Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection activates chemokine RANTES in MARC-145 cells

A clinically attenuated double-mutant of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-2 that does not prompt overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines during co-infection with a secondary pathogen

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is known to suppress the type I interferon (IFNs-α/β) response during infection. PRRSV also activates the NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to the production of proinflammatory cytokines during infection. In swine farms, co-infections of PRRSV and other secondary bacterial pathogens are common and exacerbate the production of proinflammatory cytokines, contributing to the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) which is clinically a severe disease. Previous studies identified the non-structural protein 1β (nsp1β) of PRRSV-2 as an IFN antagonist and the nucleocapsid (N) protein as the NF-κB activator. Further studies showed the leucine at position 126 (L126) of nsp1β as the essential residue for IFN suppression and the region spanning the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of N as the NF-κB activation domain. In the present study, we generated a double-mutant PRRSV-2 that contained the L126A mutation in the nsp1β gene and the NLS mutation (ΔNLS) in the N gene using reverse genetics. The immunological phenotype of this mutant PRRSV-2 was examined in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) in vitro and in young pigs in vivo. In PAMs, the double-mutant virus did not suppress IFN-β expression but decreased the NF-κB-dependent inflammatory cytokine productions compared to those for wild-type PRRSV-2. Co-infection of PAMs with the mutant PRRSV-2 and Streptococcus suis (S. suis) also reduced the production of NF-κB-directed inflammatory cytokines. To further examine the cytokine profiles and the disease severity by the mutant virus in natural host animals, 6 groups of pigs, 7 animals per group, were used for co-infection with the mutant PRRSV-2 and S. suis. The double-mutant PRRSV-2 was clinically attenuated, and the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were significantly reduced in pigs after bacterial co-infection. Compared to the wild-type PRRSV-2 and S. suis co-infection control, pigs coinfected with the double-mutant PRRSV-2 exhibited milder clinical signs, lower titers and shorter duration of viremia, and lower expression of proinflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that genetic modification of the type I IFN suppression and NF-κB activation functions of PRRSV-2 may allow us to design a novel vaccine candidate to alleviate the clinical severity of PRRS-2 and PRDC during bacterial co-infection.

Nucleocapsid protein residues 35, 36, and 113 are critical sites in up-regulating the Interleukin-8 production via C/EBPα pathway by highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a highly infectious and pathogenic agent that causes considerable economic damage in the swine industry. It regulates the inflammatory response, triggers inflammation-induced tissue damage, suppresses the innate immune response, and leads to persistent infection. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a pro-inflammatory chemokine, plays a crucial role in inflammatory response during numerous bacteria and virus infections. However, the underlying mechanisms of IL-8 regulation during PRRSV infection are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that PRRSV-infected PAMs and Marc-145 cells release higher levels of IL-8. We screened the nucleocapsid protein, non-structural protein (nsp) 9, and nsp11 of PRRSV to enhance IL-8 promoter activity via the C/EBPα pathway. Furthermore, we identified that the amino acids Q35A, S36A, R113A, and I115A of the nucleocapsid protein play a crucial role in the induction of IL-8. Through reverse genetics, we generated two mutant viruses (rQ35-2A and rR113A), which showed lower induction of IL-8 in PAMs during infection. This finding uncovers a previously unrecognized role of the PRRSV nucleocapsid protein in modulating IL-8 production and provides insight into an additional mechanism by which PRRSV modulates immune responses and inflammation.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus nsp1β Stabilizes HIF-1α to Enhance Viral Replication

