The influenza virus protein PB1-F2 inhibits the induction of type I interferon at the level of the MAVS adaptor protein

PLoS Pathog. 2011 Jun;7(6):e1002067. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002067. Epub 2011 Jun 9.

Abstract

PB1-F2 is a 90 amino acid protein that is expressed from the +1 open reading frame in the PB1 gene of some influenza A viruses and has been shown to contribute to viral pathogenicity. Notably, a serine at position 66 (66S) in PB1-F2 is known to increase virulence compared to an isogenic virus with an asparagine (66N) at this position. Recently, we found that an influenza virus expressing PB1-F2 N66S suppresses interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes in mice. To characterize this phenomenon, we employed several in vitro assays. Overexpression of the A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (PR8) PB1-F2 protein in 293T cells decreased RIG-I mediated activation of an IFN-β reporter and secretion of IFN as determined by bioassay. Of note, the PB1-F2 N66S protein showed enhanced IFN antagonism activity compared to PB1-F2 wildtype. Similar observations were found in the context of viral infection with a PR8 PB1-F2 N66S virus. To understand the relationship between NS1, a previously described influenza virus protein involved in suppression of IFN synthesis, and PB1-F2, we investigated the induction of IFN when NS1 and PB1-F2 were co-expressed in an in vitro transfection system. In this assay we found that PB1-F2 N66S further reduced IFN induction in the presence of NS1. By inducing the IFN-β reporter at different levels in the signaling cascade, we found that PB1-F2 inhibited IFN production at the level of the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS). Furthermore, immunofluorescence studies revealed that PB1-F2 co-localizes with MAVS. In summary, we have characterized the anti-interferon function of PB1-F2 and we suggest that this activity contributes to the enhanced pathogenicity seen with PB1-F2 N66S- expressing influenza viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / chemistry
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Influenza A virus / pathogenicity*
  • Interferon Type I / biosynthesis
  • Interferon Type I / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Newcastle disease virus
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / physiology*
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • INS1 protein, influenza virus
  • IPS-1 protein, mouse
  • Interferon Type I
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • influenza virus polymerase basic protein 1