Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus activates inflammasomes of porcine alveolar macrophages via its small envelope protein E

Kao Zhang, Qiang Hou, Zhenyu Zhong, Xiujin Li, Huihui Chen, Wenyan Li, Jiexia Wen, Liyue Wang, Weiquan Liu, Fei Zhong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection results in extensive tissue inflammation and damage, which are believed to be responsible for increased susceptibility to secondary infection and even for death. However, its pathogenic mechanisms are not fully understood. To explore the mechanism underlying the PRRSV-induced tissue inflammation and damage, we investigated whether PRRSV activates porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) inflammasomes which mediate por-IL-1β maturation/release and subsequently induce tissue inflammation and injury. Our results showed that PRRSV and its small envelope protein E significantly increased IL-1β release from LPS-primed PAMs; however, only PRRSV not protein E significantly increased IL-1β release from no-LPS-primed PAMs, which indicates PRRSV can activate inflammasomes of PAMs by its encoded protein E. These results provide a molecular basis for the pathogenic mechanism of PRRSV on inducing extensive tissue inflammation and damage, and suggest that the inflammasome may provide a potential therapeutic target for PRRS prevention and treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)156-162
Number of pages7
JournalVirology
Volume442
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Envelope protein E
  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin-1β
  • Macrophages
  • Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

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