SUMMARY RIG-I and MDA5 have emerged as key cytosolic sensors for the detection of RNA viruses, leading to antiviral interferon (IFN) production. Recent studies highlighted the importance of posttranslational modification for controlling RIG-I antiviral activity. However, the regulation of MDA5 signal-transducing ability remains unclear. Here we show that MDA5 signaling activity is regulated by a dynamic balance between phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of its CARD domains. Employing a phosphatome RNAi screen, we identified PP1α and PP1γ as primary phosphatases responsible for MDA5 and RIG-I dephosphorylation, leading to their activation. Silencing of PP1α and PP1γ enhanced RIG-I and MDA5 CARD phosphorylation and reduced antiviral IFN-β production. PP1α and PP1γ depleted cells were impaired in their ability to induce interferon-stimulated gene expression, which resulted in enhanced RNA virus replication. This work identifies PP1α and PP1γ as regulators of antiviral innate immune responses to various RNA viruses, including influenza virus, paramyxovirus, dengue virus and picornavirus.

Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the human oncovirus which causes Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), a highly vascularised tumour originating from lymphatic endothelial cells. Amongst others, the dimeric complex formed by the KSHV virion envelope glycoproteins H and L (gH/gL) is required for entry of herpesviruses into the host cell. We show that the Ephrin receptor tyrosine kinase A2 (EphA2) is a cellular receptor for KSHV gH/gL. EphA2 co-precipitated with both gH/gL and KSHV virions. KSHV infection rates were increased upon over-expression of EphA2. In contrast, antibodies against EphA2 and siRNAs directed against EphA2 inhibited KSHV infection of lymphatic endothelial cells. Pretreatment of KSHV virions with soluble EphA2 resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of KSHV infection by up to 90%. Similarly, pretreating cells with the soluble EphA2 ligand EphrinA4 but not with EphA2 itself impaired KSHV infection. Notably, deletion of the EphA2 gene essentially abolished KSHV infection of murine vascular endothelial cells. Binding of gH/gL to EphA2 triggered EphA2 phosphorylation and endocytosis, a major pathway of KSHV entry. Quantitative RT-PCR and situ histochemistry revealed a close correlation between KSHV infection and EphA2 expression both in cultured cells derived from KS or lymphatic endothelium and in KS specimens, respectively. Taken together, these results identify EphA2, a tyrosine kinase with known functions in neo-vascularisation and oncogenesis, as receptor for KSHV gH/gL and implicate an important role for EphA2 in KSHV infection especially of endothelial cells and in KS.

Nature Research wishes to improve the reproducibility of the work that we publish. This form provides structure for consistency and transparency in reporting. For further information on Nature Research policies, see Authors & Referees and the Editorial Policy Checklist.

Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), is etiologically linked to primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). At least 10 KSHVencoded proteins with potential roles in KSHV-associated neoplasia have been identified. However, with few exceptions, these putative oncogenes were analyzed in heterologous systems only using overexpression of single genes. Thus, the pathogenetic relevance of most of these putative oncogenes remains essentially unclear. We used RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down the expression of several KSHV genes in cultured PEL cells carrying the KSHV genome. The viral interferon-regulatory factor-3 (vIRF-3) was found to be required for proliferation and survival of cultured PEL cells. Knock-down of vIRF-3 expression by various RNAi approaches unequivocally resulted in reduced proliferation and increased activity of caspase-3 and/or caspase-7. Thus, vIRF-3 can be seen as a bona fide oncogene of KSHV-associated lymphoma. Surprisingly, although the related Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is usually sufficient to immortalize human B lymphocytes, silencing of vIRF-3 reduced the viability of both EBV ؊ and EBV ؉ PEL cells. This suggests that KSHV is the driving force in the pathogenesis of PEL. IntroductionDNA sequences of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), have first been identified in biopsy specimens from AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS). 1 It is now clear that KSHV DNA is regularly found in all epidemiologic forms of KS, 2-6 in primary effusion lymphomas (PELs), 7,8 and certain forms of multifocal Castleman disease. 9 In these diseases, only few cells spontaneously reactivate the virus, as shown by expression of lytic cycle genes. 10,11 Thus, virtually all PEL cells and KS spindle cells of late KS lesions carry the KSHV genome in a latent state. 12 Although not formally proven, a remarkably tight epidemiologic relationship clearly suggests a pathogenetic role of KSHV in these malignant disorders. However, the viral genes and pathogenetic mechanisms involved are only partially elucidated. The complete or nearly complete nucleotide sequences of this first human rhadinovirus have been determined from both a PEL cell line 13 and from 2 KS biopsy specimens. 14,15 These showed that the known oncogenes of related viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or herpesvirus saimiri are not conserved in KSHV. However, several KSHV genes with transforming potential have since been identified in cell culture and animal models. These include the transmembrane protein K1, 16 Kaposin A encoded by reading frame K12, 17 the KSHV-encoded viral interleukin-8 receptor homolog (vIL8R), also known as viral G-proteincoupled receptor homolog (vGPCR), 18,19 the viral interferon (IFN)-regulatory factor-1 (vIRF-1) encoded by K9, 20,21 and vIRF-3 encoded by K10.5, 22 as well as 3 proteins encoded by the latently expressed so-called "oncogenic cluster," namely the latencyassociated nuclear antigen-1 (LANA-1), the viral cyclin homolog, and the vir...

