Human cytomegalovirus exploits interferon-induced transmembrane proteins to facilitate morphogenesis of the virion assembly compartment
- PMID: 25552713
- PMCID: PMC4337551
- DOI: 10.1128/JVI.03416-14
Human cytomegalovirus exploits interferon-induced transmembrane proteins to facilitate morphogenesis of the virion assembly compartment
Abstract
Recently, interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) have been identified to be key effector molecules in the host type I interferon defense system. The invasion of host cells by a large range of RNA viruses is inhibited by IFITMs during the entry step. However, the roles of IFITMs in DNA virus infections have not been studied in detail. In this study, we report that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a large human DNA virus, exploits IFITMs to facilitate the formation of the virion assembly compartment (vAC) during infection of human fibroblasts. We found that IFITMs were expressed constitutively in human embryonic lung fibroblasts (MRC5 cells). HCMV infection inhibited IFITM protein accumulation in the later stages of infection. Overexpression of an IFITM protein in MRC5 cells slightly enhanced HCMV production and knockdown of IFITMs by RNA interference reduced the virus titer by about 100-fold on day 8 postinfection, according to the findings of a virus yield assay at a low multiplicity of infection. Virus gene expression and DNA synthesis were not affected, but the typical round structure of the vAC was not formed after the suppression of IFITMs, thereby resulting in defective virion assembly and the production of less infectious virion particles. Interestingly, the replication of herpes simplex virus, a human herpesvirus that is closely related to HCMV, was not affected by the suppression of IFITMs in MRC5 cells. These results indicate that IFITMs are involved in a specific pathway required for HCMV replication.
Importance: HCMV is known to repurpose the interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) viperin and tetherin to facilitate its replication. Our results expand the range of ISGs that can be exploited by HCMV for its replication. This is also the first report of a proviral function of IFITMs in DNA virus replication. In addition, whereas previous studies showed that IFITMs modulate virus entry, which is a very early stage in the virus life cycle, we identified a new function of IFITMs during the very late stage of virus replication, i.e., virion assembly. Virus entry and assembly both involve vesicle transport and membrane fusion; thus, a common biochemical activity of IFITMs is likely to be involved. Therefore, our findings may provide a new platform for dissecting the molecular mechanism of action of IFITMs during the blocking or enhancement of virus infection, which are under intense investigation in this field.
Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Identification of Host Factors Involved in Human Cytomegalovirus Replication, Assembly, and Egress Using a Two-Step Small Interfering RNA Screen.mBio. 2018 Jun 26;9(3):e00716-18. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00716-18. mBio. 2018. PMID: 29946045 Free PMC article.
-
IFITM proteins are incorporated onto HIV-1 virion particles and negatively imprint their infectivity.Retrovirology. 2014 Nov 25;11:103. doi: 10.1186/s12977-014-0103-y. Retrovirology. 2014. PMID: 25422070 Free PMC article.
-
Human Cytomegalovirus Hijacks WD Repeat Domain 11 for Virion Assembly Compartment Formation and Virion Morphogenesis.J Virol. 2022 Mar 9;96(5):e0182721. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01827-21. Epub 2022 Jan 12. J Virol. 2022. PMID: 35020472 Free PMC article.
-
[Interrelationship between human cytomegalovirus infection and chemokine].Nihon Rinsho. 1998 Jan;56(1):69-74. Nihon Rinsho. 1998. PMID: 9465667 Review. Japanese.
-
Tegument proteins of human cytomegalovirus.Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2008 Jun;72(2):249-65, table of contents. doi: 10.1128/MMBR.00040-07. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2008. PMID: 18535146 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
HCMV infection and IFITM3 rs12252 are associated with Rasmussen's encephalitis disease progression.Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2021 Mar;8(3):558-570. doi: 10.1002/acn3.51289. Epub 2021 Jan 19. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2021. PMID: 33465303 Free PMC article.
-
Human Cytomegalovirus pUL47 Modulates Tegumentation and Capsid Accumulation at the Viral Assembly Complex.J Virol. 2015 Jul;89(14):7314-28. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00603-15. Epub 2015 May 6. J Virol. 2015. PMID: 25948747 Free PMC article.
-
Antiviral role of IFITM3 in prototype foamy virus infection.Virol J. 2022 Nov 22;19(1):195. doi: 10.1186/s12985-022-01931-x. Virol J. 2022. PMID: 36419065 Free PMC article.
-
Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Protein 1 Restricts Replication of Viruses That Enter Cells via the Plasma Membrane.J Virol. 2019 Mar 5;93(6):e02003-18. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02003-18. Print 2019 Mar 15. J Virol. 2019. PMID: 30567988 Free PMC article.
-
Roles for Pathogen Interference in Influenza Vaccination, with Implications to Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) and Attribution of Influenza Deaths.Infect Dis Rep. 2022 Sep 23;14(5):710-758. doi: 10.3390/idr14050076. Infect Dis Rep. 2022. PMID: 36286197 Free PMC article. Review.
References
-
- Mocarski ES Jr, Shenk T, Griffiths PD, Pass RF. 2013. Cytomegalovirus, p 1960–2014 InKnipe DM, Howley PM, Cohen JI, Griffin DE, Lamb RA, Martin MA, Racaniello VR, Roizman B (ed), Fields virology, 6th ed Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical