Protein and DNA elements involved in transactivation of the promoter of the bovine herpesvirus (BHV) 1 IE-1 transcription unit by the BHV alpha gene trans-inducing factor

Specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) stimulate bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) replication and cooperatively transactivate the immediate early transcription unit 1 promoter

Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) infections cause respiratory tract disorders and suppress immune responses, which can culminate in bacterial pneumonia. Following acute infection, BoHV-1 establishes lifelong latency in sensory neurons present in trigeminal ganglia (TG) and unknown cells in pharyngeal tonsil. Latently infected calves consistently reactivate from latency after an intravenous injection of the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone (DEX), which mimics the effects of stress. The immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter drives expression of infected cell protein 0 (bICP0) and bICP4, two key viral transcriptional regulators. The IEtu1 promoter contains two functional glucocorticoid receptor (GR) response elements (GREs), and this promoter is transactivated by GR, DEX, and certain Krüppel transcription factors that interact with GC-rich motifs, including consensus specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding sites. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that Sp1 stimulates productive infection and transactivates key BoHV-1 promoters. DEX treatment of latently infected calves increased the number of Sp1+ TG neurons and cells in pharyngeal tonsil indicating that Sp1 expression is induced by stress. Silencing Sp1 protein expression with siRNA or mithramycin A, a drug that preferentially binds GC-rich DNA, significantly reduced BoHV-1 replication. Moreover, BoHV-1 infection of permissive cells increased Sp1 steady-state protein levels. In transient transfection studies, GR and Sp1 cooperatively transactivate IEtu1 promoter activity unless both GREs are mutated. Co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed that GR and Sp1 interact in mouse neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2A) suggesting this interaction stimulates IEtu1 promoter activity. Collectively, these studies suggested that the cellular transcription factor Sp1 enhances productive infection and stress-induced BoHV-1 reactivation from latency.IMPORTANCEFollowing acute infection, bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) establishes lifelong latency in sensory neurons in trigeminal ganglia (TG) and pharyngeal tonsil. The synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone consistently induces BoHV-1 reactivation from latency. The number of TG neurons and cells in pharyngeal tonsil expressing the cellular transcription factor specificity protein 1 (Sp1) protein increases during early stages of dexamethasone-induced reactivation from latency. Silencing Sp1 expression impairs BoHV-1 replication in permissive cells. Interestingly, mithramycin A, a neuroprotective antibiotic that preferentially binds GC-rich DNA, impairs Sp1 functions and reduces BoHV-1 replication suggesting that it is a potential antiviral drug. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and Sp1 cooperatively transactivate the BoHV-1 immediate early transcript unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter, which drives expression of infected cell protein 0 (bICP0) and bICP4. Mithramycin A also reduced Sp1- and GR-mediated transactivation of the IEtu1 promoter. These studies revealed that GR and Sp1 trigger viral gene expression and replication following stressful stimuli.

The Cell-Mediated Immune Response against Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) Infection and Vaccination

Bovine Alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is one of the major respiratory pathogens in cattle worldwide. Infection often leads to a compromised host immune response that contributes to the development of the polymicrobial disease known as “bovine respiratory disease”. After an initial transient phase of immunosuppression, cattle recover from the disease. This is due to the development of both innate and adaptive immune responses. With respect to adaptive immunity, both humoral and cell-mediated immunity are required to control infection. Thus, several BoHV-1 vaccines are designed to trigger both branches of the adaptive immune system. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on cell-mediated immune responses directed against BoHV-1 infection and vaccination.

The Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Latency-Reactivation Cycle, a Chronic Problem in the Cattle Industry

Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is a persistent and recurring disease that affects cattle worldwide. It is a major contributor to bovine respiratory disease and reproductive failure in the US. A major complication of BoHV-1 arises from the lifelong latent infection established in the sensory ganglia of the peripheral nervous system following acute infection. Lifelong latency is marked by periodic reactivation from latency that leads to virus transmission and transient immunosuppression. Physiological and environmental stress, along with hormone fluctuations, can drive virus reactivation from latency, allowing the virus to spread rapidly. This review discusses the mechanisms of the latency/reactivation cycle, with particular emphasis on how different hormones directly regulate BoHV-1 gene expression and productive infection. Glucocorticoids, including the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone, are major effectors of the stress response. Stress directly regulates BoHV-1 gene expression through multiple pathways, including β-catenin dependent Wnt signaling, and the glucocorticoid receptor. Related type 1 nuclear hormone receptors, the androgen and progesterone receptors, also drive BoHV-1 gene expression and productive infection. These receptors form feed-forward transcription loops with the stress-induced Krüppel-like transcription factors KLF4 and KLF15. Understanding these molecular pathways is critical for developing novel therapeutics designed to block reactivation and reduce virus spread and disease.

Stress Triggers Expression of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Infected Cell Protein 4 (bICP4) RNA during Early Stages of Reactivation from Latency in Pharyngeal Tonsil

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), an important pathogen of cattle, establishes lifelong latency in sensory neurons within trigeminal ganglia (TG) after acute infection. The BoHV-1 latency-reactivation cycle, like other alphaherpesvirinae subfamily members, is essential for viral persistence and transmission. Notably, cells within pharyngeal tonsil (PT) also support a quiescent or latent BoHV-1 infection. The synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone, which mimics the effects of stress, consistently induces BoHV-1 reactivation from latency allowing early stages of viral reactivation to be examined in the natural host. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that stress-induced cellular factors trigger expression of key viral transcriptional regulatory genes. To explore this hypothesis, RNA-sequencing studies compared viral gene expression in PT during early stages of dexamethasone-induced reactivation from latency. Strikingly, RNA encoding infected cell protein 4 (bICP4), which is translated into an essential viral transcriptional regulatory protein, was detected 30 min after dexamethasone treatment. Ninety minutes after dexamethasone treatment bICP4 and, to a lesser extent, bICP0 RNA were detected in PT. All lytic cycle viral transcripts were detected within 3 h after dexamethasone treatment. Surprisingly, the latency related (LR) gene, the only viral gene abundantly expressed in latently infected TG neurons, was not detected in PT during latency. In TG neurons, bICP0 and the viral tegument protein VP16 are expressed before bICP4 during reactivation, suggesting distinct viral regulatory genes mediate reactivation from latency in PT versus TG neurons. Finally, these studies confirm PT is a biologically relevant site for BoHV-1 latency, reactivation from latency, and virus transmission. IMPORTANCE BoHV-1, a neurotropic herpesvirus, establishes, maintains, and reactivates from latency in neurons. BoHV-1 DNA is also detected in pharyngeal tonsil (PT) from latently infected calves. RNA-sequencing studies revealed the viral infected cell protein 4 (bICP4) RNA was expressed in PT of latently infected calves within 30 min after dexamethasone was used to initiate reactivation. As expected, bICP4 RNA was not detected during latency. All lytic cycle viral genes were expressed within 3 h after dexamethasone treatment. Conversely, bICP0 and the viral tegument protein VP16 are expressed prior to bICP4 in trigeminal ganglionic neurons during reactivation. The viral latency related gene, which is abundantly expressed in latently infected neurons, was not abundantly expressed in PT during latency. These studies provide new evidence PT is a biologically relevant site for BoHV-1 latency and reactivation. Finally, we predict other alphaherpesvirinae subfamily members utilize PT as a site for latency and reactivation.

Duck Plague Virus pUL48 Protein Activates the Immediate-Early Gene to Initiate the Transcription of the Virus Gene

Duck plague caused by the duck plague virus (DPV) is an infectious disease that seriously harms the waterfowl breeding industry. The VP16 protein of α herpesvirus can bind to specific cis-acting elements upstream of the promoter of the immediate-early (IE, α) gene to promote the transcription of the IE gene, so it is also called the trans-inducer of IE gene (α-TIF). However, no studies on DPV α-TIF have been reported. This study investigated the DPV pUL48, a homolog of HSV-1 VP16, transcriptional activation region, target sequence, and viral protein affecting its transcriptional activation using a dual-luciferase reporter gene detection system, and pUL48 was identified as the α-TIF of DPV. (1) The regulation of pUL48 on DPV different gene promoters showed that pUL48 could activate all the promoters of IE genes (ICP4, ICP22, and ICP27) but not the promoters of early and late genes. (2) The activity of pUL48 to ICP4 and ICP22 promoters with different upstream lengths showed that pUL48 activated ICP4 and ICP22 promoters by acting on TAATGA (T) TAT element upstream of ICP4 promoter and TAATTATAT element upstream of ICP22 promoter, respectively. (3) Transcriptional activation of IE gene by truncated proteins of different lengths at the N-terminal of pUL48 was detected. The results showed that the transcriptional activation domain of pUL48 was amino acids 1–60 at the N-terminal, and amino acids 1–20 was its core region. In addition, it was found that pUL14, pUL46, and pUL47 significantly promoted the transcriptional activation of pUL48. The effects of loss of pUL47 and its nuclear localization signal on the nuclear entry and transcriptional activation function of pUL48 were further examined. The results showed that pUL47 could promote the nuclear entry of pUL48 through its nuclear localization signal at positions 40–50 and 768–777 amino acids, thus, enhancing the transcriptional activation function of pUL48 and synergistic promotion of viral gene transcription.

Regulation of neurotropic herpesvirus productive infection and latency-reactivation cycle by glucocorticoid receptor and stress-induced transcription factors

Neurotropic α-herpesvirinae subfamily members, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), are important viral pathogens in their respective hosts. Following acute infection on mucosal surfaces, these viruses establish life-long latency in neurons within trigeminal ganglia (TG) and central nervous system. Chronic or acute stress (physiological or psychological) increases the frequency of reactivation from latency, which leads to virus shedding, virus transmission, and recurrent disease. While stress impairs immune responses and inflammatory signaling cascades, we predict stressful stimuli directly stimulate viral gene expression and productive infection during early stages of reactivation from latency. For example, BoHV-1 and HSV-1 productive infection is impaired by glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonists but is stimulated by the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone. Promoters that drive expression of key viral transcriptional regulatory proteins are cooperatively stimulated by GR and specific Krüppel like transcription factors (KLF) induced during stress induced reactivation from latency. The BoHV-1 immediate early transcription unit 1 promoter and contains two GR response elements (GRE) that are essential for cooperative transactivation by GR and KLF15. Conversely, the HSV-1 infected cell protein 0 (ICP0) and ICP4 promoter as well as the BoHV-1 ICP0 early promoter lack consensus GREs: however, these promoters are cooperatively transactivated by GR and KLF4 or KLF15. Hence, growing evidence suggests GR and stress-induced transcription factors directly stimulate viral gene expression and productive infection during early stages of reactivation from latency. We predict the immune inhibitory effects of stress enhance virus spread at late stages during reactivation from latency.

Dewormer drug fenbendazole has antiviral effects on BoHV-1 productive infection in cell cultures

BACKGROUND

Fenbendazole, a dewormer drug, is used widely in the clinical treatment of parasite infections in animals. Recent studies have shown that fenbendazole has substantial effects on tumor growth, immune responses, and inflammatory responses, suggesting that fenbendazole is a pluripotent drug. Nevertheless, the antiviral effects have not been reported. Fenbendazole can disrupt microtubules, which are essential for multiple viruses infections, suggesting that fenbendazole might have antiviral effects.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined whether fenbendazole could inhibit bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) productive infection in cell cultures.

METHODS

The effects of fenbendazole on viral production, transcription of the immediate early (IE) genes, viron-associated protein expression, and the cellular signaling PLC-γ1/Akt pathway were assessed using distinct methods.

RESULTS

Fenbendazole could inhibit BoHV-1 productive infections significantly in MDBK cells in a dose-dependent manner. A time-of-addition assay indicated that fenbendazole affected both the early and late stages in the virus replication cycles. The transcription of IE genes, including BoHV-1 infected cell protein 0 (bICP0), bCP4, and bICP22, as well as the synthesis of viron-associated proteins, were disrupted differentially by the fenbendazole treatment. The treatment did not affect the cellular signaling pathway of PLC-γ1/Akt, a known cascade playing important roles in virus infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, fenbendazole has antiviral effects on BoHV-1 replication.

The Role of VP16 in the Life Cycle of Alphaherpesviruses

The protein encoded by the UL48 gene of alphaherpesviruses is named VP16 or alpha-gene-transactivating factor (α-TIF). In the early stage of viral replication, VP16 is an important transactivator that can activate the transcription of viral immediate-early genes, and in the late stage of viral replication, VP16, as a tegument, is involved in viral assembly. This review will explain the mechanism of VP16 acting as α-TIF to activate the transcription of viral immediate-early genes, its role in the transition from viral latency to reactivation, and its effects on viral assembly and maturation. In addition, this review also provides new insights for further research on the life cycle of alphaherpesviruses and the role of VP16 in the viral life cycle.

Progesterone increases the incidence of bovine herpesvirus 1 reactivation from latency and stimulates productive infection

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), including modified live vaccines, can cause abortions in pregnant cows. Progesterone maintains pregnancy and promotes spermiogenesis and testosterone biosynthesis in males: furthermore, progesterone is a neuro-steroid. Recent published studies demonstrated progesterone stimulated the BoHV-1 immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter, and two glucocorticoid receptor response elements within the promoter were required for progesterone mediated transactivation. In this study, we tested whether progesterone induces reactivation from latency in rabbits. As expected, the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone consistently induced reactivation from latency in males and females. While progesterone induced reactivation from latency in approximately one-half of male rabbits, virus shedding was sporadic compared to dexamethasone and less efficient in female rabbits. Progesterone significantly increased productive infection in rabbit skin cells, which correlated with stimulating reactivation. These studies suggest progesterone promotes BoHV-1 spread in cattle, in part, by increasing the frequency of reactivation from latency.

Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Productive Infection Led to Inactivation of Nrf2 Signaling through Diverse Approaches

Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) is a significant cofactor for bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC), the most important inflammatory disease in cattle. BoHV-1 infection in cell cultures induces overproduction of pathogenic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the depletion of nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master transcriptional factor regulating a panel of antioxidant and cellular defense genes in response to oxidative stress. In this study, we reported that the virus productive infection in MDBK cells at the later stage significantly decreased the expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) proteins, the canonical downstream targets regulated by Nrf2, inhibited Nrf2 acetylation, reduced the accumulation of Nrf2 proteins in the nucleus, and relocalized nuclear Nrf2 proteins to form dot-like staining patterns in confocal microscope assay. The differential expression of Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and DJ-1 proteins as well as the decreased association between KEAP1 and DJ-1 promoted Nrf2 degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. These data indicated that the BoHV-1 infection may significantly suppress the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Moreover, we found that there was an association between Nrf2 and LaminA/C, H3K9ac, and H3K18ac, and the binding ratios were altered following the virus infection. Taken together, for the first time, we provided evidence showing that BoHV-1 infection inhibited the Nrf2 signaling pathway by complicated mechanisms including promoting Nrf2 degradation, relocalization of nuclear Nrf2, and inhibition of Nrf2 acetylation.

Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Counteracts Immune Responses and Immune-Surveillance to Enhance Pathogenesis and Virus Transmission

Infection of cattle by bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) can culminate in upper respiratory tract disorders, conjunctivitis, or genital disorders. Infection also consistently leads to transient immune-suppression. BoHV-1 is the number one infectious agent in cattle that is associated with abortions in cattle. BoHV-1, as other α-herpesvirinae subfamily members, establishes latency in sensory neurons. Stressful stimuli, mimicked by the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone, consistently induce reactivation from latency in latently infected calves and rabbits. Increased corticosteroid levels due to stress have a two-pronged effect on reactivation from latency by: (1) directly stimulating viral gene expression and replication, and (2) impairing antiviral immune responses, thus enhancing virus spread and transmission. BoHV-1 encodes several proteins, bICP0, bICP27, gG, UL49.5, and VP8, which interfere with key antiviral innate immune responses in the absence of other viral genes. Furthermore, the ability of BoHV-1 to infect lymphocytes and induce apoptosis, in particular CD4+ T cells, has negative impacts on immune responses during acute infection. BoHV-1 induced immune-suppression can initiate the poly-microbial disorder known as bovine respiratory disease complex, which costs the US cattle industry more than one billion dollars annually. Furthermore, interfering with antiviral responses may promote viral spread to ovaries and the developing fetus, thus enhancing reproductive issues associated with BoHV-1 infection of cows or pregnant cows. The focus of this review is to describe the known mechanisms, direct and indirect, by which BoHV-1 interferes with antiviral immune responses during the course of infection.

Synergistic Activation of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Productive Infection and Viral Regulatory Promoters by the Progesterone Receptor and Krüppel-Like Transcription Factor 15

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), including modified live vaccines, readily infects the fetus and ovaries, which can lead to reproductive failure. The BoHV-1 latency reactivation cycle in sensory neurons may further complicate reproductive failure in pregnant cows. The immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter drives expression of important viral transcriptional regulators (bICP0 and bICP4). This promoter contains two functional glucocorticoid receptor (GR) response elements (GREs) that have the potential to stimulate productive infection following stressful stimuli. Since progesterone and the progesterone receptor (PR) can activate many GREs, we hypothesized that the PR and/or progesterone regulates productive infection and viral transcription. New studies demonstrated that progesterone stimulated productive infection. Additional studies revealed the PR and Krüppel-like transcription factor 15 (KLF15) cooperated to stimulate productive infection and IEtu1 promoter activity. IEtu1 promoter activation required both GREs, which correlated with the ability of the PR to interact with wild-type (wt) GREs but not mutant GREs. KLF15 also cooperated with the PR to transactivate the bICP0 early promoter, a promoter that maintains bICP0 protein expression during productive infection. Intergenic viral DNA fragments (less than 400 bp) containing two GREs and putative KLF binding sites present within genes encoding unique long 52 (UL-52; component of DNA primase/helicase complex), Circ, bICP4, and IEtu2 were stimulated by KLF15 and the PR more than 10-fold, suggesting that additional viral promoters are activated by these transcription factors. Collectively, these studies suggest progesterone and the PR promote BoHV-1 spread to reproductive tissues, thus increasing the incidence of reproductive failure.IMPORTANCE Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is the most frequently diagnosed cause of abortions in pregnant cows and can cause "abortion storms" in susceptible herds. Virulent field strains and even commercially available modified live vaccines can induce abortion, in part because BoHV-1 replicates efficiently in the ovary and corpus luteum. We now demonstrate that progesterone and the progesterone receptor (PR) stimulate productive infection. The BoHV-1 genome contains approximately 100 glucocorticoid receptor (GR) response elements (GREs). Interestingly, the PR can bind and activate many promoters that contain GREs. The PR and Krüppel-like transcription factor 15 (KLF15), which regulate key steps during embryo implantation, cooperate to stimulate productive infection and two viral promoters that drive expression of key viral transcriptional regulators. These studies suggest that the ability of progesterone and the PR to stimulate productive infection has the potential to promote virus spread in reproductive tissue and induce reproductive failure.

