The cell surface mucin MUC1 limits the severity of influenza A virus infection.
Cell surface mucin (cs-mucin) glycoproteins are constitutively expressed at the surface of respiratory epithelia where pathogens such as influenza A virus (IAV) gain entry into cells. Different members of the cs-mucin family each express a large and heavily glycosylated extracellular domain that towers above other receptors on the epithelial cell surface, a transmembrane domain that enables shedding of the extracellular domain, and a cytoplasmic tail capable of triggering signaling cascades. We hypothesized that IAV can interact with the terminal sialic acids presented on the extracellular domain of cs-mucins, resulting in modulation of infection efficiency. Utilizing human lung epithelial cells, we found that IAV associates with the cs-mucin MUC1 but not MUC13 or MUC16. Overexpression of MUC1 by epithelial cells or the addition of sialylated synthetic MUC1 constructs, reduced IAV infection in vitro. In addition, Muc1-/-mice infected with IAV exhibited enhanced morbidity and mortality, as well as greater inflammatory mediator responses compared to wild type mice. This study implicates the cs-mucin MUC1 as a critical and dynamic component of the innate host response that limits the severity of influenza and provides the foundation for exploration of MUC1 in resolving inflammatory disease.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
J L
JL
McAuley
School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
L
L
Corcilius
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
H-X
HX
Tan
School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
R J
RJ
Payne
Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
M A
MA
McGuckin
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
L E
LE
Brown
D000072283:A549 Cells; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D003412:Cricetulus; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D000072417:Protein Domains / Q000235:genetics
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018396:Mucin-1; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid