Chengbao Wang

MicroRNA miR-24-3p promotes porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus replication through suppression of heme oxygenase-1 expression.

ABSTRACT Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most economically important viruses affecting the swine industry worldwide. Our previous research showed that PRRSV downregulates the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a pivotal cytoprotective enzyme, postinfection and that overexpression of HO-1 inhibits PRRSV replication. MicroRNAs regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and have recently been demonstrated to play vital roles in pathogen-host interactions. The present study sought to determine whether microRNAs modulate HO-1 expression and, by doing so, regulate PRRSV replication. Using bioinformatic prediction and experimental verification, we demonstrate that HO-1 expression is regulated by miR-24-3p. A direct interaction between miR-24-3p and HO-1 mRNA was confirmed using a number of approaches. Overexpression of miR-24-3p significantly decreased HO-1 mRNA and protein levels. PRRSV infection induced miR-24-3p expression to facilitate viral replication. The suppressive effect of HO-1 induction by protoporphyrin IX cobalt chloride (CoPP; a classical inducer of HO-1 expression) on PRRSV replication in MARC-145 cells and primary porcine alveolar macrophages could also be reversed by overexpression of miR-24-3p. Collectively, these results suggested that miR-24-3p promotes PRRSV replication through suppression of HO-1 expression, which not only provides new insights into virus-host interactions during PRRSV infection but also suggests potential new antiviral strategies against PRRSV infection. IMPORTANCE MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in viral infections by regulating the expression of viral or host genes at the posttranscriptional level. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a pivotal cytoprotective enzyme, has antiviral activity for a number of viruses, such as Ebola virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and our focus, PRRSV, which causes great economic losses each year in the swine industry worldwide. Here, we show that PRRSV infection induces host miRNA miR-24-3p expression and that miR-24-3p regulates HO-1 expression through both mRNA degradation and translation repression. Suppression of HO-1 expression by miR-24-3p facilitates PRRSV replication. This work lends credibility to the hypothesis that an arterivirus can manipulate cellular miRNAs to enhance virus replication by regulating antiviral responses following viral infection. Therefore, our findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of PRRSV.

Heme oxygenase-1 acts as an antiviral factor for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection and over-expression inhibits virus replication in vitro.

Virus replication depends upon host-cell processes in infected cells, and this is true for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), the causative agent of PRRS that is a worldwide threat to the swine industry. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a ubiquitously expressed inducible isoform of the first and rate-limiting enzyme for heme degradation. Our previous research suggested that HO-1 may play an important role in PRRSV infection. However, the function of HO-1 in PRRSV infection is unclear. In the present study, Marc-145, PK-15(CD163) cell lines and porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) were used to evaluate the effects of HO-1 induction and over-expression on the replication of two different PRRSV strains. Induction of HO-1 markedly decreased the replication of PRRSV strains in the different cells. Similarly, adenoviral-mediated over-expression of HO-1 also greatly decreased the replication of PRRSV. In contrast, ablation of HO-1 using small interfering RNA concomitantly increased PRRSV replication. Therefore, the data were consistent with HO-1 acting as an antiviral factor and these findings suggested that over-expression or induction of HO-1 may provide a potential therapeutic strategy against PRRSV infection.

PK-15 cells transfected with porcine CD163 by PiggyBac transposon system are susceptible to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

The PiggyBac (PB) transposon system is a non-viral DNA-transfer system in which a transposase directs integration of a PB transposon into a TTAA site in the genome. Transgenic expression of porcine CD163 is necessary and sufficient to confer non-permissive cells susceptible to infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Such permissive cells can be used as a tool for PRRSV cellular receptor and other studies. One of the problems in studying PRRSV is the lack of porcine cell lines. In this study, efficient transfection and expression of porcine CD163 in PK-15 cells by PB transposition was demonstrated. The stable PK-15CD163 cell line was used in PRRSV infection assays. The data indicated that the average PB transgene copy number per genome was approximately 10. In line with previous literature the integration of PB into the genome had a bias toward the TTAA chromosomal site. The PK-15CD163 cell line was susceptible to infection by different PRRSV strains and the virus grew to similar titers compared to the Marc-145 cell line. This simplification of PK-15CD163 cell line production will provide a valuable tool to facilitate PRRSV cellular receptor studies and to accelerate existing vectors for PK-15 cell-based gene transfer and expression.