The bovine herpesvirus 1 regulatory proteins, bICP4 and bICP22, are expressed during the escape from latency

Following acute infection of mucosal surfaces by bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), sensory neurons are a primary site for lifelong latency. Stress, as mimicked by the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone, consistently induces reactivation from latency. Two viral regulatory proteins (VP16 and bICP0) are expressed within 1 h after calves latently infected with BoHV-1 are treated with dexamethasone. Since the immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter regulates both BoHV-1 infected cell protein 0 (bICP0) and bICP4 expressions, we hypothesized that the bICP4 protein is also expressed during early stages of reactivation from latency. In this study, we tested whether bICP4 and bICP22, the only other BoHV-1 protein known to be encoded by an immediate early gene, were expressed during reactivation from latency by generating peptide-specific antiserum to each protein. bICP4 and bICP22 protein expression were detected in trigeminal ganglionic (TG) neurons during early phases of dexamethasone-induced reactivation from latency, operationally defined as the escape from latency. Conversely, bICP4 and bICP22 were not readily detected in TG neurons of latently infected calves. In summary, it seems clear that all proteins encoded by known BoHV-1 IE genes (bICP4, bICP22, and bICP0) were expressed during early stages of dexamethasone-induced reactivation from latency.

The Involvement of Histone H3 Acetylation in Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Replication in MDBK Cells

During bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) productive infection in cell cultures, partial of intranuclear viral DNA is present in nucleosomes, and viral protein VP22 associates with histones and decreases histone H4 acetylation, indicating the involvement of histone H4 acetylation in virus replication. In this study, we demonstrated that BoHV-1 infection at the late stage (at 24 h after infection) dramatically decreased histone H3 acetylation [at residues K9 (H3K9ac) and K18 (H3K18ac)], which was supported by the pronounced depletion of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) including CBP/P300 (CREB binding protein and p300), GCN5L2 (general control of amino acid synthesis yeast homolog like 2) and PCAF (P300/CBP-associated factor). The depletion of GCN5L2 promoted by virus infection was partially mediated by ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Interestingly, the viral replication was enhanced by HAT (histone acetyltransferase) activator CTPB [N-(4-Chloro-3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-ethoxy-6-pentadecylbenzamide], and vice versa, inhibited by HAT inhibitor Anacardic acid (AA), suggesting that BoHV-1 may take advantage of histone acetylation for efficient replication. Taken together, we proposed that the HAT-dependent histone H3 acetylation plays an important role in BoHV-1 replication in MDBK (Madin-Darby bovine kidney) cells.

The Cellular Coactivator HCF-1 Is Required for Glucocorticoid Receptor-Mediated Transcription of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Immediate Early Genes

Following productive infection, bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) establishes latency in sensory neurons. As in other alphaherpesviruses, expression of BoHV-1 immediate early (IE) genes is regulated by an enhancer complex containing the viral IE activator VP16, the cellular transcription factor Oct-1, and transcriptional coactivator HCF-1, which is assembled on an IE enhancer core element (TAATGARAT). Expression of the IE transcription unit that encodes the viral IE activators bICP0 and bICP4 may also be induced by the activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) via two glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) located upstream of the enhancer core. Strikingly, lytic infection and reactivation from latency are consistently enhanced by glucocorticoid treatment in vivo As the coactivator HCF-1 is essential for IE gene expression of alphaherpesviruses and recruited by multiple transcription factors, we tested whether HCF-1 is required for glucocorticoid-induced IE gene expression. Depletion of HCF-1 reduced GR-mediated activation of the IE promoter in mouse neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2A). More importantly, HCF-1-mediated GR activation of the promoter was dependent on the presence of GRE sites but independent of the TAATGARAT enhancer core element. HCF-1 was also recruited to the GRE region of a promoter lacking the enhancer core, consistent with a direct role of the coactivator in mediating GR-induced transcription. Similarly, during productive lytic infection, HCF-1 and GR occupied the IE region containing the GREs. These studies indicate HCF-1 is critical for GR activation of the viral IE genes and suggests that glucocorticoid induction of viral reactivation proceeds via an HCF-1-GR mechanism in the absence of the viral IE activator VP16.IMPORTANCE BoHV-1 transcription is rapidly activated during stress-induced reactivation from latency. The immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter is regulated by the GR via two GREs. The IEtu1 promoter regulates expression of two viral transcriptional regulatory proteins, infected cell proteins 0 and 4 (bICP0 and bICP4), and thus must be stimulated during reactivation. This study demonstrates that activation of the IEtu1 promoter by the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone requires HCF-1. Interestingly, the GRE sites, but not the IE enhancer core element (TAATGARAT), were required for HCF-1-mediated GR promoter activation. The GR and HCF-1 were recruited to the IEtu1 promoter in transfected and infected cells. Collectively, these studies indicate that HCF-1 is critical for GR activation of the viral IE genes and suggest that an HCF-1-GR complex can stimulate the IEtu1 promoter in the absence of the viral IE activator VP16.

Three newly identified Immediate Early Genes of Bovine herpesvirus 1 lack the characteristic Octamer binding motif- 1

Only three immediate early genes (IE) BICP0, BICP4 and BICP22 of Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) are known. These genes are expressed coordinately and their promoters are well characterized. We provide evidence for expression of three additional IE genes of BoHV-1 i.e. UL21, UL33 and UL34. These genes are expressed in the presence of cycloheximide (CH) at the same time as known IE genes. Surprisingly, the promoters of newly identified IE genes (UL21, UL33, UL34) lack the OCT-1 binding site, a considered site of transactivation of the BoHV-1 IE genes. The other difference in the promoters of the newly identified IE genes is the presence of TATA box at near optimal site. However, all the IE genes have similar spatial placements of C/EBPα, DPE and INR elements.

Induction of Oxidative DNA Damage in Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Infected Bovine Kidney Cells (MDBK Cells) and Human Tumor Cells (A549 Cells and U2OS Cells)

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is an important pathogen of cattle that causes lesions in mucosal surfaces, genital tracts and nervous systems. As a novel oncolytic virus, BoHV-1 infects and kills numerous human tumor cells. However, the mechanisms underlying the virus-induced cell damages are not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that virus infection of MDBK cells induced high levels of DNA damage, because the percentage of comet tail DNA (tailDNA%) determined by comet assay, a direct indicator of DNA damage, and the levels of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-oxoG) production, an oxidative DNA damage marker, consistently increased following the virus infection. The expression of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG-1), an enzyme responsible for the excision of 8-oxoG, was significantly decreased due to the virus infection, which corroborated with the finding that BoHV-1 infection stimulated 8-oxoG production. Furthermore, the virus replication in human tumor cells such as in A549 cells and U2OS cells also induced DNA damage. Chemical inhibition of reactive oxidative species (ROS) production by either ROS scavenger N-Acetyl-l-cysteine or NOX inhibitor diphenylene iodonium (DPI) significantly decreased the levels of tailDNA%, suggesting the involvement of ROS in the virus induced DNA lesions. Collectively, these results indicated that BoHV-1 infection of these cells elicits oxidative DNA damages, providing a perspective in understanding the mechanisms by which the virus induces cell death in both native host cells and human tumor cells.

