Dynamic analysis of expression of chemokine and cytokine gene responses to H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza viruses in DF-1 cells

Alterations in CX3CL1 Levels and Its Role in Viral Pathogenesis

CX3CL1, also named fractalkine or neurotactin, is the only known member of the CX3C chemokine family that can chemoattract several immune cells. CX3CL1 exists in both membrane-anchored and soluble forms, with each mediating distinct biological activities. CX3CL1 signals are transmitted through its unique receptor, CX3CR1, primarily expressed in the microglia of the central nervous system (CNS). In the CNS, CX3CL1 acts as a regulator of microglia activation in response to brain disorders or inflammation. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the role of CX3CL1 in regulating cell adhesion, chemotaxis, and host immune response in viral infection. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the changes and function of CX3CL1 in various viral infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, to highlight the emerging roles of CX3CL1 in viral infection and associated diseases.

Prevention of severe lung immunopathology associated with influenza infection through adeno-associated virus vector administration

BACKGROUND

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) have long posed a threat to humans, occasionally causing significant morbidity and mortality. The initial immune response is triggered by infected epithelial cells, alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells. However, an exaggerated innate immune response can result in severe lung injury and even host mortality. One notable pathology observed in hosts succumbing to severe influenza is the excessive influx of neutrophils and monocytes into the lung. In this study, we investigated a strategy for controlling lung immunopathology following severe influenza infection.

RESULTS

To evaluate the impact of innate immunity on influenza-associated lung injury, we employed CB17.SCID and NOD.SCID mice. NOD.SCID mice exhibited slower weight loss and longer survival than CB17.SCID mice following influenza infection. Lung inflammation was reduced in NOD.SCID mice compared to CB17.SCID mice. Bulk RNA sequencing analysis of lung tissue showed significant downregulation of 827 genes, and differentially expressed gene analysis indicated that the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway was predominantly downregulated in NOD.SCID mice. Interestingly, the expression of the Cxcl14 gene was higher in the lungs of influenza-infected NOD.SCID mice than in CB17.SCID mice. Therefore, we induced overexpression of the Cxcl14 gene in the lung using the adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-vector system for target gene delivery. However, when we administered the AAV9 vector carrying the Cxcl14 gene or a control AAV9 vector to BALB/c mice from both groups, the morbidity and mortality rates remained similar. Both groups exhibited lower morbidity and mortality than the naive group that did not receive the AAV9 vector prior to IAV infection, suggesting that the pre-administration of the AAV9 vector conferred protection against lethal influenza infection, irrespective of Cxcl14 overexpression. Furthermore, we found that pre-inoculation of BALB/c mice with AAV9 attenuated the infiltration of trans-macrophages, neutrophils and monocytes in the lungs following IAV infection. Although there was no difference in lung viral titers between the naive group and the AAV9 pre-inoculated group, pre-inoculation with AAV9 conferred lung injury protection against lethal influenza infection in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that pre-inoculation with AAV9 prior to IAV infection protected mouse lungs from immunopathology by reducing the recruitment of inflammatory cells.

Advances on Innate Immune Evasion by Avian Immunosuppressive Viruses

Innate immunity is not only the first line of host defense against pathogenic infection, but also the cornerstone of adaptive immune response. Upon pathogenic infection, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of host engage pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) of pathogens, which initiates IFN production by activating interferon regulatory transcription factors (IRFs), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and/or activating protein-1 (AP-1) signal transduction pathways in host cells. In order to replicate and survive, pathogens have evolved multiple strategies to evade host innate immune responses, including IFN-I signal transduction, autophagy, apoptosis, necrosis, inflammasome and/or metabolic pathways. Some avian viruses may not be highly pathogenic but they have evolved varied strategies to evade or suppress host immune response for survival, causing huge impacts on the poultry industry worldwide. In this review, we focus on the advances on innate immune evasion by several important avian immunosuppressive viruses (infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), Marek’s disease virus (MDV), avian leukosis virus (ALV), etc.), especially their evasion of PRRs-mediated signal transduction pathways (IFN-I signal transduction pathway) and IFNAR-JAK-STAT signal pathways. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanism by which avian viruses evade or suppress host immune responses will be of help to the development of novel vaccines and therapeutic reagents for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in chickens.

Dual RNA-Seq of H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus and Host Cell Transcriptomes Reveals Novel Insights Into Host-Pathogen Cross Talk

H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) is a highly pathogenic influenza virus that poses a substantial threat to poultry production and public health. A comprehensive understanding of host-pathogen interactions for AIV requires knowledge of gene expression changes in both the pathogen and the host upon infection. We report the use of dual RNA sequencing technology to uncover trends in gene expression in H5N1 AIV and chickens (DF1 cells) during the course of infection. The expression of all viral genes increased continuously from 0 to 20 h post infection. We also identified 2,762 differentially expressed host genes during infection. Pathway analysis found that genes related to the signaling pathways of DNA replication, T cell activation, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and RNA degradation were significantly enriched. We demonstrated that the cis-acting lncRNA MSTRG.14019.1 targeted CSE1L and may affect virus replication. This study provides a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of host-virus interactions at the RNA level during the course of H5N1 AIV infection.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) inhibits antiviral responses to facilitate Senecavirus A infection by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a new virus inducing porcine idiopathic vesicular disease that causes significant economic losses. Although some progress has been made in etiological research, the role of host factors in SVA infection remains unclear. This study investigated the role of the host factor, suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), in SVA infection. The expression of SOCS1 was significantly upregulated with infection of SVA in a dose-dependent manner, and SOCS1 inhibited the expression of type I interferons (IFN-α, IFN-β) and the production of interferon stimulating genes (ISGs) (ISG56, ISG54, PKR), thereby facilitating viral replication. Further results showed that inhibition of antiviral responses of SOCS1 was achieved by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, which attenuates the production of IFNs and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings provide a new perspective of SVA pathogenesis and may partially explain the persistence of this infection. Moreover, the data indicate that targeting SOCS1 can help in developing new agents against SVA infection.

Negative Regulators of Inflammation Response to the Dynamic Expression of Cytokines in DF-1 and MDCK Cells Infected by Avian Influenza Viruses

The H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) seriously endanger the poultry industry and threaten human health. Characteristic inflammatory responses caused by H5N1 and H9N2 AIVs in birds and mammals result in unique clinical manifestations. The role of anti-inflammatory regulators, PTX3, Del-1, and GDF-15, in H5N1 and H9N2-AIV-mediated inflammation in birds and mammals has not yet been verified. Here, the expression of PTX3, Del-1, and GDF-15 in DF-1 and MDCK cells infected with H5N1 and H9N2 AIVs and their effect on inflammatory cytokines were analyzed. Infection with both AIVs increased PTX3, Del-1, and GDF-15 expression in DF-1 and MDCK cells. Infection with H9N2 or H5N1 AIV in DF-1 and MDCK cells with overexpression of all three factors, either alone or in combination, inhibited the expression of tested inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, co-expression of PTX3, Del-1, and GDF-15 enhanced the inhibition, irrespective of the cell line. The findings from this study offer insight into the pathogenic differences between H5N1 and H9N2 AIVs in varied hosts. Moreover, our findings can be used to help screen for host-specific anti-inflammatory agents.

Characterization of immunological properties of chicken chemokine CC motif ligand 5 using new monoclonal antibodies

CCL5 (formerly RANTES) belongs to the CC (or β) chemokine family and is associated with a plethora of inflammatory disorders and pathologic states. CCL5 is mainly produced and secreted by T cells, macrophages, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts and acts as a chemoattractant to recruit effector cells to the inflammation sites. Chicken CCL5 (chCCL5) protein is closely related to avian CCL5 orthologs but distinct from mammalian orthologs, and its modulatory roles in the immune response are largely unknown. The present work was undertaken to characterize the immunological properties of chCCL5 using the new sets of anti-chCCL5 mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Eight different mAbs (6E11, 6H1, 8H11, 11G1, 11G11, 12H1, 13D1, and 13G3) were characterized for their specificity and binding ability toward chCCL5. Two (13G3 and 6E11) of them were selected to detect native chCCL5 in chCCL5-specific antigen-capture ELISA. Using 13G3 and 6E11 as capture and detection antibodies, respectively, the ELISA system detected serum chCCL5 secretions in Clostridium perfringens- and Eimeria-infected chickens. The intracellular expressions of chCCL5 in primary cells or cell lines derived from chickens were validated in immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry assays using both 13G3 and 6E11 mAbs. Furthermore, 6E11, but not 13G3, neutralized chCCL5-induced chemotaxis in vitro using chicken PBMCs. These molecular characteristics of chCCL5 demonstrate the potential application of anti-chCCL5 mAbs and CCL5-specific antigen-capture detection ELISA for detecting native chCCL5 in biological samples. The availability of these new immunological tools will be valuable for fundamental and applied studies in avian species.

Coupling metabolomics analysis and DOE optimization strategy towards enhanced IBDV production by chicken embryo fibroblast DF-1 cells

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) caused by IBD virus (IBDV) is highly contagious viral and vaccination in chicken embryo has been an effective mean to prevent acute infection. However, the current production of IBDV vaccine faces serious batch instability and external contamination. The chicken embryonic fibroblast cell line DF-1 is widely used for the proliferation of avian viruses and vaccine production. Thus, optimizing the production of IBDV by DF-1 cells has an important application value. Combining metabolomics analysis and a Design of Experiments (DOE) statistical strategy, this study successfully optimized the process of IBDV production by DF-1 cells. Differential analysis and time series analysis of metabolite data in both IBDV-infected and uninfected DF-1 cells were performed by multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that the intracellular metabolite intensities of glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the nucleoside synthesis pathway, lipid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism were upregulated, and the TCA cycle underwent a slight downregulation after IBDV infection of DF-1 cells. Based on the metabolome results and DOE statistical optimization method, the additive components suitable for IBDV proliferation were determined. The IBDV titer increased by 20.7 times upon exogenous addition of cysteine, methionine, lysine and nucleosides in the control medium, which is consistent with the predicted result (20.0 times) by a multivariate quadratic equation. This study provides a strategy for the efficient production of IBDV vaccines and could potentially be utilized to improve the production of other viral vaccines and biologics.