Human Metapneumovirus Small Hydrophobic Protein Inhibits Interferon Induction in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

Viruses. 2018 May 23;10(6):278. doi: 10.3390/v10060278.

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a leading cause of respiratory tract infections in infants, encodes a small hydrophobic (SH) protein of unknown function. Here we show that infection of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) with a recombinant virus lacking SH expression (rhMPV-ΔSH) enhanced the secretion of type I interferons (IFNs), which required TLR7 and MyD88 expression. HMPV SH protein inhibited TLR7/MyD88/TRAF6 signaling leading to IFN gene transcription, identifying a novel mechanism by which paramyxovirus SH proteins modulate innate immune responses.

Keywords: SH protein; hMPV; plasmacytoid dendritic cells; type I IFN.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / virology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism*
  • Metapneumovirus / genetics*
  • Metapneumovirus / physiology
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / immunology
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / immunology

Substances

  • Interferon Type I
  • MYD88 protein, human
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic
  • TLR7 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • small hydrophobic protein, virus