Lyssavirus matrix protein cooperates with phosphoprotein to modulate the Jak-Stat pathway

Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 21;9(1):12171. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48507-4.

Abstract

Phosphoprotein (P) and matrix protein (M) cooperate to undermine the immune response to rabies virus (RABV) infections. While P is involved in the modulation of the Jak-Stat pathway through the cytoplasmic retention of interferon (IFN)-activated STAT1 (pSTAT1), M interacts with the RelAp43-p105-ABIN2-TPL2 complex, to efficiently inhibit the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. Using transfections, protein-complementation assays, reverse genetics and DNA ChIP, we identified a role of M protein in the control of Jak-Stat signaling pathway, in synergy with the P protein. In unstimulated cells, both M and P proteins were found to interact with JAK1. Upon type-I IFN stimulation, the M switches toward pSTAT1 interaction, which results in an enhanced capacity of P protein to interact with pSTAT1 and restrain it in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, the role for M-protein positions 77, 100, 104 and 110 was also demonstrated in interaction with both JAK1 and pY-STAT1, and confirmed in vivo. Together, these data indicate that M protein cooperates with P protein to restrain in parallel, and sequentially, NF-κB and Jak-Stat pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • Janus Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Lyssavirus / metabolism*
  • Lyssavirus / pathogenicity
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / metabolism*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Interferon Type I
  • NF-kappa B
  • Phosphoproteins
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • STAT1 protein, human
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • JAK1 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 1