Vesicular stomatitis virus infection reduces the number of active DNA-dependent RNA polymerases in myeloma cells

The vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein inhibits glycoprotein 130-dependent STAT activation

Infection of cells by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) results in the inhibition of host transcription. We show in this study that infection of HeLa cells with VSV leads to a strongly diminished activation of STAT3 and STAT1 by the inflammatory cytokine IL-6. This effect was mimicked by forced expression of a single viral protein, the matrix (M)-protein of VSV, which blocked STAT activation via chimeric receptors containing the cytoplasmic domain of the IL-6 signal transducer gp130. Western blot analysis revealed that VSV M-protein did not inhibit the nuclear translocation of activated STAT3 but did inhibit its tyrosine phosphorylation. Inhibition of STAT activation was not dependent on tyrosine 759 of the IL-6 signal transducer gp130, suggesting that the inhibitory action of VSV M-protein is not mediated by the induction of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3. VSV M-protein inhibited gene transcription from cotransfected alpha(2)-macroglobulin or antichymotrypsin promoter/luciferase reporter constructs which contain STAT3-binding sites. However, transcription from a STAT5-dependent construct was not negatively affected. In conclusion, our data suggest that infection by VSV and specifically overexpression of the viral M-protein interferes with an important signaling pathway necessary for triggering antiviral and inflammatory responses.

Cytopathogenesis and inhibition of host gene expression by RNA viruses

Many viruses interfere with host cell function in ways that are harmful or pathological. This often results in changes in cell morphology referred to as cytopathic effects. However, pathogenesis of virus infections also involves inhibition of host cell gene expression. Thus the term "cytopathogenesis," or pathogenesis at the cellular level, is meant to be broader than the term "cytopathic effects" and includes other cellular changes that contribute to viral pathogenesis in addition to those changes that are visible at the microscopic level. The goal of this review is to place recent work on the inhibition of host gene expression by RNA viruses in the context of the pathogenesis of virus infections. Three different RNA virus families, picornaviruses, influenza viruses, and rhabdoviruses, are used to illustrate common principles involved in cytopathogenesis. These examples were chosen because viral gene products responsible for inhibiting host gene expression have been identified, as have some of the molecular targets of the host. The argument is made that the role of the virus-induced inhibition of host gene expression is to inhibit the host antiviral response, such as the response to double-stranded RNA. Viral cytopathogenesis is presented as a balance between the host antiviral response and the ability of viruses to inhibit that response through the overall inhibition of host gene expression. This balance is a major determinant of viral tissue tropism in infections of intact animals.

Effect of vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein on transcription directed by host RNA polymerases I, II, and III

The matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) functions in virus assembly and inhibits host-directed gene expression independently of other viral components. Experiments in this study were carried out to determine the ability of M protein to inhibit transcription directed by each of the three host RNA polymerases (RNA polymerase I [RNAPI], RNAPII, and RNAPIII). The effects of wild-type (wt) VSV, v6 (a VSV mutant isolated from persistently infected cells), and tsO82 viruses on poly(A)+ and poly(A)- RNA synthesis were measured by incorporation of [3H]uridine. v6 and tsO82 viruses, which contain M-gene mutations, had a decreased ability to inhibit synthesis of both poly(A)+ and poly(A)- RNA. Nuclear runoff analysis showed that VSV inhibited transcription of 18S rRNA and alpha-tubulin genes, which was dependent on RNAPI and RNAPII, respectively, but infection with wt virus enhanced transcription of 5S rRNA by RNAPIII. The effect of M protein alone on transcription by RNAPI-, RNAPII-, and RNAPIII-dependent promoters was measured by cotransfection assays. M protein inhibited transcription from RNAPI- and RNAPII-dependent promoters in the absence of other viral gene products. RNAPIII-dependent transcription of the adenovirus VA promoters was also inhibited by M protein. However, as observed during wt VSV infection, M protein enhanced endogenous 5S rRNA transcription, indicating that the inhibition of transcription by RNAPIII was dependent on the nature of the promoter.