Combinatorial Effects of the Glucocorticoid Receptor and Krüppel-Like Transcription Factor 15 on Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Transcription and Productive Infection

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), an important bovine pathogen, establishes lifelong latency in sensory neurons. Latently infected calves consistently reactivate from latency following a single intravenous injection of the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone. The immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter, which drives bovine ICP0 (bICP0) and bICP4 expression, is stimulated by dexamethasone because it contains two glucocorticoid receptor (GR) response elements (GREs). Several Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLF), including KLF15, are induced during reactivation from latency, and they stimulate certain viral promoters and productive infection. In this study, we demonstrate that the GR and KLF15 were frequently expressed in the same trigeminal ganglion (TG) neuron during reactivation and cooperatively stimulated productive infection and IEtu1 GREs in mouse neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2A). We further hypothesized that additional regions in the BoHV-1 genome are transactivated by the GR or stress-induced transcription factors. To test this hypothesis, BoHV-1 DNA fragments (less than 400 bp) containing potential GR and KLF binding sites were identified and examined for transcriptional activation by stress-induced transcription factors. Intergenic regions within the unique long 52 gene (UL52; a component of the DNA primase/helicase complex), bICP4, IEtu2, and the unique short region were stimulated by KLF15 and the GR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies revealed that the GR and KLF15 interacted with sequences within IEtu1 GREs and the UL52 fragment. Coimmunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that KLF15 and the GR were associated with each other in transfected cells. Since the GR stimulates KLF15 expression, we suggest that these two transcription factors form a feed-forward loop that stimulates viral gene expression and productive infection following stressful stimuli.IMPORTANCE Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is an important viral pathogen that causes respiratory disease and suppresses immune responses in cattle; consequently, life-threatening bacterial pneumonia can occur. Following acute infection, BoHV-1 establishes lifelong latency in sensory neurons. Reactivation from latency is initiated by the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone. Dexamethasone stimulates lytic cycle viral gene expression in sensory neurons of calves latently infected with BoHV-1, culminating in virus shedding and transmission. Two stress-induced cellular transcription factors, Krüppel-like transcription factor 15 (KLF15) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), cooperate to stimulate productive infection and viral transcription. Additional studies demonstrated that KLF15 and the GR form a stable complex and that these stress-induced transcription factors bind to viral DNA sequences, which correlates with transcriptional activation. The ability of the GR and KLF15 to synergistically stimulate viral gene expression and productive infection may be critical for the ability of BoHV-1 to reactivate from latency following stressful stimuli.

Effects of the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone on bovine herpesvirus 1 productive infection

Sensory neurons are a primary site for life-long latency of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1). The synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone induces reactivation from latency and productive infection, in part because the BoHV-1 genome contains more than 100 glucocorticoid receptor (GR) responsive elements (GREs). Two GREs in the immediate early transcription unit 1 promoter are required for dexamethasone induction. Recent studies also demonstrated that the serum and glucocorticoid receptor protein kinase (SGK) family stimulated BoHV-1 replication. Consequently, we hypothesized that dexamethasone influences several aspects of productive infection. In this study, we demonstrated that dexamethasone increased expression of the immediate early protein bICP4, certain late transcripts, and UL23 (thymidine kinase) by four hours after infection. SGK1 expression and Akt phosphorylation were also stimulated during early stages of infection and dexamethasone treatment further increased this effect. These studies suggest that stress, as mimicked by dexamethasone treatment, has the potential to stimulate productive infection by multiple pathways.

The activation of p38MAPK and JNK pathways in bovine herpesvirus 1 infected MDBK cells

We have shown previously that BHV-1 infection activates Erk1/2 signaling. Here, we show that BHV-1 provoked an early-stage transient and late-stage sustained activation of JNK, p38MAPK and c-Jun signaling in MDBK cells. C-Jun phosphorylation was dependent on JNK. These early events were partially due to the viral entry process. Unexpectedly, reactive oxygen species were not involved in the later activation phase. Interestingly, only activated JNK facilitated the viral multiplication identified through both chemical inhibitor and siRNA. Collectively, this study provides insight into our understanding of early stages of BHV-1 infection.

The serum and glucocorticoid-regulated protein kinases (SGK) stimulate bovine herpesvirus 1 and herpes simplex virus 1 productive infection

Serum and glucocorticoid-regulated protein kinases (SGK) are serine/threonine protein kinases that contain a catalytic domain resembling other protein kinases: AKT/protein kinase B, protein kinase A, and protein kinase C-Zeta for example. Unlike these constitutively expressed protein kinases, SGK1 RNA and protein levels are increased by growth factors and corticosteroids. Stress can directly stimulate SGK1 levels as well as stimulate bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) productive infection and reactivation from latency suggesting SGK1 can stimulate productive infection. For the first time, we provide evidence that a specific SGK inhibitor (GSK650394) significantly reduced BoHV-1 and HSV-1 replication in cultured cells. Proteins encoded by the three BoHV-1 immediate early genes (bICP0, bICP4, and bICP22) and two late proteins (VP16 and gE) were consistently reduced by GSK650394 during early stages of productive infection. In summary, these studies suggest SGK may stimulate viral replication following stressful stimuli.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 productive infection and immediate early transcription unit 1 promoter are stimulated by the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone

The primary site for life-long latency of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is sensory neurons. The synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone consistently induces reactivation from latency; however the mechanism by which corticosteroids mediate reactivation is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that dexamethasone stimulates productive infection, in part, because the BHV-1 genome contains more than 100 potential glucocorticoid receptor (GR) response elements (GREs). Immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter activity, but not IEtu2 or VP16 promoter activity, was stimulated by dexamethasone. Two near perfect consensus GREs located within the IEtu1 promoter were necessary for dexamethasone-mediated stimulation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that the GR interacts with IEtu1 promoter sequences containing the GREs. Although we hypothesize that DEX-mediated stimulation of IEtu1 promoter activity is important during productive infection and perhaps reactivation from latency, stress likely has pleiotropic effects on virus-infected cells.

Cellular transcription factors induced in trigeminal ganglia during dexamethasone-induced reactivation from latency stimulate bovine herpesvirus 1 productive infection and certain viral promoters

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), an alphaherpesvirinae subfamily member, establishes latency in sensory neurons. Elevated corticosteroid levels, due to stress, reproducibly triggers reactivation from latency in the field. A single intravenous injection of the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone (DEX) to latently infected calves consistently induces reactivation from latency. Lytic cycle viral gene expression is detected in sensory neurons within 6 h after DEX treatment of latently infected calves. These observations suggested that DEX stimulated expression of cellular genes leads to lytic cycle viral gene expression and productive infection. In this study, a commercially available assay-Bovine Gene Chip-was used to compare cellular gene expression in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of calves latently infected with BHV-1 versus DEX-treated animals. Relative to TG prepared from latently infected calves, 11 cellular genes were induced more than 10-fold 3 h after DEX treatment. Pentraxin three, a regulator of innate immunity and neurodegeneration, was stimulated 35- to 63-fold after 3 or 6 h of DEX treatment. Two transcription factors, promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) and Slug were induced more than 15-fold 3 h after DEX treatment. PLZF or Slug stimulated productive infection 20- or 5-fold, respectively, and Slug stimulated the late glycoprotein C promoter more than 10-fold. Additional DEX-induced transcription factors also stimulated productive infection and certain viral promoters. These studies suggest that DEX-inducible cellular transcription factors and/or signaling pathways stimulate lytic cycle viral gene expression, which subsequently leads to successful reactivation from latency in a small subset of latently infected neurons.

Regulation of the latency-reactivation cycle by products encoded by the bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) latency-related gene

Like other α-herpesvirinae subfamily members, the primary site for bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) latency is ganglionic sensory neurons. Periodically BHV-1 reactivates from latency, virus is shed, and consequently virus transmission occurs. Transcription from the latency-related (LR) gene is readily detected in neurons of trigeminal ganglia (TG) of calves or rabbits latently infected with BHV-1. Two micro-RNAs and a transcript encompassing a small open reading frame (ORF-E) located within the LR promoter can also be detected in TG of latently infected calves. A BHV-1 mutant that contains stop codons near the beginning of the first open reading frame (ORF2) within the major LR transcript (LR mutant virus) has been characterized. The LR mutant virus does not express ORF2, a reading frame that lacks an initiating ATG (reading frame B), and has reduced expression of ORF1 during productive infection. The LR mutant virus does not reactivate from latency following dexamethasone treatment suggesting that LR protein expression regulates the latency-reactivation cycle. Higher levels of apoptosis occur in TG neurons of calves infected with the LR mutant viruses when compared to wild-type BHV-1 indicating that the anti-apoptotic properties of the LR gene is necessary for the latency-reactivation cycle. ORF2 inhibits apoptosis and regulates certain viral promoters, in part, because it interacts with three cellular transcription factors (C/EBP-alpha, Notch1, and Notch3). Although ORF2 is important for the latency-reactivation cycle, we predict that other LR gene products play a supportive role during life-long latency in cattle.

The UL4 protein of equine herpesvirus 1 is not essential for replication or pathogenesis and inhibits gene expression controlled by viral and heterologous promoters

Defective interfering particles (DIP) of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) inhibit standard virus replication and mediate persistent infection. The DIP genome is comprised of only three genes: UL3, UL4, and a hybrid gene composed of portions of the IR4 (EICP22) and UL5 (EICP27) genes. The hybrid gene is important for DIP interference, but the function(s) of the UL3 and UL4 genes are unknown. Here, we show that UL4 is an early gene activated solely by the immediate early protein. The UL4 protein (UL4P) was detected at 4hours post-infection, was localized throughout the nucleus and cytoplasm, and was not present in purified virions. EHV-1 lacking UL4P expression was infectious and displayed cell tropism and pathogenic properties in the mouse model similar to those of parental and revertant viruses. Reporter assays demonstrated that the UL4P has a broad inhibitory function, suggesting a potential role in establishing and/or maintaining DIP-mediated persistent infection.

