autophagosome-like double-membrane vesicles in the cytoplasm of host cells. Inhibition of autophagy using 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or small interfering RNAs targeting ATG7 and Beclin-1 led to a significant reduction in PRRSV titers and protein expression. Conversely, induction of autophagy by rapamycin resulted in increased viral replication. These results demonstrate that PRRSV infection induces autophagy which, in turn, enhances viral replication efficiency.
authors: Division of Animal Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors: Quangang
authors: Q
authors: Chen
authors: Liurong
authors: L
authors: Fang
authors: Dang
authors: D
authors: Wang
authors: Shaohua
authors: S
authors: Wang
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: Mao
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Luo
authors: Huanchun
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Shaobo
authors: S
authors: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D014779:Virus Replication