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a key sensor for viral RNA in the cytosol, and it initiates a signaling cascade that leads to the establishment of an interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral state. Because of its integral role in immune signaling, RIG-I activity must be precisely controlled. Recent studies have shown that RIG-I CARD-dependent signaling function is regulated by the dynamic balance between phosphorylation and TRIM25-induced K 63 -linked ubiquitination. While ubiquitination of RIG-I is critical for RIG-I's ability to induce an antiviral IFN response, phosphorylation of RIG-I at S 8 or T 170 suppresses RIG-I signal-transducing activity under normal conditions. Here, we not only further define the roles of S 8 and T 170 phosphorylation for controlling RIG-I activity but also identify conventional protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) and PKC-β as important negative regulators of the RIG-I signaling pathway. Mutational analysis indicated that while the phosphorylation of S 8 or T 170 potently inhibits RIG-I downstream signaling, the dephosphorylation of RIG-I at both residues is necessary for optimal TRIM25 binding and ubiquitination-mediated RIG-I activation. Furthermore, exogenous expression, gene silencing, and specific inhibitor treatment demonstrated that PKC-α/β are the primary kinases responsible for RIG-I S 8 and T 170 phosphorylation. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that PKC-α/β interact with RIG-I under normal conditions, leading to its phosphorylation, which suppresses TRIM25 binding, RIG-I CARD ubiquitination, and thereby RIG-I-mediated IFN induction. PKC-α/β double-knockdown cells exhibited markedly decreased S 8 /T 170 phosphorylation levels of RIG-I and resistance to infection by vesicular stomatitis virus. Thus, these findings demonstrate that PKC-α/β-induced RIG-I phosphorylation is a critical regulatory mechanism for controlling RIG-I antiviral signal transduction under normal conditions.

The attachment, entry, and fusion of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) with target cells are mediated by complex machinery containing, among others, viral glycoprotein H (gH) and its alleged chaperone, gL. We observed that KSHV gH, in contrast to its homologues in several other herpesviruses, is transported to the cytoplasm membrane independently from gL, but not vice versa. Mutational analysis revealed that the N terminus of gH is sufficient for gL interaction. However, the entire extracellular part of gH is required for efficient gL secretion. The soluble ectodomain of gH was sufficient to interact with the surfaces of potential target cells in a heparin-dependent manner, and binding was further enhanced by coexpression of gL. Surface plasmon resonance revealed a remarkably high affinity of gH for glycosaminoglycans. Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans of the syndecan family act as cellular receptors for the gH/gL complex. They promoted KSHV infection, and expression of gH/gL on target cells inhibited subsequent KSHV infection. Whereas gH alone was able to bind to HS, we observed that only the gH/gL complex adhered to heparan sulfate-negative cells at lamellipodium-like structures.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8