A protein (ORF2) encoded by the latency-related gene of bovine herpesvirus 1 interacts with Notch1 and Notch3

Like other Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily members, bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) establishes latency in sensory neurons. The latency-related RNA (LR-RNA) is abundantly expressed in latently infected sensory neurons. An LR mutant virus with stop codons at the amino terminus of the first open reading frame (ORF) in the LR gene (ORF2) does not reactivate from latency, in part because it induces higher levels of apoptosis in infected neurons. ORF2 is not the only viral product expressed during latency, but it is important for the latency reactivation cycle because it inhibits apoptosis. In this study, a yeast 2-hybrid screen revealed that ORF2 interacted with two cellular transcription factors, Notch1 and Notch3. These interactions were confirmed in mouse neuroblastoma cells by confocal microscopy and in an in vitro "pulldown" assay. During reactivation from latency, Notch3 RNA levels in trigeminal ganglia were higher than those during latency, suggesting that Notch family members promote reactivation from latency or that reactivation promotes Notch expression. A plasmid expressing the Notch1 intercellular domain (ICD) stimulated productive infection and promoters that encode the viral transcription factor bICP0. The Notch3 ICD did not stimulate productive infection as efficiently as the Notch1 ICD and had no effect on bICP0 promoter activity. Plasmids expressing the Notch1 ICD or the Notch3 ICD trans-activated a late promoter encoding glycoprotein C. ORF2 reduced the trans-activation potential of Notch1 and Notch3, suggesting that ORF2 interfered with the trans-activation potential of Notch. These studies provide evidence that ORF2, in addition to inhibiting apoptosis, has the potential to promote establishment and maintenance of latency by sequestering cellular transcription factors.

Productive infection and bICP0 early promoter activity of bovine herpesvirus 1 are stimulated by E2F1

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is an important viral pathogen of cattle. Like other members of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, BoHV-1 establishes latency in sensory neurons and has the potential to reactivate from latency. Dexamethasone (DEX) treatment of latently infected calves or rabbits consistently leads to reactivation from latency. The BoHV-1 transcript encoding the infected cell protein 0 (bICP0) is consistently detected during reactivation from latency, in part because the bICP0 early promoter is activated by DEX. During DEX-induced reactivation from latency, cyclin expression is stimulated in infected sensory neurons. Cyclin-dependent kinase activity phosphorylates Rb (retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene product) family proteins and consequently releases the E2F family of transcription factors, suggesting that E2F family members stimulate productive infection and/or reactivation from latency. In this study, we provide evidence that repression of E2F1 by a specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced productive infection approximately 5-fold. E2F1 or E2F2 stimulated bICP0 early promoter activity at least 100-fold in transient transfection assays. Two E2F-responsive regions (ERR) were identified within the early promoter, with one adjacent to the TATA box (ERR1) and one approximately 600 bp upstream from the TATA box (ERR2). Mobility shift assays suggested that E2F interacts with ERR1 and ERR2. E2F1 protein levels were increased at late times after infection, which correlated with enhanced binding to a consensus E2F binding site, ERR1, or ERR2. Collectively, these studies suggest that E2F1 stimulates productive infection and bICP0 early promoter activity, in part because E2F family members interact with ERR1 and ERR2.

The cellular transcription factor, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBP-alpha), has the potential to activate the bovine herpesvirus 1 immediate-early transcription unit 1 promoter

Following acute infection, bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) establishes a lifelong latent infection in sensory neurons of trigeminal ganglia. BHV-1 periodically reactivates from latency and is shed as infectious virus. The latency-related (LR) gene is abundantly expressed in trigeminal ganglia of infected calves, and proteins encoded by the LR gene are necessary for reactivation from latency. We previously demonstrated that a novel LR protein interacts with a host transcription factor, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha). C/EBPalpha increases plaque-forming efficiency when cotransfected with BHV-1 DNA and its expression is induced in neurons during reactivation from latency (Meyer et al, 2007, J Virol 81: 59-67). The ability of C/EBPalpha to bind DNA is necessary for stimulating productive infection, suggesting C/EBPalpha stimulates viral transcription. We tested whether C/EBPalpha could trans-activate the BHV-1 immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter because the IEtu1 promoter activates expression of two viral genes (bICP0 and bICP4) that stimulate producitve infection. In the current study, We demonstrate that C/EBPalpha and the BHV-1 trans-inducing factor (bTIF) synergistically trans-activate IEtu1 promoter activity. However, bICP0 and C/EBPalpha did not synergistically trans-activate IEtu1 promoter activity. Deletion of IEtu1 promoter sequences demonstrated that C/EBPalpha by itself could trans-activate a truncated IEtu1 promoter, suggesting sequences in the distal region of the IEtu1 promoter negatively regulate C/EBPalpha activtiy. These studies suggest that C/EBPalpha stimulates productive infection and reactivation from latency, in part, by cooperating with bTIF to activate IEtu1 promoter activity.

Dexamethasone treatment of calves latently infected with bovine herpesvirus 1 leads to activation of the bICP0 early promoter, in part by the cellular transcription factor C/EBP-alpha

Sensory neurons within trigeminal ganglia (TG) are the primary site for bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) latency. During latency, viral gene expression is restricted to the latency-related (LR) gene and the open reading frame ORF-E. We previously constructed an LR mutant virus that expresses LR RNA but not any of the known LR proteins. In contrast to calves latently infected with wild-type (wt) BHV-1 or the LR rescued virus, the LR mutant virus does not reactivate from latency following dexamethasone (DEX) treatment. In this study, we demonstrated that bICP0, but not bICP4, transcripts were consistently detected in TG of calves infected with the LR mutant or LR rescued virus following DEX treatment. Calves latently infected with the LR rescued virus but not the LR mutant virus expressed late transcripts, which correlated with shedding of infectious virus following DEX treatment. The bICP4 and bICP0 genes share a common immediate-early promoter, suggesting that this promoter was not consistently activated during DEX-induced reactivation from latency. The bICP0 gene also contains a novel early promoter that was activated by DEX in mouse neuroblastoma cells. Expression of a cellular transcription factor, C/EBP-alpha, was stimulated by DEX, and C/EBP-alpha expression was necessary for DEX induction of bICP0 early promoter activity. C/EBP-alpha directly interacted with bICP0 early promoter sequences that were necessary for trans activation by C/EBP-alpha. In summary, DEX treatment of latently infected calves induced cellular factors that stimulated bICP0 early promoter activity. Activation of bICP0 early promoter activity does not necessarily lead to late gene expression and virus shedding.

Relevance of the interaction between alphaherpesvirus UL3.5 and UL48 proteins for virion maturation and neuroinvasion

The UL3.5 and UL48 genes, which are conserved in most alphaherpesvirus genomes, are important for maturation of pseudorabies virus (PrV) particles in the cytoplasm of infected cells (W. Fuchs, B. G. Klupp, H. J. Rziha, and T. C. Mettenleiter, J. Virol. 70:3517-3527, 1996; W. Fuchs, H. Granzow, B. G. Klupp, M. Kopp and T. C. Mettenleiter, J. Virol. 76:6729-6742, 2002). In bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), the homologous gene products pUL3.5 and pUL48 have been demonstrated to interact physically (N. Lam and G. Letchworth, J. Virol. 74:2876-2884, 2000). Moreover, BoHV-1 pUL3.5 partially complemented a pUL3.5 defect in PrV (W. Fuchs, H. Granzow, and T. C. Mettenleiter, J. Virol. 71:8886-8892, 1997). By using coimmunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid studies, we observed a similar interaction between pUL3.5 and pUL48 of PrV, as well as a heterologous interaction between the PrV and BoHV-1 gene products. The relevant domain could be confined to the first 43 amino acids of PrV pUL3.5. Unlike its BoHV-1 homologue, PrV pUL3.5 is processed by proteolytic cleavage, and only an abundant 14-kDa fragment consisting of amino acids 1 to >or=116 could be detected by peptide mass fingerprint analysis of purified wild-type PrV particles, which also contain the pUL48 tegument component. To determine the biological relevance of the protein-protein interaction, pUL3.5-, pUL48-, and double-negative PrV mutants were analyzed in parallel. All deletion mutants were replication competent but exhibited significantly reduced plaque sizes and virus titers in cultured rabbit kidney cells compared to wild-type and rescued viruses, which correlated with a delayed neuroinvasion in intranasally infected mice. Remarkably, the defects of the double-negative mutant were similar to those of pUL48-negative virus. Electron microscopy of cells infected with either deletion mutant revealed the retention of naked nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm and the absence of mature virus particles. In summary, our studies for the first time demonstrate the relevance of the pUL3.5-pUL48 interaction for secondary envelopment of an alphaherpesvirus, give a molecular basis for the observed trans-complementation between the PrV and BHV-1 pUL3.5 homologs, yield conclusive evidence for the incorporation of a proteolytically processed pUL3.5 into PrV virions, and demonstrate the importance of both proteins for neuroinvasion and neurovirulence of PrV.