Perturbation of host-cell membrane is a primary mechanism of HIV cytopathology

Cytopathic viruses injure cells by a number of different mechanisms. The mechanism by which HIV-1 injures T cells was studied by temporally examining host-cell macromolecular syntheses, stages of the cell cycle, and membrane permeability following acute infection. T cells cytopathically infected at an m.o.i. of 1-5 grew normally for 24-72 hr, depending on the cell line, followed by the first manifestation of cell injury, slowing of cell division. At that time significant amounts of unintegrated HIV DNA and p24 core protein became detectable, and acridine orange flow cytometric cell cycle studies demonstrated the presence of fewer cells in the G2/M stage of the cell cycle. There was no change in the frequency of cells in the S-stage, and metabolic pulsing with radioactive precursors demonstrated that host-cell DNA, RNA, and protein syntheses were normal at that time and normal up to the time cells started to die (approximately 24 hr later), when all three decreased. Cellular lipid synthesis, however, was perturbed when cell multiplication slowed, with phospholipid synthesis reduced and neutral lipid synthesis enhanced. Permeability of the host-cell membrane to small molecules, such as Ca2+ and sucrose, was slightly enhanced early postinfection, and by the time of slowing of cell division, host membrane permeability was greatly increased to both Ca2+ and sucrose (Stokes radius 5.2 A) but not to inulin (Stokes radium 20 A). These changes in host-cell membrane permeability and phospholipid synthesis were not observed in acutely infected H9 cells, which are not susceptible to HIV cytopathology. Thus, HIV-1 appeared to predominantly injure T cells by perturbing host-cell membrane permeability and lipid synthesis, which is similar to the cytopathic mechanisms of paramyxoviruses.

Interferon induction by viruses. XV. Biological characteristics of interferon induction-suppressing particles of vesicular stomatitis virus

A single interferon (IFN) induction-suppressing particle (ISP) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) blocked completely the yield of IFN in a cell otherwise programmed to produce IFN. With mouse L cells as hosts, one lethal hit of UV radiation (D37 = 52.5 ergs/mm2) to the VSV genome sufficed to inactivate ISP activity; however, with "aged" primary chick embryo cells as hosts, it took 198 lethal hits (D37 = 10,395 ergs/mm2). ISP expression in chick cells did not require virus replication or amplified RNA synthesis, but did involve functional virion-associated L protein. ISP in chick cells also were capable of inhibiting, in a multiplicity-dependent manner, the plaquing efficiency of two viruses that require cellular polymerase II (pol II) for replication, e.g., pseudorabies and influenza. The refractory state to IFN inducibility that resulted from infection of chick cells with ISP (VSV tsO5 [UV = 100 hits]) was still extant after 6 days. In contrast, the plaquing efficiency of pseudorabies virus returned to control levels by 5 h after ISP infection. Chick cells infected with UV ISP remained viable, served as hosts for the replication of other viruses, and could be subcultured. Models are presented to account for these contrasting effects. The involvement of viral plus-strand leader RNA as an inhibitor of cellular pol II-dependent RNA synthesis, and the multifunctional activities of the virion-associated L protein, are discussed as possible molecules involved in the action of ISP in chick cells.

The requirement of protein synthesis for VSV inhibition of host cell RNA synthesis

Published ultraviolet (uv) inactivation data and in vitro transcription studies have suggested that vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) leader RNA was solely responsible for the inhibition of host cell RNA synthesis by this virus. Since no protein product is encoded in leader RNA, this conclusion implied that no protein synthesis should be required for this effect. Therefore, the inhibitory activity of VSV was examined in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide, pactamycin, and emetine. Protein synthesis inhibitors are known not to interfere with VSV primary transcription, but in their presence viral replication and amplification of transcription do not take place. Although at 39 degrees the VSV mutant tsG22 could undergo only primary transcription, maximum inhibition of host cell RNA synthesis took place. However, in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitors the VSV mutant was no longer able to interfere with host cell RNA synthesis. These results could not be explained by a change in the concentration of intracellular leader RNA which remained unaltered by the drugs. Similar results were also obtained with wild-type VSV in the presence of cycloheximide. Upon removal of the drug, inhibition of host cell RNA synthesis was reestablished in parallel with the restoration of protein synthesis. It is concluded that protein synthesis is required for the inhibitory activity of VSV, presumably because the active inhibitory complex is a nucleoprotein containing leader RNA and either a cellular protein or the viral N protein. The cellular protein would have to be in limiting supply since de novo protein synthesis was required for the inhibition to take place.

Nucleotide sequence and secondary structure of VSV leader RNA and homologous DNA involved in inhibition of DNA-dependent transcription

We have analyzed the nucleotide sequences and secondary structure required for the transcriptional inhibitory activity of the plus-strand leader RNA of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in a reconstituted HeLa cell transcription system using the adenovirus-2 late promoter (LP) and virus-associated (VA) genes as templates. The New Jersey serotype (VSVNJ) leader and the leader of the Indiana serotype (VSVInd) both contain cleavage sites for the double-strand-specific ribonuclease V1, and these sites are consistent with the presence of a predicted AU-rich stem-loop structure. Studies in which the secondary structure was perturbed with the intercalating agent proflavin suggested that a stem-loop structure enhances the efficiency of transcription inhibition in the VSVNJ leader. Experiments using leader RNA fragments, a VSVInd cDNA derived from the 3' end of the genome, and synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide homologous to regions of the VSV leader indicated that the AU(AT)-rich center region of the VSV leader molecule is sufficient to inhibit DNA-dependent transcription directed by both polymerase II and III, but flanking nucleotide sequences are important for more efficient inhibition of transcription.

The leader RNA of vesicular stomatitis virus is bound by a cellular protein reactive with anti-La lupus antibodies

The leader RNA transcript of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been immunoprecipitated from infected BHK cell extracts by anti-La specific sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This association was specific as lupus anti-sera with other specificities failed to precipitate leader RNA. The amount of leader RNA associated with the La antigen peaked 4 hr post infection and then declined. Leader RNA complexed with viral nucleocapsid proteins increased at a slower rate but eventually predominated 6 hr post infection. By 16 hr all of the leader RNA was associated with nucleocapsid proteins. Although a significant portion of the leader RNA was present in isolated nuclei 4 hr post infection, all of the leader RNA outside the nucleus was bound to La protein. Leader RNA is the first non-RNA polymerase III product found to associate with the La protein. The proposed function of the leader-La complex in VSV transcription and replication and in viral cytopathology is discussed.

Inhibition by vesicular stomatitis virus of herpes simplex virus-directed protein synthesis

Infection of mammalian cells with either herpes simplex virus (HSV) or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) results in a marked inhibition of host protein synthesis. These viruses employ different mechanisms to turn off the host. In previous studies we showed that following infection with HSV, cellular mRNA was degraded and host polyribosomes were dissociated (Nishioka and Silverstein, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 2370-2374, 1977; Nishioka and Silverstein, J. Virol. 25, 422-426, 1978a). Degradation required synthesis of an HSV-specified polypeptide whereas dissociation appeared to be mediated by a heat-labile virion associated function (Nishioka and Silverstein, J. Virol. 27, 619-627, 1978b). In contrast, when cells are infected with VSV, host mRNAs are not degraded and polyribosome profiles are not drastically altered (Nishioka and Silverstein, 1978a). We have exploited the properties of these two viruses by infecting cells either simultaneously or sequentially in an effort to test our previous hypotheses. Analyses of the distribution of polyribosomes, stability of mRNA, synthesis of mRNA, and patterns of protein synthesis in coinfected cells permit us to conclude that dissociation of polyribosomes in cells infected with HSV results from expression of a virion associated function, degradation of cellular mRNA requires expression of the HSV genome, and VSV is dominant in doubly infected cells because it inhibits de novo transcription of the HSV genome.

The plus-strand leader RNA of VSV inhibits DNA-dependent transcription of adenovirus and SV40 genes in a soluble whole-cell extract

In an attempt to determine the mechanism (or mechanisms) by which vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) kills cells, products of VSV transcription were tested in a cell-free system for their capacity to inhibit transcription of SV40 DNA and plasmids containing adenovirus late promoter and adenovirus-associated RNA genes. VSV RNA transcripts and other RNAs were compared for their capacity to suppress transcription of these DNA templates by RNA polymerases and cofactors present in the HeLa-cell extract system. Relatively low concentrations of the plus-strand leader RNA made in vitro from the 3' end of the wild-type VSV genome were found to inhibit initiation of transcription catalyzed by both RNA polymerase II and RNA polymerase III. Polyadenylated VSV messengers and other natural and synthetic RNAs also caused some inhibitory effects on in vitro transcription from DNA templates, but only at extremely high concentrations. Compared with the wild-type plus-strand RNA leader, the leader RNA synthesized in vitro by defective-interfering VSV showed only limited capacity to inhibit RNA synthesis on adenovirus and SV40 DNA templates and only at concentrations at least 30 times greater than that of the wild-type leader. The existence of nucleotide sequences in wild-type leader RNA, not present in defective-interfering leader RNA, that could recognize and block promoters, polymerases or protein cofactors is discussed.