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an Arterivirus that has been devastating the swine industry worldwide since the late 1980s. Severe interstitial pneumonia is the typical pathological characteristic of PRRSV-infected swine. Accumulating evidence has suggested that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) plays vital roles in the development of inflammation and the viral life cycle. However, the role and the underlying mechanism of HIF-1α in PRRSV infection remain elusive. Here, we found that PRRSV infection elevated HIF-1α expression. Furthermore, overexpression of HIF-1α increased PRRSV replication, whereas knockdown of HIF-1α inhibited PRRSV infection. Our further mechanistic analysis revealed that PRRSV-encoded nonstructural protein 1β (nsp1β) promoted HIF-1α transcription via its N-terminal nuclease activity and degraded the polyubiquitin chain of HIF-1α via its C-terminal deubiquitylation (DUB) enzyme activity, collectively stabilizing HIF-1α. Meanwhile, nsp1β interacted with both HIF-1α and von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (pVHL) to form a ternary complex, which may have hindered pVHL-mediated ubiquitination degradation of HIF-1α by impairing the interaction between HIF-1α and pVHL. Interestingly, pVHL also stabilized nsp1β via K63-linked ubiquitination, forming a positive feedback loop to stabilize HIF-1α. Taken together, these results indicate that PRRSV infection stabilizes HIF-1α to facilitate viral proliferation and that viral nsp1β plays a vital role in enhancing the expression and stabilization of HIF-1α. The regulation of HIF-1α may have great therapeutic potential for the development of novel drugs against PRRSV. IMPORTANCE Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has devastated the swine industry worldwide for over 30 years and shows no signs of slowing down. In this study, we found that PRRSV infection elevated hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression. In addition, overexpressed HIF-1α contributed to PRRSV replication, whereas knockdown of HIF-1α reduced PRRSV growth. The PRRSV-encoded nonstructural protein 1β (nsp1β) exerted a stabilizing effect on HIF-1α through its nuclease protease and papain-like cysteine protease enzymatic domains. PRRSV nsp1β also interacted with von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (pVHL) and HIF-1α, whereby nsp1β impaired the interaction between HIF-1α and pVHL. This work deepens our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in PRRSV infection and provides new insights for the development of HIF-1α-based anti-PRRSV therapies.

Highly Pathogenic PRRSV-Infected Alveolar Macrophages Impair the Function of Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), especially the highly pathogenic strains, can cause serious acute lung injury (ALI), characterized by extensive hemorrhage, inflammatory cells and serous fluid infiltration in the lung vascular system. Meanwhile, the pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) are essential for forming the air–blood barrier and keeping the water–salt balance to prevent leakage of circulating nutrients, solutes, and fluid into the underlying tissues. As well, they tightly regulate the influx of immune cells. To determine the possible relationship between the PMVECs’ function changes and lung vascular permeability during PRRSV infection, the PMVECs were co-cultured with HP-PRRSV-inoculated primary pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) in transwell model, and then the RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and comprehensive bioinformatics analysis were carried out to characterize the dynamic transcriptome landscapes of PMVECs. In total, 16,489 annotated genes were identified, with 275 upregulated and 270 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were characterized at both 18 and 24 h post PRRSV inoculation. The GO terms and KEGG pathways analysis indicated that the immune response, metabolic pathways, cell death, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, viral responses, and apoptotic process are significantly regulated upon co-culture with PRRSV-infected PAMs. Moreover, according to the TERR and dextran flux assay results, dysregulation of TJ proteins, including CLDN1, CLDN4, CLDN8, and OCLN, is further confirmed to correlate with the increased permeability of PMVECs. These transcriptome profiles and DEGs will provide valuable clues for further exploring the roles of PMVECs in PRRSV-induced ALI in the future.

Thyroid hormone suppression in feeder pigs following polymicrobial or porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-2 challenge