Identification of transcripts and protein products of the UL31, UL37, UL46, UL47, UL48, UL49 and US4 gene homologues of avian infectious laryngotracheitis virus

In the present study, the transcription and protein expression of seven genes of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) were investigated: UL31 and UL37 possess homologues in all known avian and mammalian herpesviruses, whereas UL46–UL49 and US4 are only conserved in most alphaherpesviruses. A peculiarity of the ILTV genome is the translocation of UL47 from the unique long region to a position upstream of US4 within the unique short region. Northern blot analyses revealed that all of the analysed genes were transcribed most abundantly during the late (γ) phase of replication, but the only true late (γ2) gene was UL47. Using monospecific rabbit antisera, the protein products of all of the genes could be detected and localized in ILTV-infected cells. Considerable amounts of the UL31, UL47 and UL48 gene products were found in the cell nuclei, whereas the other proteins were restricted largely to the cytoplasm. Like the respective tegument proteins of other herpesviruses, the UL37 and UL46–UL49 gene products of ILTV were incorporated into virus particles, whereas the UL31 protein and the glycoprotein encoded by US4 (gG) were not detectable in purified virions. It was also demonstrated that the UL48 protein of ILTV is able to activate an alphaherpesvirus immediate-early gene promoter, which is also a typical feature of other UL48 homologues. Taken together, these results indicate that the functions of all of the investigated ILTV proteins are related to those of their homologues in other alphaherpesviruses.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 infection and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), classified as an alphaherpesvirus, is a major pathogen of cattle. Primary infection is accompanied by various clinical manifestations such as infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, abortion, infectious pustular vulvovaginitis, and systemic infection in neonates. When animals survive, a life-long latent infection is established in nervous sensory ganglia. Several reactivation stimuli can lead to viral re-excretion, which is responsible for the maintenance of BoHV-1 within a cattle herd. This paper focuses on an updated pathogenesis based on a molecular characterization of BoHV-1 and the description of the virus cycle. Special emphasis is accorded to the impact of the latency and reactivation cycle on the epidemiology and the control of BoHV-1. Several European countries have initiated BoHV-1 eradication schemes because of the significant losses incurred by disease and trading restrictions. The vaccines used against BoHV-1 are described in this context where the differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals is of critical importance to achieve BoHV-1 eradication.

Sequence and function of canine herpesvirus alpha-transinducing factor and its interaction with an immediate early promoter

The sequence of the alpha-transinducing factor (alpha-TIF) of canine herpesvirus (CHV-l) was determined. Alignment of the predicted CHV-1 alpha-TIF amino acid sequence with other alpha-TIF homologues reveals a core region of similarity with divergent amino and carboxyl termini. Analysis of the CHV-1 infected cell protein 4 promoter region identified a region containing nine copies of a 52 bp repeat that showed significant up-regulation of transcription by alpha-TIF. This region contained an imperfect 'TAATGARAT' motif, the binding site for herpes simplex virus 1 alpha-TIF, with an imperfect Oct-1 binding site immediately following. The infectious laryngotracheitis virus alpha-TIF was also shown to up-regulate transcription through this region of the promoter. Transfection of CHV-1 genomic DNA failed to yield infectious virus in canine kidney cell lines. Co-transfection of genomic DNA and an alpha-TIF expression plasmid resulted in virus plaques, indicating a potential essential role for alpha-TIF in CHV-1 infection.

The alpha-TIF (VP16) homologue (ETIF) of equine herpesvirus 1 is essential for secondary envelopment and virus egress

The equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) alpha-trans-inducing factor homologue (ETIF; VP16-E) is a 60-kDa virion component encoded by gene 12 (ORF12) that transactivates the immediate-early gene promoter. Here we report on the function of EHV-1 ETIF in the context of viral infection. An ETIF-null mutant from EHV-1 strain RacL11 (vL11deltaETIF) was constructed and analyzed. After transfection of vL11deltaETIF DNA into RK13 cells, no infectious virus could be reconstituted, and only single infected cells or small foci containing up to eight infected cells were detected. In contrast, after transfection of vL11deltaETIF DNA into a complementing cell line, infectious virus could be recovered, indicating the requirement of ETIF for productive virus infection. The growth defect of vL11deltaETIF could largely be restored by propagation on the complementing cell line, and growth on the complementing cell line resulted in incorporation of ETIF in mature and secreted virions. Low- and high-multiplicity infections of RK13 cells with phenotypically complemented vL11deltaETIF virus resulted in titers of virus progeny similar to those used for infection, suggesting that input ETIF from infection was recycled. Ultrastructural studies of vL11deltaETIF-infected cells demonstrated a marked defect in secondary envelopment at cytoplasmic membranes, resulting in very few enveloped virions in transport vesicles or extracellular space. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ETIF has an essential function in the replication cycle of EHV-1, and its main role appears to be in secondary envelopment.

Molecular biology of pseudorabies virus: impact on neurovirology and veterinary medicine

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a herpesvirus of swine, a member of the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily, and the etiological agent of Aujeszky's disease. This review describes the contributions of PRV research to herpesvirus biology, neurobiology, and viral pathogenesis by focusing on (i) the molecular biology of PRV, (ii) model systems to study PRV pathogenesis and neurovirulence, (iii) PRV transsynaptic tracing of neuronal circuits, and (iv) veterinary aspects of pseudorabies disease. The structure of the enveloped infectious particle, the content of the viral DNA genome, and a step-by-step overview of the viral replication cycle are presented. PRV infection is initiated by binding to cellular receptors to allow penetration into the cell. After reaching the nucleus, the viral genome directs a regulated gene expression cascade that culminates with viral DNA replication and production of new virion constituents. Finally, progeny virions self-assemble and exit the host cells. Animal models and neuronal culture systems developed for the study of PRV pathogenesis and neurovirulence are discussed. PRV serves asa self-perpetuating transsynaptic tracer of neuronal circuitry, and we detail the original studies of PRV circuitry mapping, the biology underlying this application, and the development of the next generation of tracer viruses. The basic veterinary aspects of pseudorabies management and disease in swine are discussed. PRV infection progresses from acute infection of the respiratory epithelium to latent infection in the peripheral nervous system. Sporadic reactivation from latency can transmit PRV to new hosts. The successful management of PRV disease has relied on vaccination, prevention, and testing.

Identification of functional domains within the bICP0 protein encoded by bovine herpesvirus 1

It is believed that the bICP0 protein encoded by bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) stimulates productive infection by activating viral gene expression. Like the other ICP0-like proteins encoded byalphaherpesvirinaesubfamily members, bICP0 contains a zinc RING finger near its amino terminus. The zinc RING finger of bICP0 activates viral transcription, stimulates productive infection, and is toxic to certain cell types. Apart from the zinc RING finger, bICP0 possesses little similarity to the herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP0 protein making it difficult to predict what regions of bICP0 are important. To begin to identify bICP0 functional domains that are not part of the zinc RING finger, a panel of transposon insertion mutants that span bICP0 was developed. A large domain spanning aa 78–256, and a separate domain that is at or near aa 457 was necessary for efficient transactivation of a simple promoter. Transposon insertion at aa 91 impaired bICP0 protein stability in transfected cells. Insertion of transposons into the acidic domain of bICP0 had little or no effect on transactivation of a simple promoter or protein expression suggesting this region does not play a major role in activating gene expression. Sequences near the C terminus (aa 607–676) contain a functional nuclear localization signal. Collectively, these studies indicated that bICP0 contains several important functional domains: (i) the zinc RING finger, (ii) two separate domains that activate transcription, and (iii) a C-terminal nuclear localization signal that is also necessary for efficient transactivation.

A pseudorabies virus recombinant simultaneously lacking the major tegument proteins encoded by the UL46, UL47, UL48, and UL49 genes is viable in cultured cells

The UL46, UL47, UL48, and UL49 genes, which encode major tegument proteins, are conserved in most alphaherpesvirus genomes. However, the relative importance of each of these proteins for replication of individual alphaherpesviruses appears to be different. Recently, we demonstrated that single deletions of UL47 or UL48 impair maturation and egress of pseudorabies virus (PrV) particles to different extents, whereas deletions of UL46 or UL49 have no significant effects on virus replication in cell culture (W. Fuchs, H. Granzow, B. G. Klupp, M. Kopp, and T. C. Mettenleiter, J. Virol. 76:6729-6742, 2002; M. Kopp, B. G. Klupp, H. Granzow, W. Fuchs, and T. C. Mettenleiter, J. Virol. 76:8820-8833, 2002). To test for possible functional redundancy between the four tegument proteins, a quadruple gene deletion mutant (PrV-DeltaUL46-49) was generated and characterized in vitro. Although plaque formation by this mutant was almost abolished and maximum titers were reduced more than 100-fold compared to those of parental wild-type virus, PrV-DeltaUL46-49 could be propagated and serially passaged in noncomplementing porcine and rabbit kidney cells. Electron-microscopic studies revealed that nucleocapsid formation and egress of PrV-DeltaUL46-49 from the host cell nucleus were not affected, but secondary envelopment of nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm was only rarely observed. The replication defect of PrV-DeltaUL46-49 could be fully corrected by reinsertion of the UL46-to-UL49 gene cluster. Plaque sizes and virus titers were only slightly increased after restoration of only UL47 expression, whereas repair of only UL48 resulted in a significant increase in replication capacity to the level of a UL47 deletion mutant. In conclusion, we show that none of the UL46 to UL49 tegument proteins is absolutely required for productive replication of PrV. Moreover, our data indicate that the UL47 and UL48 proteins function independently during cell-to-cell spread and virus egress.

Implication of the product of the bovine herpesvirus type 1 UL25 gene in capsid assembly

The UL25 ORF of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) was demonstrated recently to represent a gene encoding a 63 kDa viral protein. To investigate the role of this gene in virus replication, a BHV-1 UL25 deletion mutant was constructed. Although the UL25 mutant synthesizes late viral proteins and viral DNA, it fails to produce virus progeny in cells that do not express the UL25 gene, demonstrating that the UL25 protein is essential for the replicative cycle of BHV-1. Moreover, Southern blotting analyses of HindIII-digested DNA from infected non-complementing cells probed with the leftward terminal fragment of the BHV-1 linear genome revealed that the cleavage of the viral DNA produced is not impaired. However, the packaging of this cleaved DNA is compromised severely, since only few full C capsids were observed in infected non-complementing cells by transmission electron microscopy.

Stimulation of bovine herpesvirus-1 productive infection by the adenovirus E1A gene and a cell cycle regulatory gene, E2F-4

Identifying cellular genes that promote bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) productive infection is important, as BHV-1 is a significant bovine pathogen. Previous studies demonstrated that BHV-1 DNA is not very infectious unless cotransfected with a plasmid expressing bICP0, a viral protein that stimulates expression of all classes of viral promoters. Based on these and other studies, we hypothesize that the ability of bICP0 to interact with and modify the function of cellular proteins stimulates virus transcription. If this prediction is correct, cellular proteins that activate virus transcription could, in part, substitute for bICP0 functions. The adenovirus E1A gene and bICP0 encode proteins that are potent activators of viral gene expression, they do not specifically bind DNA and both proteins interact with chromatin-remodelling enzymes. Because of these functional similarities, E1A was tested initially to see if it could stimulate BHV-1 productive infection. E1A consistently stimulates BHV-1 productive infection, but not as efficiently as bICP0. The ability of E1A to bind Rb family members plays a role in stimulating productive infection, suggesting that E2F family members activate productive infection. E2F-4, but not E2F-1, E2F-2 or E2F-5, activates productive infection with similar efficiency as E1A. Next, E2F family members were examined for their ability to activate the BHV-1 immediate-early (IE) transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter, as it regulates IE expression of bICP0 and bICP4. E2F-1 and E2F-2 strongly activate the IEtu1 promoter, but not a BHV-1 IEtu2 promoter or a herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP0 promoter construct. These studies suggest that E2F family members can stimulate BHV-1 productive infection.

The UL48 tegument protein of pseudorabies virus is critical for intracytoplasmic assembly of infectious virions

The pseudorabies virus (PrV) homolog of the tegument protein encoded by the UL48 gene of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was identified by using a monospecific rabbit antiserum against a bacterial fusion protein. UL48-related polypeptides of 53, 55, and 57 kDa were detected in Western blots of infected cells and purified virions. Immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that the PrV UL48 protein is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm but is also found in the nuclei of infected cells. Moreover, it is a constituent of extracellular virus particles but is absent from primary enveloped perinuclear virions. In noncomplementing cells, a UL48-negative PrV mutant (PrV-DeltaUL48) exhibited delayed growth and significantly reduced plaque sizes and virus titers, deficiencies which were corrected in UL48-expressing cells. RNA analyses indicated that, like its HSV-1 homolog, the PrV UL48 protein is involved in regulation of immediate-early gene expression. However, the most salient effect of the UL48 gene deletion was a severe defect in virion morphogenesis. Late after infection, electron microscopy of cells infected with PrV-DeltaUL48 revealed retention of newly formed nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm, whereas enveloped intracytoplasmic or extracellular complete virions were only rarely observed. In contrast, capsidless particles were produced and released in great amounts. Remarkably, the intracytoplasmic capsids were labeled with antibodies against the UL36 and UL37 tegument proteins, whereas the capsidless particles were labeled with antisera directed against the UL46, UL47, and UL49 tegument proteins. These findings suggested that the UL48 protein is involved in linking capsid and future envelope-associated tegument proteins during virion formation. Thus, like its HSV-1 homolog, the UL48 protein of PrV functions in at least two different steps of the viral life cycle. The drastic inhibition of virion formation in the absence of the PrV UL48 protein indicates that it plays an important role in virion morphogenesis prior to secondary envelopment of intracytoplasmic nucleocapsids. However, the UL48 gene of PrV is not absolutely essential, and concomitant deletion of the adjacent tegument protein gene UL49 also did not abolish virus replication in cell culture.

Transcriptional and translational expression kinetics of the bovine herpesvirus 1 UL51 homologue gene

We characterized the expression kinetics of the transcript and protein generated from the bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) homologue of the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) UL51 gene. The BHV1 UL51 ORF, located at positions 7236-->7967 of the viral genome, generated a major 1.05 kb transcript accumulating at very low abundance as soon as 3 h post-infection (p.i.), after which its levels increased to reach a plateau from 6 to 12 h p.i., and then slowly decreased up to 24 h p.i. As determined by S1 nuclease protection assays, UL51 transcription initiated at two distinct sites located at 191 and 196 bases upstream from the initiation codon, corresponding to positions 7045 and 7040 of the viral genome, respectively. Western blotting of BHV1-infected protein cell lysates, using a BHV1-specific antiserum generated against a recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli, detected a 28 kDa protein of the expected size (24985 Da) whose expression kinetics followed that of its transcript. As evidenced by in situ immunofluorescence assays, the protein mainly localized to the cytoplasm and the perinuclear region of infected cells. In contrast to HSV1 UL51 which is classified as a gamma2 gene, BHV1 UL51 belongs to viral genes of the gamma1 class as expression of its transcript is partially dependent on viral DNA synthesis.

Sequence analysis of the alpha trans-inducing factor of bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BHV-5)

Bovine herpesvirus (BHV), a member of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, is classified into neurovirulent and non-neurovirulent subtypes on a basis of differential neuropathogenicities. Transcription of viral immediate early (IE) genes during alphaherpesvirus gene expression, is mediated by a multi-component immediate early complex (IEC) integrated by the viral tegument protein alpha trans-inducing factor (alpha-tif), a host cell protein (HCF), and a host Octamer protein (Oct). In this paper, we present a sequence analysis of the alpha-tif of the encephalitic BHV subtype, bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BHV-5). Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) and BHV-5 alpha-tifs share 98% amino acid sequence homology. However, BHV-5 alpha-tif is 23 residues shorter at the amino terminus than BHV-1 alpha-tif. Amino acid alignment of the alpha-tifs of BHV-1 and BHV-5 with other alphaherpesviruses indicates areas of conserved motifs but also important differences located mainly at the amino and carboxyl termini.

Expression kinetics of the transcript and product of the UL28 homologue of bovine herpesvirus 1

We report that the bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) UL28 ORF, a homologue of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) UL28 gene, represents a functional gene encoding a viral specific protein. The BHV1 UL28 ORF, located at positions 53058-->55538 of the viral genome, encodes a viral specific transcript of 3.4 kb detected at 6 h post-infection (p.i.) after which its levels accumulated up to 12 h p.i. and then remained constant up to 24 h p.i. Transcription of the BHV1 UL28 was determined to initiate 95 bases upstream from the ORF's initiating codon, which corresponds to 33 nucleotides downstream from a putative TATA box. A BHV1 UL28 specific antiserum, generated against a T7-Tag/UL28 fusion protein expressed in E. coli, specifically reacted with a 100 kDa protein in Western blots of BHV1-infected protein cell lysates. The expression kinetics of the protein was delayed by 6 h relative to that of its transcript suggesting that the gene is regulated at the translational level. In contrast to the HSV and pseudorabies virus UL28 genes, which belong to viral genes of the early (beta) class, that of BHV1 was unambiguously classified as a gamma2 gene. Further studies will be required to determine whether these kinetic differences have any functional implications.

