Japanese Encephalitis Virus exploits the microRNA-432 to regulate the expression of Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) 5.
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a plus strand RNA virus, which infects brain. MicroRNAs are regulatory non-coding RNAs which regulate the expression of various genes in cells. Viruses modulate the expression of various microRNAs to suppress anti-viral signaling and evade the immune response. SOCS (Suppressor of cytokine signalling) family of proteins are negative regulators of anti-viral Jak-STAT pathway. In this study, we demonstrated the regulatory role of SOCS5 in Jak-STAT signaling and its exploitation by JEV through a microRNA mediated mechanism. JEV infection in human brain microglial cells (CHME3) downregulated the expression of miR-432, and upregulated SOCS5 levels. SOCS5 was validated as a target of miR-432 by using 3'UTR clone of SOCS5 in luciferase vector along with miR-432 mimic. The overexpression of miR-432 prior to JEV infection enhanced the phosphorylation of STAT1 resulting into increased ISRE activity and cellular inflammatory response resulting into diminished viral replication. The knockdown of SOCS5 resulted into increased STAT1 phosphorylation and suppressed viral replication. JEV infection mediated downregulation of miR-432 leads to SOCS5 upregulation, which helps the virus to evade cellular anti-viral response. This study demonstrated that JEV utilizes this microRNA mediated strategy to manipulate cellular immune response promoting JEV pathogenesis.
Laboratory of Neurovirology and Inflammation Biology, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Uppal Road, Hyderabad-500007, India.
Nikhil
N
Sharma
National Brain Research Centre Manesar, Haryana-122050, Haryana, India.
Kanhaiya L
KL
Kumawat
Laboratory of Human Molecular Virology &Immunology, Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi-221005, India.
Meghana
M
Rastogi
National Brain Research Centre Manesar, Haryana-122050, Haryana, India.
Anirban
A
Basu
Laboratory of Human Molecular Virology &Immunology, Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi-221005, India.
Sunit K
SK
Singh
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014779:Virus Replication
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C582553:MIRN432 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; C408990:SOCS5 protein, human; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins