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Hogan CH, Owens SM, Reynoso GV, Liao Y, Meyer TJ, Zelazowska MA, Liu B, Li X, Grosskopf AK, Khairallah C, Kirillov V, Reich NC, Sheridan BS, McBride KM, Gewurz BE, Hickman HD, Forrest JC, Krug LT. Multifaceted roles for STAT3 in gammaherpesvirus latency revealed through in vivo B cell knockout models. mBio 2024; 15:e0299823. [PMID: 38170993 PMCID: PMC10870824 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02998-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancers associated with the oncogenic gammaherpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus, are notable for their constitutive activation of the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). To better understand the role of STAT3 during gammaherpesvirus latency and the B cell response to infection, we used the model pathogen murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68). Genetic deletion of STAT3 in B cells of CD19cre/+Stat3f/f mice reduced peak MHV68 latency approximately sevenfold. However, infected CD19cre/+Stat3f/f mice exhibited disordered germinal centers and heightened virus-specific CD8 T cell responses compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. To circumvent the systemic immune alterations observed in the B cell-STAT3 knockout mice and more directly evaluate intrinsic roles for STAT3, we generated mixed bone marrow chimeric mice consisting of WT and STAT3 knockout B cells. We discovered a dramatic reduction in latency in STAT3 knockout B cells compared to their WT B cell counterparts in the same lymphoid organ. RNA sequencing of sorted germinal center B cells revealed that MHV68 infection shifts the gene signature toward proliferation and away from type I and type II IFN responses. Loss of STAT3 largely reversed the virus-driven transcriptional shift without impacting the viral gene expression program. STAT3 promoted B cell processes of the germinal center, including IL-21-stimulated downregulation of surface CD23 on B cells infected with MHV68 or EBV. Together, our data provide mechanistic insights into the role of STAT3 as a latency determinant in B cells for oncogenic gammaherpesviruses.IMPORTANCEThere are no directed therapies to the latency program of the human gammaherpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. Activated host factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a hallmark of cancers caused by these viruses. We applied the murine gammaherpesvirus pathogen system to explore STAT3 function upon primary B cell infection in the host. Since STAT3 deletion in all CD19+ B cells of infected mice led to altered B and T cell responses, we generated chimeric mice with both normal and STAT3-deleted B cells. B cells lacking STAT3 failed to support virus latency compared to normal B cells from the same infected animal. Loss of STAT3 impaired B cell proliferation and differentiation and led to a striking upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes. These findings expand our understanding of STAT3-dependent processes that are key to its function as a pro-viral latency determinant for oncogenic gammaherpesviruses in B cells and may provide novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad H. Hogan
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shana M. Owens
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Glennys V. Reynoso
- Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yifei Liao
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas J. Meyer
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Monika A. Zelazowska
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaofan Li
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anna K. Grosskopf
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Camille Khairallah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Varvara Kirillov
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Nancy C. Reich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Brian S. Sheridan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Kevin M. McBride
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin E. Gewurz
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Heather D. Hickman
- Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - J. Craig Forrest
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Laurie T. Krug
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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2
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Hogan CH, Owens SM, Reynoso GV, Kirillov V, Meyer TJ, Zelazowska MA, Liu B, Li X, Chikhalya A, Dong Q, Khairallah C, Reich NC, Sheridan B, McBride KM, Hearing P, Hickman HD, Forrest JC, Krug LT. B cell-intrinsic STAT3-mediated support of latency and interferon suppression during murine gammaherpesvirus 68 infection revealed through an in vivo competition model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.22.533727. [PMID: 36993230 PMCID: PMC10055336 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.22.533727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Cancers associated with the oncogenic gammaherpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus, are notable for their constitutive activation of the transcription factor STAT3. To better understand the role of STAT3 during gammaherpesvirus latency and immune control, we utilized murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) infection. Genetic deletion of STAT3 in B cells of CD19cre/+Stat3f/f mice reduced peak latency approximately 7-fold. However, infected CD19cre/+Stat3f/f mice exhibited disordered germinal centers and heightened virus-specific CD8 T cell responses compared to WT littermates. To circumvent the systemic immune alterations observed in the B cell-STAT3 knockout mice and more directly evaluate intrinsic roles for STAT3, we generated mixed bone marrow chimeras consisting of WT and STAT3-knockout B cells. Using a competitive model of infection, we discovered a dramatic reduction in latency in STAT3-knockout B cells compared to their WT B cell counterparts in the same lymphoid organ. RNA sequencing of sorted germinal center B cells revealed that STAT3 promotes proliferation and B cell processes of the germinal center but does not directly regulate viral gene expression. Last, this analysis uncovered a STAT3-dependent role for dampening type I IFN responses in newly infected B cells. Together, our data provide mechanistic insight into the role of STAT3 as a latency determinant in B cells for oncogenic gammaherpesviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad H. Hogan
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shana M. Owens
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Glennys V. Reynoso
- Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Varvara Kirillov
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Thomas J. Meyer
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Monika A. Zelazowska
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiaofan Li
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Aniska Chikhalya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Qiwen Dong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Graduate Program of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Camille Khairallah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Nancy C. Reich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Brian Sheridan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Kevin M. McBride
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Patrick Hearing
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Heather D. Hickman
- Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - J. Craig Forrest
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Laurie T. Krug
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Zhou L, Cheng A, Wang M, Wu Y, Yang Q, Tian B, Ou X, Sun D, Zhang S, Mao S, Zhao XX, Huang J, Gao Q, Zhu D, Jia R, Liu M, Chen S. Mechanism of herpesvirus protein kinase UL13 in immune escape and viral replication. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1088690. [PMID: 36531988 PMCID: PMC9749954 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1088690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon infection, the herpes viruses create a cellular environment suitable for survival, but innate immunity plays a vital role in cellular resistance to viral infection. The UL13 protein of herpesviruses is conserved among all herpesviruses and is a serine/threonine protein kinase, which plays a vital role in escaping innate immunity and promoting viral replication. On the one hand, it can target various immune signaling pathways in vivo, such as the cGAS-STING pathway and the NF-κB pathway. On the other hand, it phosphorylates regulatory many cellular and viral proteins for promoting the lytic cycle. This paper reviews the research progress of the conserved herpesvirus protein kinase UL13 in immune escape and viral replication to provide a basis for elucidating the pathogenic mechanism of herpesviruses, as well as providing insights into the potential means of immune escape and viral replication of other herpesviruses that have not yet resolved the function of it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhou
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,*Correspondence: Mingshu Wang,
| | - Ying Wu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bin Tian
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xumin Ou
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Di Sun
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shaqiu Zhang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Sai Mao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin-Xin Zhao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Juan Huang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qun Gao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mafeng Liu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Jondle CN, Sylvester PA, Schmalzriedt DL, Njoya K, Tarakanova VL. The Antagonism between the Murine Gammaherpesvirus Protein Kinase and Global Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 Expression Shapes the Establishment of Chronic Infection. J Virol 2022; 96:e0126022. [PMID: 36169331 PMCID: PMC9599343 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01260-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gammaherpesviruses infect most vertebrate species and are associated with B cell lymphomas. Manipulation of B cell differentiation is critical for natural infection and lymphomagenesis driven by gammaherpesviruses. Specifically, human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) drive differentiation of infected naive B cells into the germinal center to achieve exponential increase in the latent viral reservoir during the establishment of chronic infection. Infected germinal center B cells are also the target of viral lymphomagenesis, as most EBV-positive B cell lymphomas bear the signature of the germinal center response. All gammaherpesviruses encode a protein