Molecular characterizations of the equine herpesvirus 1 ETIF promoter region and translation initiation site

The equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) homolog of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) tegument phosphoprotein, alphaTIF (Vmw65; VP16), was identified previously as the product of open reading frame 12 (ORF12), was shown to trans-activate immediate-early (IE) gene promoters, and was described as a 60-kDa virion component designated ETIF. However, the ETIF promoter region and transcription initiation site were not identified. The poly(A) signal of the gene 11 (UL49 homolog) lies just upstream of the first ETIF translation initiation codon, indicating that the first ATG may not be used for initiating ETIF translation. Another in-frame translation initiation codon (ATG2) is located 88 bp downstream of the first ETIF initiation codon (ATG1). Western blot analysis showed that the expressed ETIF protein migrated in SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 56 kDa, the same molecular weight identified in SDS-PAGE analysis of the KyD EHV-1 virion preparations. The ETIF expression vector pCETIF, which contains ATG2, trans-activated the IE promoter more efficiently than the pC12 containing both ATG1 and ATG2. S1 nuclease analyses mapped the 5' initiation site of the 1.4-kb transcript approximately 17 to 21 nt downstream of the ATG1. The nucleotide sequence upstream of the ATG1 did not have any promoter activity, while the nucleotide sequence upstream of the ATG2 had promoter activity. In transient transfection assays, the pETIFM2 vector, which was mutated in the ATG2, did not trans-activate the IE promoter; however, the pETIFM1 vector, which was mutated in the ATG1, trans-activated the IE promoter. These results demonstrated that the ATG2 of the ETIF ORF is the ETIF translation initiation codon. ETIF trans-activated only the IE promoter, not early (EICP0, EICP22, EICP27, and thymidine kinase) or late (IR5) promoters, confirming that EICP0, EICP22, and EICP27 are early genes.

A genetic immunization adjuvant system based on BVP22-antigen fusion

DNA vaccines must induce a greater immune response to be effective in the biomedical industry. Therefore, we tested the trafficking trait of the bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) protein VP22 (BVP22) fused to an antigen and applied this unique trait to genetic immunization. DNA immunization with BVP22-antigen stimulates immune responses superior to that of standard DNA immunization. Mice were injected intramuscularly with gene constructs expressing the antigen yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), YFP fused to BVP22, or YFP fused to BHV-1 tegument protein VP16 (BVP16). The results revealed a significantly enhanced YFP antibody response with BVP22-YFP DNA immunization compared with either YFP or BVP16-YFP gene immunization. Notably, the BVP22-YFP DNA construct induced a stronger T helper 1 (Th1) response, based on IFN-gamma and IL-4 cytokine levels, and IgG2a/IgG1 ratios. Furthermore, BVP22-YFP genetic immunization induced a greater cytotoxic T lymphocyte response. The genetic adjuvant properties of BVP22 can make DNA vaccines much more effective clinically.

Differences in determinants required for complex formation and transactivation in related VP16 proteins

VP16-H is an essential structural protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and is also a potent activator of virus immediate-early (IE) gene expression. Current models of functional determinants within VP16-H indicate that it consists of two domains, an N-terminal domain involved in recruiting VP16-H to a multicomponent DNA binding complex with two host proteins, Oct-1 and host cell factor (HCF), and an acidic C-terminal domain exclusively involved in transactivation. VP16-E, from equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), exhibits strong conservation with the N-terminal domain of VP16-H but, with the exception of a short segment at the extreme C terminus, lacks almost the entire acidic C-terminal domain. Studies of key activation determinants within the C terminus of VP16-H would predict that VP16-E may activate poorly, if at all. However, VP16-E is a potent activator of both EHV-1 and HSV-1 IE gene transcription. We show that VP16-E does not follow the simple two-domain model of VP16-H. Thus, despite the conservation in the N-terminal domains, this region in VP16-E is not sufficient for assembly into the DNA binding complex with Oct-1 and HCF. The short conserved determinant close to the C terminus is completely dispensable in VP16-H but is absolutely required in VP16-E. In activation studies, the potency of intact VP16-E was not recapitulated in chimeric proteins in which it was fused with a GAL4 DNA binding domain. Furthermore, a chimeric protein consisting of the C-terminal region of VP16-E fused to the N-terminal domain of VP16-H, while able to promote complex formation, nevertheless exhibited very weak activation. These results indicate that the mode of recruitment of the activation domain, i.e., through complex formation with Oct-1 and HCF, may be crucial for activation and that key determinants required for activation in VP16-E, and possibly VP16-H, may involve interactions between regions of the C terminus and the N terminus rather than discrete domains with independent functions.

Zhangfei: a second cellular protein interacts with herpes simplex virus accessory factor HCF in a manner similar to Luman and VP16

Host cell factor (HCF, C1, VCAF or CFF) is a cellular protein that is required for transcription activation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) immediate-early (IE) genes by the virion protein VP16. The biological function of HCF remains unclear. Recently we identified a cellular transcription activator, Luman. As with VP16, the transactivation function of Luman is also regulated by HCF. Here we report a second human protein, Zhangfei (ZF) that interacts with HCF in a fashion similar to Luman and VP16. Although ZF shares no significant sequence homology with Luman, the two proteins have some structural similarities. These include: a basic domain-leucine zipper (bZIP) region, an acidic activation domain and a consensus HCF-binding motif. Unlike Luman, or most other bZIP proteins, ZF by itself did not appear to bind consensus bZIP-binding sites. It was also unable to activate promoters containing these response elements. Although in transient expression assays ectopically expressed ZF was unable to block transactivation by VP16 of a HSV IE promoter, ZF could prevent the expression of several HSV proteins in cells infected with the virus. The ability of ZF to block the synthesis of the HSV IE protein ICP0 relied on its binding to HCF, since a mutant of ZF that was unable to bind HCF was also unable to prevent viral IE protein expression.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 U(L)3.5 interacts with bovine herpesvirus 1 alpha-transinducing factor

The bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) U(L)3.5 gene encodes a 126-amino-acid tegument protein. Homologs of U(L)3.5 are present in some alphaherpesviruses and have 20 to 30% overall amino acid homology that is concentrated in the N-terminal 50 amino acids. Mutant pseudorabies virus lacking U(L)3.5 is deficient in viral egress but can be complemented by BHV-1 U(L)3.5 (W. Fuchs, H. Granzow, and T. C. Mettenleiter, J. Virol. 71:8886-8892, 1997). The function of BHV-1 U(L)3.5 in BHV-1 replication is not known. To get a better understanding of its function, we sought to identify the proteins that interact with the BHV-1 U(L)3.5 protein. By using an in vitro pull-down assay and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry analysis, we identified BHV-1 alpha-transinducing factor (alphaBTIF) as a BHV-1 U(L)3. 5-interacting protein. The interaction was verified by coimmunoprecipitation from virus-infected cells using an antibody to either protein, by indirect immunofluorescence colocalization in both virus-infected and transfected cells, and by the binding of in vitro-translated proteins. In virus-infected cells, U(L)3.5 and alphaBTIF colocalized in a Golgi-like subcellular compartment late in infection. In transfected cells, they colocalized in the nucleus. Deletion of 20 amino acids from the N terminus of U(L)3.5, but not 40 amino acids from the C terminus, abolished the U(L)3.5-alphaBTIF interaction both in vitro and in vivo. The interaction between U(L)3. 5 and alphaBTIF may be important for BHV-1 maturation and regulation of alphaBTIF transactivation activity.

Potential role for luman, the cellular homologue of herpes simplex virus VP16 (alpha gene trans-inducing factor), in herpesvirus latency

The cascade of herpes simplex virus (HSV) gene expression that results in viral replication begins with the activation of viral immediate-early (IE) genes by the virion-associated protein VP16. VP16 on its own is inefficient at associating with complexes formed on IE gene promoters and depends upon the cellular factor HCF for its activity. In this respect VP16 mimics the host basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein Luman, which also requires HCF for activating transcription. Our objective is to explore interactions between Luman and HCF and to determine if they play a role in the biology of herpesviruses. In this report we show that in cultured cells ectopically expressed Luman was retained in the cytoplasm, where it colocalized with Calnexin, a protein normally associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Retention of Luman in the ER depends on a hydrophobic segment of the protein that probably serves as a transmembrane domain. Deletion of this domain changed the intracellular location of Luman so that most of the mutant protein was in the nucleus of cells. While HCF was present in the nucleus of most cells, in cells expressing Luman it was retained in the cytoplasm where the two proteins colocalized. This cytoplasmic association of Luman and HCF could also be demonstrated in neurons in trigeminal ganglia removed from cattle soon after death. Cells in tissue culture that expressed Luman, but not a mutant form of the protein that fails to bind HCF, were resistant to a productive infection with HSV type 1 (HSV-1). We hypothesize that similar Luman-HCF interactions in sensory neurons in trigeminal ganglia result in the suppression of viral replication and the establishment of latency. Interestingly, Luman could activate the promoters of IE110 and LAT, two genes that are critical for reactivation of HSV-1 from latency. This suggests a role for Luman in the reactivation process as well.