Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) induces IL-12p40 production through JNK-AP-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) mainly infects monocyte/macrophage cells and modulates cytokine production to regulate host immune response. IL-12p40 is the basic subunit of IL-12, a heterodimeric cytokine, which plays key roles in the cell-mediated immune response. In the present study, we demonstrated that PRRSV infection induced IL-12p40 production in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, we showed that inhibitors of p38 MAPK, JNK, and NF-κB dramatically reduced PRRSV-induced IL-12p40 expression. To further characterize the molecular mechanism of IL-12p40 production induced by PRRSV infection, we cloned and analyzed the porcine IL-12p40 promoter, in which AP-1 and NF-κB motifs were found. In addition, both JNK-AP-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways were activated by PRRSV infection. Taken together, these data indicate that PRRSV induces IL-12p40 expression through the JNK-AP-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Our findings might facilitate our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of IL-12 production induced by PRRSV infection.
State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Zhibin
Z
Yu
State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Chen
C
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Qiong
Q
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: whfeng@cau.edu.cn.
Wen-Hai
WH
Feng
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D013552:Swine; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases