Interferon-Inducible Oligoadenylate Synthetase-Like Protein Acts as an Antiviral Effector against Classical Swine Fever Virus via the MDA5-Mediated Type I Interferon-Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is the causative agent of classical swine fever (CSF), which poses a serious threat to the global pig industry. Interferons (IFNs) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) play a key role in host antiviral defense. We have previously screened the porcine 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase-like protein (pOASL) as a potential anti-CSFV ISG using a reporter CSFV. This study aimed to clarify the underlying antiviral mechanism of pOASL against CSFV. We confirmed that CSFV replication was significantly suppressed in lentivirus-delivered, pOASL-overexpressing PK-15 cells, whereas silencing the expression of endogenous pOASL by small interfering RNAs markedly enhanced CSFV growth. In addition, the transcriptional level of pOASL was upregulated both in vitro and in vivo upon CSFV infection. Interestingly, the anti-CSFV effects of pOASL are independent of the canonical RNase L pathway but depend on the activation of the type I IFN response. Glutathione S-transferase pulldown and coimmunoprecipitation assays revealed that pOASL interacts with MDA5, a double-stranded RNA sensor, and further enhances MDA5-mediated type I IFN signaling. Moreover, we showed that pOASL exerts anti-CSFV effects in an MDA5-dependent manner. In conclusion, pOASL suppresses CSFV replication via the MDA5-mediated type I IFN-signaling pathway.IMPORTANCE The host innate immune response plays an important role in mounting the initial resistance to viral infection. Here, we identify the porcine 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase-like protein (pOASL) as an interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene (ISG) against classical swine fever virus (CSFV). We demonstrate that the anti-CSFV effects of pOASL depend on the activation of type I IFN response. In addition, we show that pOASL, as an MDA5-interacting protein, is a coactivator of MDA5-mediated IFN induction to exert anti-CSFV actions. This work will be beneficial to the development of novel anti-CSFV strategies by targeting pOASL.

Keywords: 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase-like protein; Classical swine fever virus; antiviral activity; interferon-stimulated genes; porcine MDA5; type I interferon.