Genetic characterization and serological prevalence of swine hepatitis E virus in Shandong province, China.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the causative agent of hepatitis E, is classified into four major genotypes (1 to 4) and swine is the main natural reservoir for genotypes 3 and 4. In this study, a total of 106 bile samples from a slaughterhouse in the Shandong province of China were tested for the partial ORF2 gene of HEV by RT-nPCR to determine the virus genotypes, and two indirect ELISA were developed for the detection of swine HEV specific IgM and IgG antibodies in 980 serum samples from 24 farms, in order to investigate the seroprevalence. Thirty-two out of 106 (30.2%) bile samples were positive for HEV and a high degree of partial ORF2 sequence similarity (86.8-100%) was observed among 20 samples. The viral sequences belonged to genotype 4, subtypes 4a and 4d. One complete genome sequence of a subtype 4d HEV was further determined and characterized. The seroprevalence of HEV IgG and IgM antibodies was 100% (24/24) and 41.7% (10/24) for herds, and 66.4% (651/980) and 1.6% (16/980) for the individual pigs, respectively. These results suggested a high prevalence of genotype 4 of swine HEV infection both in swine farms and at the slaughterhouse in Shandong province, which further raise public-health concerns for zoonosis and pork safety.

Glycoprotein 5 of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus strain SD16 inhibits viral replication and causes G2/M cell cycle arrest, but does not induce cellular apoptosis in Marc-145 cells

Cell apoptosis is common after infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). PRRSV GP5 has been reported to induce cell apoptosis. To further understand the role of GP5 in PRRSV induced cell apoptosis, we established Marc-145 cell lines stably expressing full-length GP5, GP5(Δ84-96) (aa 84-96 deletion), and GP5(Δ97-119) (aa 97-119 deletion). Cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell apoptosis and virus replication in these cell lines were evaluated. Neither truncated nor full-length GP5 induced cell apoptosis in Marc-145 cells. However, GP5(Δ97-119), but not full-length or GP5(Δ84-96), induced a cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase resulting in a reduction in the growth of Marc-145 cells. Additionally, GP5(Δ84-96) inhibited the replication of PRRSV in Marc-145 cells through induction of IFN-β. These findings suggest that PRRSV GP5 is not responsible for inducing cell apoptosis in Marc-145 cells under these experimental conditions; however it has other important roles in virus/host cell biology.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies reduce efficacy of the attenuated vaccine against highly pathogenic PRRSV challenge

BackgroundThe inability of current vaccines to provide effective protection against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection is not fully understood. One of the reasons might be the presence of anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab2s) to the envelope glycoprotein GP5 induced by PRRSV infection since our previous studies demonstrated the presence of auto-Ab2s (aAb2s) in pigs infected with PRRSV. To test this hypothesis, PRRSV negative piglets were injected with a monoclonal Ab2 (Mab2-5G2) and aAb2s that are specific for anti-GP5 antibody, vaccinated with the attenuated PRRSV vaccine CH-1R and then challenged with the highly pathogenic PRRSV HuN4 strain. The animals were evaluated for clinical signs, pathological changes of the thymus and lungs, viremia, levels of serum antibodies and cytokines.ResultsThe piglets injected with Mab2-5G2 or aAb2, and who received the attenuated PRRSV vaccine CH-1R before challenge, produced high levels of anti-N antibodies, IL-2 and IL-4, but low levels of neutralizing antibodies. After PRRSV HuN4 challenge, the animals showed obvious clinical signs, including lung lesions, severe thymus atrophy and decreased production of IL-4 and higher level of viremia.ConclusionWhen anti-GP5 Ab2s are present, the use of attenuated PRRSV vaccine CH-1R against HP-PRRSV infection is not recommended. It can result in poor health status with pneumonia and thymus atrophy.

Development of a blocking ELISA for detection of antibodies against avian hepatitis E virus.

A blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) was developed for the detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies against avian hepatitis E virus (HEV). In the bELISA, the coating antigen was a truncated protein containing C-terminal 268-amino acid region of ORF2 from an avian HEV strain isolated in China (CaHEV) and blocking antibody was a monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1H5 recognizing the epitope within amino acids 384-414 in the C-terminal 268-amino acid region. The concentration of blocking mAb 1H5 was determined as that yielded an OD450nm value of 1.0 for binding to the coating antigen and the antigen concentration and serum dilution were optimized using a checkerboard titration. A cut-off value of 20.7% at the mean percent inhibition plus 3 standard deviations was determined by testing 265 negative sera. The bELISA had a sensitivity of 98.3% by testing 116 positive sera from chickens infected experimentally with CaHEV and had no cross-reaction with other anti-avian virus antibodies. The compliance rates of the bELISA with indirect ELISA and Western blot were 83.7% and 93.3%, respectively, by testing 300 field chicken sera. These results suggested that the bELISA developed in this study can be used for detection of antibodies against avian HEV and showed high reproducibility compared with indirect ELISA and Western blot methods.

Characterization of antigenic domains and epitopes in the ORF3 protein of a Chinese isolate of avian hepatitis E virus.

Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging virus associated with the big liver and spleen disease or hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome in chickens and subclinical infections by the virus are also common. The complete genome of avian HEV contains three open-reading frames (ORFs) in which ORF2 protein is part of virus particles and thus contains primary epitopes. Antigenic epitopes of avian HEV ORF2 protein have been described but those associated with the ORF3 have not. To analyze the antigenic domains and epitopes in the ORF3 protein of a Chinese isolate of avian HEV (CaHEV), we generated a series of antigens comprised of the complete ORF3 and also five truncated overlapping ORF3 peptides. The antibodies used in this study were mouse antisera and monoclonal antibodies against ORF3, positive chicken sera from Specific Pathogen Free chickens experimentally infected with CaHEV and clinical chicken sera. Using these antigens and antibodies, we identified three antigenic domains at amino acids (aa) 1-28, 55-74 and 75-88 in which aa 75-88 was a dominant domain. The dominant domain contained at least two major epitopes since field chickens infected with avian HEV produced antibodies against the domain and epitopes. These results provide useful information for future development of immunoassays for the diagnosis of avian HEV infection.

Characterization of the Interactome of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Nonstructural Protein 2 Reveals the Hyper Variable Region as a Binding Platform for Association with 14–3–3 Proteins

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a major threat to the swine industry worldwide and hence global food security, exacerbated by a newly emerged highly pathogenic (HP-PRRSV) strain from China. PRRSV nonstructural protein 2 (nsp2) is a multifunctional polypeptide with strain-dependent influences on pathogenicity. A number of discrete functional regions have been identified on the protein. Quantitative label free proteomics was used to identify cellular binding partners of nsp2 expressed by HP-PRRSV. This allowed the identification of potential cellular interacting partners and the discrimination of nonspecific interactions. The interactome data were further investigated and validated using biological replicates and also compared with nsp2 from a low pathogenic (LP) strain of PRRSV. Validation included both forward and reverse pulldowns and confocal microscopy. The data indicated that nsp2 interacted with a number of cellular proteins including 14-3-3, CD2AP, and other components of cellular aggresomes. The hyper-variable region of nsp2 protein was identified as a binding platform for association with 14-3-3 proteins.

Identification of an antigenic domain in the N-terminal region of avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) capsid protein that is not common to swine and human HEVs.

The antigenic domains located in the C-terminal 268 amino acid residues of avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) capsid protein have been characterized. This region shares common epitopes with swine and human HEVs. However, epitopes in the N-terminal 338 amino acid residues have never been reported. In this study, an antigenic domain located between amino acids 23 and 85 was identified by indirect ELISA using the truncated recombinant capsid proteins as coating antigens and anti-avian HEV chicken sera as primary antibodies. In addition, this domain did not react with anti-swine and human HEV sera. These results indicated that the N-terminal 338 amino acid residues of avian HEV capsid protein do not share common epitopes with swine and human HEVs. This finding is important for our understanding of the antigenicity of the avian HEV capsid protein. Furthermore, it has important implications in the selection of viral antigens for serological diagnosis.