The Innate Immune DNA Sensing cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway Mediates Anti-PRRSV Function

Viruses. 2021 Sep 14;13(9):1829. doi: 10.3390/v13091829.

Abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) modulates host innate immunity which plays a key role against PRRSV infection. As a RNA virus, PRRSV is mainly sensed by innate immune RNA receptors, whereas the role of innate immune DNA sensors in the PRRSV infection has not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the roles of DNA sensing cGAS-STING pathway in both PRRSV infected Marc-145 cells and porcine macrophages. The results show that in Marc-145 cells, the stable expression of STING with or without stimulations exhibited anti-PRRSV activity, and STING knockout heightened PRRSV infection. In CD163-3D4/21 porcine macrophages, either expression of STING or stimulation of cGAS-STING signaling obviously suppressed PRRSV infection, whereas in STING knockdown macrophages, the PRRSV infection was upregulated. Our results clearly demonstrate that the host cGAS-STING signal exerts an important antiviral role in PRRSV infection.

Keywords: DNA sensor; PRRSV; antiviral activity; cGAS-STING; innate immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Macrophages / virology*
  • Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism
  • Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / immunology*
  • Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / physiology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition / metabolism
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Swine
  • Virus Replication / immunology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • DNA receptor
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Nucleotidyltransferases