Mapping the interactions of dengue virus NS1 protein with human liver proteins using a yeast two-hybrid system: identification of C1q as an interacting partner

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e57514. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057514. Epub 2013 Mar 14.

Abstract

Dengue constitutes a global health concern. The clinical manifestation of this disease varies from mild febrile illness to severe hemorrhage and/or fatal hypovolemic shock. Flavivirus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a secreted glycoprotein that is displayed on the surface of infected cells but is absent in viral particles. NS1 accumulates at high levels in the plasma of dengue virus (DENV)-infected patients, and previous reports highlight its involvement in immune evasion, dengue severity, liver dysfunction and pathogenesis. In the present study, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen to search for DENV2 NS1-interacting partners using a human liver cDNA library. We identified fifty genes, including human complement component 1 (C1q), which was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation, ELISA and immunofluorescence assays, revealing for the first time the direct binding of this protein to NS1. Furthermore, the majority of the identified genes encode proteins that are secreted into the plasma of patients, and most of these proteins are classified as acute-phase proteins (APPs), such as plasminogen, haptoglobin, hemopexin, α-2-HS-glycoprotein, retinol binding protein 4, transferrin, and C4. The results presented here confirm the direct interaction of DENV NS1 with a key protein of the complement system and suggest a role for this complement protein in the pathogenesis of DENV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Complement C1q / metabolism*
  • Cricetinae
  • Gene Library
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Liver / virology
  • Plasmids
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping*
  • Protein Transport
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • NS1 protein, Dengue virus type 2
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Complement C1q

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the following funding agencies: the Brazilian Health Ministry, CNPq, FAPERJ, IMBEBB, FINEP (GENOPROT Dengue), and the National Institutes of Science and Technology in Structural Biology and Bioimaging (INCT-INBEB). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.