kinase, which, in the case of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and MHV68, is sufficient and necessary, respectively, to drive B cell differentiation in vivo. In this study, we used the highly tractable MHV68 model of chronic gammaherpesvirus infection to unveil an antagonistic relationship between MHV68 protein kinase and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1). IRF-1 deficiency had minimal effect on the attenuated lytic replication of the kinase-null MHV68 in vivo. In contrast, the attenuated latent reservoir of the kinase-null MHV68 was partially to fully rescued in IRF-1-/- mice, along with complete rescue of the MHV68-driven germinal center response. Thus, the novel viral protein kinase-IRF-1 antagonism was largely limited to chronic infection dominated by viral latency and was less relevant for lytic replication during acute infection and in vitro. Given the conserved nature of the viral and host protein, the antagonism between the two, as defined in this study, may regulate gammaherpesvirus infection across species. IMPORTANCE Gammaherpesviruses are prevalent pathogens that manipulate physiological B cell differentiation to establish lifelong infection. This manipulation is also involved in gammaherpesvirus-driven B cell lymphomas, as differentiation of latently infected B cells through the germinal center response targets these for transformation. In this study, we define a novel antagonistic interaction between a conserved gammaherpesvirus protein kinase and a host antiviral and tumor suppressor transcription factor. The virus-host antagonism unveiled in this study was critically important to shape the magnitude of gammaherpesvirus-driven germinal center response. In contrast, the virus-host antagonism was far less relevant for lytic viral replication in vitro and during acute infection in vivo, highlighting the emerging concept that nonoverlapping mechanisms shape the parameters of acute and chronic gammaherpesvirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. N. Jondle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - P. A. Sylvester
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - D. L. Schmalzriedt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - K. Njoya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - V. L. Tarakanova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Sylvester PA, Jondle CN, Schmalzriedt DL, Dittel BN, Tarakanova VL. T Cell-Specific STAT1 Expression Promotes Lytic Replication and Supports the Establishment of Gammaherpesvirus Latent Reservoir in Splenic B Cells. mBio 2022; 13:e0210722. [PMID: 35968944 PMCID: PMC9430880 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02107-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Gammaherpesviruses establish lifelong infections in most vertebrate species, including humans and rodents, and are associated with cancers, including B cell lymphomas. While type I and II interferon (IFN) systems of the host are critical for the control of acute and chronic gammaherpesvirus infection, the cell type-specific role(s) of IFN signaling during infection is poorly understood and is often masked by the profoundly altered viral pathogenesis in the hosts with global IFN deficiencies. STAT1 is a critical effector of all classical IFN responses along with its involvement in other cytokine signaling pathways. In this study, we defined the effect of T cell-specific STAT1 deficiency on the viral and host parameters of infection with murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68). MHV68 is a natural rodent pathogen that, similar to human gammaherpesviruses, manipulates and usurps B cell differentiation to establish a lifelong latent reservoir in B cells. Specifically, germinal center B cells host the majority of latent MHV68 reservoir in the lymphoid organs, particularly at the peak of viral latency. Unexpectedly, T cell-specific STAT1 expression, while limiting the overall expansion of the germinal center B cell population during chronic infection, rendered these B cells more effective at hosting the latent virus reservoir. Further, T cell-specific STAT1 expression in a wild type host limited circulating levels of IFNγ, with corresponding increases in lytic MHV68 replication and viral reactivation. Thus, our study unveils an unexpected proviral role of T cell-specific STAT1 expression during gammaherpesvirus infection of a natural intact host. IMPORTANCE Interferons (IFNs) represent a major antiviral host network vital to the control of multiple infections, including acute and chronic gammaherpesvirus infections. Ubiquitously expressed STAT1 plays a critical effector role in all classical IFN responses. This study utilized a mouse model of T cell-specific STAT1 deficiency to define cell type-intrinsic role of STAT1 during natural gammaherpesvirus infection. Unexpectedly, T cell-specific loss of STAT1 led to better control of acute and persistent gammaherpesvirus replication and decreased establishment of latent viral reservoir in B cells, revealing a surprisingly diverse proviral role of T cell-intrinsic STAT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. A. Sylvester
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - C. N. Jondle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - D. L. Schmalzriedt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - B. N. Dittel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - V. L. Tarakanova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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