PB1-F2 protein of highly pathogenic influenza A (H7N9) virus selectively suppresses RNA-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation through inhibition of MAVS-NLRP3 interaction

J Leukoc Biol. 2020 Nov;108(5):1655-1663. doi: 10.1002/JLB.4AB0420-694R. Epub 2020 May 9.

Abstract

Infection with seasonal as well as highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (IAV) causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. As a major virulence factor, PB1-F2 protein of IAV affects the severity of disease through multiple mechanisms including perturbation of host innate immune response. Macrophages are known to phagocytose extracellular PB1-F2 protein aggregate, leading to hyperactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome and excessive production of IL-1β and IL-18. On the other hand, when expressed intracellularly PB1-F2 suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome maturation. How extracellular and intracellular PB1-F2 orchestrates to drive viral pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β secretion by PB1-F2 of highly pathogenic influenza A (H7N9) virus in infected human monocyte-derived macrophages. Mechanistically, H7N9 PB1-F2 selectively mitigated RNA-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation by inhibiting the interaction between NLRP3 and MAVS. Intracellular PB1-F2 of H7N9 virus did not affect extracellular PB1-F2-induced NLRP3 inflammasome maturation. In contrast, PB1-F2 of WSN laboratory strain of human IAV effectively suppressed IL-1β processing and secretion induced by various stimuli including NLRP3, AIM2, and pro-IL-1β. This subtype-specific effect of PB1-F2 on inflammasome activation correlates with the induction of a proinflammatory cytokine storm by H7N9 but not WSN virus. Our findings on selective suppression of MAVS-dependent activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by H7N9 PB1-F2 have implications in viral pathogenesis and antiviral development.

Keywords: H7N9 virus; MAVS; NLRP3; PB1-F2 virulence factor; avian influenza A virus; inflammasome activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / immunology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / genetics
  • Inflammasomes / immunology*
  • Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / genetics
  • Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / immunology*
  • Influenza, Human / genetics
  • Influenza, Human / immunology*
  • Influenza, Human / pathology
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / genetics
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / immunology*
  • RNA, Viral / immunology*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Inflammasomes
  • MAVS protein, human
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLRP3 protein, human
  • PB1-F2 protein, Influenza A virus
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins