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Poxvirus-encoded TNF receptor homolog dampens inflammation and protects from uncontrolled lung pathology during respiratory infection

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 20:44 authored by Al Rumaih, Z, Kels, MJT, Ng, E, Pratikshya PandeyPratikshya Pandey, Pontejo, SM, Alejo, A, Alcami, A, Chaudhri, G, Gunasegaran KarupiahGunasegaran Karupiah
Ectromelia virus (ECTV) causes mousepox, a surrogate mouse model for smallpox caused by variola virus in humans. Both orthopoxviruses encode tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) homologs or viral TNFR (vTNFR). These homologs are termed cytokine response modifier (Crm) proteins, containing a TNF-binding domain and a chemokine-binding domain called smallpox virus-encoded chemokine receptor (SECRET) domain. ECTV encodes one vTNFR known as CrmD. Infection of ECTV-resistant C57BL/6 mice with a CrmD deletion mutant virus resulted in uniform mortality due to excessive TNF secretion and dysregulated inflammatory cytokine production. CrmD dampened pathology, leukocyte recruitment, and inflammatory cytokine production in lungs including TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ. Blockade of TNF, IL-6, or IL-10R function with monoclonal antibodies reduced lung pathology and provided 60 to 100% protection from otherwise lethal infection. IFN-γ caused lung pathology only when both the TNF-binding and SECRET domains were absent. Presence of the SECRET domain alone induced significantly higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10, likely overcoming any protective effects that might have been afforded by anti–IFN-γ treatment. The use of TNF-deficient mice and those that express only membrane-associated but not secreted TNF revealed that CrmD is critically dependent on host TNF for its function. In vitro, recombinant Crm proteins from different orthopoxviruses bound to membrane-associated TNF and dampened inflammatory gene expression through reverse signaling. CrmD does not affect virus replication; however, it provides the host advantage by enabling survival. Host survival would facilitate virus spread, which would also provide an advantage to the virus.

Funding

The MPST Foundation Ltd

History

Publication title

National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America. Proceedings

Volume

117

Issue

43

Pagination

26885-26894

ISSN

0027-8424

Department/School

Tasmanian School of Medicine

Publisher

Natl Acad Sciences

Place of publication

2101 Constitution Ave Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20418

Rights statement

Copyright 2020 the authors

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Prevention of human diseases and conditions; Treatment of human diseases and conditions

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