Thyroid hormones are powerful regulators of growth, development, and basal metabolic rate and can be dysregulated under conditions of severe stress or illness. To understand the role of these hormones in porcine disease response, serum samples were obtained from three batches of nursery-aged pigs (n = 208) exposed to a natural polymicrobial disease challenge with an array of bacterial and viral pathogens. Levels of total thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) assessed in sera by radioimmunoassay, decreased significantly by 14 days post-exposure (DPE). Levels of T3 partially rebounded by 48 DPE, while T4 levels remain depressed. Post-exposure T3 and T4 levels were positively correlated with acute and long-term average daily gain (ADG). Cross-sectional sampling of animals maintained at the high health source farms, showed no equivalent change in either hormone when managed under standard industrial conditions. To further elucidate the effect of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-infection on thyroid hormone levels, archived sera over 42 days post inoculation (DPI) from nursery pigs (N = 190) challenged with one of two PRRSV2 strains by the PRRS Host Genetics Consortium were similarly assessed, with animals selected in a two-by-two design, to investigate biological extremes in ADG and viral load (VL). All animals showed a similar decrease in both thyroid hormones reaching a minimum at 7 DPI and returning to near pre-challenge levels by 42 DPI. Post-challenge T3 and T4 levels were significantly greater in high ADG groups, with no significant association with VL or strain. The results of this study demonstrate porcine susceptibility to thyroid disruption in response to disease challenge and demonstrate a relationship between this response and growth performance.

Gene cloning and transcriptional regulation of the alkaline and acid phosphatase genes in Scylla paramamosain

In crustaceans, innate immunity serves as the frontline of defense against microbes. Alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) and acid phosphatases (ACPs) are essential enzymes that play a significant role in crustaceans' immune defenses. However, the function and transcriptional regulation of the alp and acp genes in the Scylla paramamosain, an important aquaculture species in China, have not been elucidated. In this study, the full-length cDNAs of Spalp and Spacp were identified, which consist of 2,718 bp and 3,768 bp, encoding 579 and 452 amino acids, respectively. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that these two genes were conserved among different species and shared high homology with crustaceans. The mRNA expression of Spalp and Spacp were examined in eight tested tissues, with the highest levels in the hepatopancreas. The 5'-flanking regions of Spalp and Spacp were cloned and sequenced. The core promoter region of the Spalp and Spacp was -39 bp∼+8 bp and -39 bp∼+10 bp, respectively. Potential binding sequences for SOX-2, c-fos, SP1, NF-κB, GATA-1, YY1, and AP-1 transcription factors were found in the 5'-flanking regions of Spalp and Spacp. The NF-κB binding site located between -1,223 bp and -972 bp in Spalp while SP1 and AP-1 binding sites located between -1,249 bp and -514 bp in Spacp. Mutation analysis confirmed that NF-κB negatively regulated the expression of Spalp gene, and SP1 and AP-1 positively regulated Spacp gene expression. These results provide us with essential information to elucidate the function of the Spalp and Spacp in S. paramamosain. This study is the first one to analyze the activity of Spalp and Spacp promoters.

An Escherichia coli-Expressed Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Chimeric Protein Induces a Specific Immunoglobulin G Response in Immunized Piglets

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) still poses a threat to the swine industry worldwide. Currently, commercial vaccines against PRRSV, which consist of modified live or inactivated virus, reduce symptoms and viremia in immunized pigs, but efficacy against heterologous strains is variable. This has led to the development of subunit vaccines that contain viral antigens that show the highest variability. In this work, a chimeric protein comprising short amino acid sequences from glycoprotein 3 (GP3), glycoprotein 4 (GP4), glycoprotein 5 (GP5), and M (matrix protein) proteins of PRRSV was designed and expressed in Escherichia coli. This protein, designated as PRRSVchim, was purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography and evaluated. PRRSVchim was identified by immunoglobulin G (IgG) presence in serum samples from PRRSV-positive pigs. Also, the protein probed to be antigenic in immunized mice and piglets and provided some degree of protection against challenge with a PRRSV field isolate. These results show the potential of PRRSVchim protein for both PRRSV diagnostic and immunoprophylaxis.

The integrity of PRRSV nucleocapsid protein is necessary for up-regulation of optimal interleukin-10 through NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways in porcine alveolar macrophages

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a highly contagious disease, has been constantly causing huge economic losses all over the world. PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection results in immunosuppression and IL-10 up-regulation. The relationship between them is still in dispute. Previous studies demonstrated the protein of PRRSV nucleocapsid (N) protein is able to up-regulate IL-10, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, the expression kinetics of IL-10 up-regulation induced by PRRSV N protein were analyzed in immortalized porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). N protein induced IL-10 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Inhibition experiments of signaling pathways suggested NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways are both involved in N protein-induced IL-10 up-regulation. Besides, the integrity of N protein is essential for significant IL-10 up-regulation. This research is beneficial for further understanding of the interplay between PRRSV and host immune system.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus nsp1α Inhibits NF-κB Activation by Targeting the Linear Ubiquitin Chain Assembly Complex

Linear ubiquitination, a newly discovered posttranslational modification, is catalyzed by the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), which is composed of three subunits: one catalytic subunit HOIP and two accessory molecules, HOIL-1L and SHARPIN. Accumulating evidence suggests that linear ubiquitination plays a crucial role in innate immune signaling and especially in the activation of the NF-κB pathway by conjugating linear polyubiquitin chains to NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO, also called IKKγ), the regulatory subunit of the IKK complex. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), an Arterivirus that has devastated the swine industry worldwide, is an ideal model to study the host's disordered inflammatory responses after viral infection. Here, we found that LUBAC-induced NF-κB and proinflammatory cytokine expression can be inhibited in the early phase of PRRSV infection. Screening the PRRSV-encoded proteins showed that nonstructural protein 1α (nsp1α) suppresses LUBAC-mediated NF-κB activation and its CTE domain is required for the inhibition. Mechanistically, nsp1α binds to HOIP/HOIL-1L and impairs the interaction between HOIP and SHARPIN, thus reducing the LUBAC-dependent linear ubiquitination of NEMO. Moreover, PRRSV infection also blocks LUBAC complex formation and NEMO linear-ubiquitination, the important step for transducing NF-κB signaling. This unexpected finding demonstrates a previously unrecognized role of PRRSV nsp1α in modulating LUBAC signaling and explains an additional mechanism of immune modulation by PRRSV.

IMPORTANCE

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most important veterinary infectious diseases in countries with intensive swine industries. PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection usually suppresses proinflammatory cytokine expression in the early stage of infection, whereas it induces an inflammatory storm in the late stage. However, precisely how the virus is capable of doing so remains obscure. In this study, we found that by blocking the interaction of its catalytic subunit HOIP and accessory molecule SHARPIN, PRRSV can suppress NF-κB signal transduction in the early stage of infection. Our findings not only reveal a novel mechanism evolved by PRRSV to regulate inflammatory responses but also highlight the important role of linear ubiquitination modification during virus infection.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus induces chemokine RANTES expression via activation of IRF-3 pathway

Background

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is one of the most important flaviviruses that targets the central nervous system (CNS) and causes encephalitides in humans. Although neuroinflammatory mechanisms may contribute to brain tissue destruction, the induction pathways and potential roles of specific chemokines in TBEV-mediated neurological disease are poorly understood.

Methods

BALB/c mice were intracerebrally injected with TBEV, followed by evaluation of chemokine and cytokine profiles using protein array analysis. The virus-infected mice were treated with the CC chemokine antagonist Met-RANTES or anti-RANTES mAb to determine the role of RANTES in affecting TBEV-induced neurological disease. The underlying signaling mechanisms were delineated using RANTES promoter luciferase reporter assay, siRNA-mediated knockdown, and pharmacological inhibitors in human brain-derived cell culture models.

Results

In a mouse model, pathological features including marked inflammatory cell infiltrates were observed in brain sections, which correlated with a robust up-regulation of RANTES within the brain but not in peripheral tissues and sera. Antagonizing RANTES within CNS extended the survival of mice and reduced accumulation of infiltrating cells in the brain after TBEV infection. Through in vitro studies, we show that virus infection up-regulated RANTES production at both mRNA and protein levels in human brain-derived cell lines and primary progenitor-derived astrocytes. Furthermore, IRF-3 pathway appeared to be essential for TBEV-induced RANTES production. Site mutation of an IRF-3-binding motif abrogated the RANTES promoter activity in virus-infected brain cells. Moreover, IRF-3 was activated upon TBEV infection as evidenced by phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF-3, while blockade of IRF-3 activation drastically reduced virus-induced RANTES expression.

Conclusions

Our findings together provide insights into the molecular mechanism underlying RANTES production induced by TBEV, highlighting its potential importance in the process of neuroinflammatory responses to TBEV infection.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0665-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Molecular characterization of the porcine S100A6 gene and analysis of its expression in pigs infected with highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV)

Our previous microarray study revealed that S100A6 was significantly upregulated in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) infected with highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV). In the present study, we cloned both cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of the gene. Transient transfection indicated that the porcine S100A6 protein was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that the porcine S100A6 gene was highly expressed in the kidney and subcutaneous fat. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly (I:C)] induced porcine S100A6 gene expression in PK-15 cells. Quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) analysis further showed that the porcine S100A6 gene was upregulated in different cells and tissues of Tongcheng pigs infected with HP-PRRSV. Chromosome walking obtained the porcine S100A6 promoter region and then luciferase reporter assays confirmed its regulatory activities. We observed a putative NF-κB binding site in the core promoter region, which may explain the upregulation of porcine S100A6 in response to PRRSV. Transfection of NF-κB (p65 subunit) intensely induced the promoter activity of the porcine S100A6 gene, while an NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), inhibited this activity. Furthermore, compared to its wild type, the promoter activity was significantly reduced when it contained a mutant NF-κB binding site. All these results provide a solid foundation to further investigate how S100A6 is involved in PRRSV infection.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection activates NOD2-RIP2 signal pathway in MARC-145 cells

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) evolve as a group of germline-encoded receptors that detect cytosolic pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an Arterivirus that has been devastating the swine industry worldwide. By examining the expression kinetics of ten selected NLRs, NOD2 and NLRP3 were found to be continuously up-regulated in PRRSV-infected MARC-145 cells during 48 h of post-infection. Further study revealed that PRRSV infection enhanced the expression and phosphorylation of RIP2. Knockdown of NOD2 and RIP2 by siRNA significantly decreased PRRSV-induced phosphorylation of NF-κB subunit p65, JNK, Erk and p38 MAPK, as well as the expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and RANTES in MARC-145 cells. Moreover, increased expression of NOD2 and RIP2 mRNA were observed in alveolar macrophages isolated from PRRSV-challenged piglets at 3, 7 and 10 day post-challenge. Collectively, our results revealed that PRRSV infection activates NOD2-RIP2 signaling pathway to induce pro-inflammatory response.

Potential role of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus structural protein GP2 in apoptosis inhibition

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a serious threat to the pork industry, and its pathogenesis needs further investigations. To study the role of two structural proteins of PRRSV in virus-host cells interactions, two stable cell lines (MARC-2a and MARC-N) expressing GP2 and N proteins, respectively, were established. We induced apoptosis in these cells by treating them with staurosporine and found a significant reduction in the number of apoptotic cells in MARC-2a as compared to MARC-N and MARC-145 cells. In addition, we found significantly higher activities of transcriptional factors (NF- κ B and AP-1) in both cell lines as compared to MARC-145 (parent cells). Overall, our data suggest that, although both stable cell lines activate NF- κ B and AP-1, GP2 triggers the antiapoptotic process through an intermediate step that needs to be further investigated.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection activates IL-10 production through NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways in porcine alveolar macrophages

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an emerging animal virus that has caused high economic losses for the swine industry worldwide. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that PRRSV infection induces significant production of interleukin 10 (IL-10), a pleiotropic cytokine with immuno-modulatory functions involved in host defense. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms during PRRSV remain largely unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the expression kinetics of IL-10 in PRRSV-infected primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) and showed that PRRSV infection induced IL-10 mRNA and protein expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of various molecules of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) or RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathways demonstrated that the TLR adaptor myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) has an important role in IL-10 induction during PRRSV infection. Furthermore, treatment with specific inhibitors or siRNA knockdown assays demonstrated that NF-κB and p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) are required for PRRSV-induced IL-10. Taken together, PRRSV infection significantly induced IL-10 expression and this induction depends on NF-κB activation and p38 MAPK in PAMs.

Molecular characterization of porcine SARM1 and its role in regulating TLRs signaling during highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in vivo

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) that trigger innate immune response and mediate acquired immunity. Evidence has shown that SARM1 (sterile-α and TIR motif containing protein 1) is one of five TIR domain-containing adaptor proteins involved in TLRs signaling transduction. In the present study, a full-length cDNA sequence was cloned for the porcine SARM1 gene, which contains nine exons. Using the radiation hybrid mapping approach, we assigned the porcine gene to SSC12 q13. Under the normal condition, porcine SARM1 was highly expressed in brain and spleen. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly (I:C)) weakly induced the porcine SARM1 expression in the early stimulation. We found that porcine SARM1 protein is localized in mitochondria and attenuates NF-κB activation induced by stimulation and infection. The quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) analysis showed that the expression of porcine SARM1 significantly decreased in several tissues of Tongcheng pigs infected with highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV). Gene-interaction network analysis for porcine SARM1 in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) showed that down-regulation of SARM1 gene in infected Tongcheng pig may modulate TRIF-depend TLRs signaling and regulate the expression of disease-resistant genes and inflammatory genes. Our findings provide evidence that porcine SARM1 may play an important role in immune regulation with PRRSV infection.

Recent progress in studies of arterivirus- and coronavirus-host interactions

Animal coronaviruses, such as infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), and arteriviruses, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), are able to manifest highly contagious infections in their specific native hosts, thereby arising in critical economic damage to animal industries. This review discusses recent progress in studies of virus-host interactions during animal and human coronavirus and arterivirus infections, with emphasis on IBV-host cell interactions. These interactions may be directly involved in viral replication or lead to the alteration of certain signaling pathways, such as cell stress response and innate immunity, to facilitate viral replication and pathogenesis.

A transgenic Marc-145 cell line of piggyBac transposon-derived targeting shRNA interference against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is now considered to be one of the most important diseases in countries with intensive swine industries. The two major membrane-associated proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), GP5 and M (encoded by ORF5 and ORF6 genes, respectively), are associated as disulfide-linked heterodimers (GP5/M) in the virus particle. In this study, we designed 5 of the small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting the GP5 and M gene of PRRSV respectively, and investigated their inhibition to the production of PRRSV. The highest activity displayed in shRNAs of the ORF6e sequence (nts 261-279), which the inhibition rate reached was 99.09%. The result suggests that RNAi technology might serve as a potential molecular strategy for PRRSV therapy. Furthermore, the transgenic Marc-145 cell line of piggyBac transposon-derived targeting shRNA interference against PRRS virus was established. It presented stable inhibition to the replication and amplification of PRRS. The work implied that shRNAs targeting the GP5 and M gene of PRRSV may be used as potential RNA vaccines in vivo, and supplied the screening methods of transformed pig embryonic fibroblast which are prerequisite for the disease-resistant transgenic pigs to PRRS.

Haemophilus parasuis infection activates the NF-κB pathway in PK-15 cells through IκB degradation

Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent inducing a severe inflammation of the serous membranes in pigs, which contribute to the great economic losses in the pig industry in China in the recent years. In this study, it was demonstrated that H. parasuis could activate the inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in a bacteria time- and dose-dependent manner in PK-15 cells, and inactivated H. parasuis significantly reduced the level of NF-κB activation in PK-15 cells compared with the counterpart especially in the later stage. After H. parasuis infection, the degradation of IκBα and phosphorylation of p65 was detected in PK-15 cells. Furthermore, the subcellular localization analyzed using confocal laser microscopy showed that p65-GFP rapidly translocated to the nucleus when PK-15 cells were stimulated with H. parasuis. In addition, real-time RT-PCR showed that the key inflammatory mediators including IL-8, CCL4 and CCL5, regulated by nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) were up-regulated dramatically by the infection of H. parasuis in PK-15 cells. This was the first time to report that H. parasuis infection activated the NF-κB pathway in vitro through IκB degradation.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus nonstructural protein 2 contributes to NF-κB activation

Background

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) is an inducible transcription factor that plays a key role in inflammation and immune responses, as well as in the regulation of cell proliferation and survival. Previous studies by our group and others have demonstrated that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection could activate NF-κB in MARC-145 cells and alveolar macrophages. The nucleocapsid (N) protein was identified as an NF-κB activator among the structural proteins encoded by PRRSV; however, it remains unclear whether the nonstructural proteins (Nsps) contribute to NF-κB activation. In this study, we identified which Nsps can activate NF-κB and investigated the potential mechanism(s) by which they act.

Results

By screening the individual Nsps of PRRSV strain WUH3, Nsp2 exhibited great potential to activate NF-κB in MARC-145 and HeLa cells. Overexpression of Nsp2 induced IκBα degradation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Furthermore, Nsp2 also induced NF-κB-dependent inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, COX-2, and RANTES. Compared with the Nsp2 of the classical PRRSV strain, the Nsp2 of highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) strains that possess a 30 amino acid (aa) deletion in Nsp2 displayed greater NF-κB activation. However, the 30-aa deletion was demonstrated to not be associated with NF-κB activation. Further functional domain analyses revealed that the hypervariable region (HV) of Nsp2 was essential for NF-κB activation.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data indicate that PRRSV Nsp2 is a multifunctional protein participating in the modulation of host inflammatory response, which suggests an important role of Nsp2 in pathogenesis and disease outcomes.

Transcription analysis on response of porcine alveolar macrophages to Haemophilus parasuis

Background

Haemophilus parasuis (H. parasuis) is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease in pigs. Currently, the molecular basis of this infection is largely unknown. The innate immune response is the first line of defense against the infectious disease. Systematical analysis on host innate immune response to the infection is important for understanding the pathogenesis of the infectious microorganisms.

Results

A total of 428 differentially expressed (DE) genes were identified in the porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) 6 days after H. parasuis infection. These genes were principally related to inflammatory response, immune response, microtubule polymerization, regulation of transcript and signal transduction. Through the pathway analysis, the significant pathways mainly concerned with cell adhesion molecules, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, complement and coagulation cascades, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting that the host took different strategies to activate immune and inflammatory response upon H. parasuis infection. The global interactions network and two subnetworks of the proteins encoded by DE genes were analyzed by using STRING. Further immunostimulation analysis indicated that mRNA levels of S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) and S100 calcium-binding protein A6 (S100A6) in porcine PK-15 cells increased within 48 h and were sustained after administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Poly (I:C) respectively. The s100a4 and s100a6 genes were found to be up-regulated significantly in lungs, spleen and lymph nodes in H. parasuis infected pigs. We firstly cloned and sequenced the porcine coronin1a gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that poCORONIN 1A belonged to the group containing the Bos taurus sequence. Structural analysis indicated that the poCORONIN 1A contained putative domains of Trp-Asp (WD) repeats signature, Trp-Asp (WD) repeats profile and Trp-Asp (WD) repeats circular profile at the N-terminus.

Conclusions

Our present study is the first one focusing on the response of porcine alveolar macrophages to H. parasuis. Our data demonstrate a series of genes are activated upon H. parasuis infection. The observed gene expression profile could help screening the potential host agents for reducing the prevalence of H. parasuis and further understanding the molecular pathogenesis associated with H. parasuis infection in pigs.