Project description:Mitochondria are arising as critical modulators of antiviral tolerance by releasing mtDNA/mtRNA fragments to cytoplasm upon infection, activating virus sensors and type-I interferon response. The relevance of these mechanisms for mitochondrial diseases remains understudied. Here, we investigated mitochondrial recessive ataxia syndrome (MIRAS), caused by a common European founder mutation in DNA polymerase gamma (POLG1). The patients homozygous for the MIRAS variant p.W748S show exceptionally variable ages-of-onset and symptoms, indicating unknown modifying factors contributing to disease manifestation. We report that the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replicase POLG1 has a role in antiviral defence mechanisms to double-stranded DNA and positive-strand RNA virus infections (HSV-1, TBEV, SARS-CoV-2) and its p.W748S variant dampens innate immune responses. Our patient and knock-in mouse data show that p.W748S compromises mtDNA replisome stability, causing mtDNA depletion, aggravated by virus infection. Low mtDNA and mtRNA release to cytoplasm and slow interferon response in MIRAS allow an early replicative advantage for viruses, leading to augmented pro-inflammatory response, subacute loss of GABAergic neurons, liver inflammation and necrosis. A population databank of ~300,000 Finns demonstrates enrichment of immunodeficient traits in p.W748S carriers. Our evidence suggests that POLG1 defects compromise antiviral tolerance, triggering epilepsy and liver disease. The finding has important implications to mitochondrial disease spectrum, including epilepsy, ataxia, and parkinsonism. In this metabolomic dataset: To investigate the in vivo response of MIRAS to viral infection, we generated a MIRAS-knock-in mouse model and subjected the mice to TBEV infection. These animals carry a homozygous knock-in mutation and the accompanying polymorphic variant homologous to the human ancestral MIRAS allele (p.W726S+E1121G in mice and p.W748S+E1143G in humans). We performed metabolomic analyses on the mouse brain (cerebral cortex) isolated from the control (wildtype) and MIRAS mice at 4 days post TBEV infection (n=5 mice per condition).
Project description:Mitochondria are arising as critical modulators of antiviral tolerance by releasing mtDNA/mtRNA fragments to cytoplasm upon infection, activating virus sensors and type-I interferon response. The relevance of these mechanisms for mitochondrial diseases remains understudied. Here, we investigated mitochondrial recessive ataxia syndrome (MIRAS), caused by a common European founder mutation in DNA polymerase gamma (POLG1). The patients homozygous for the MIRAS variant p.W748S show exceptionally variable ages-of-onset and symptoms, indicating unknown modifying factors contributing to disease manifestation. We report that the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replicase POLG1 has a role in antiviral defence mechanisms to double-stranded DNA and positive-strand RNA virus infections (HSV-1, TBEV, SARS-CoV-2) and its p.W748S variant dampens innate immune responses. Our patient and knock-in mouse data show that p.W748S compromises mtDNA replisome stability, causing mtDNA depletion, aggravated by virus infection. Low mtDNA and mtRNA release to cytoplasm and slow interferon response in MIRAS allow an early replicative advantage for viruses, leading to augmented pro-inflammatory response, subacute loss of GABAergic neurons, liver inflammation and necrosis. A population databank of ~300,000 Finns demonstrates enrichment of immunodeficient traits in p.W748S carriers. Our evidence suggests that POLG1 defects compromise antiviral tolerance, triggering epilepsy and liver disease. The finding has important implications to mitochondrial disease spectrum, including epilepsy, ataxia, and parkinsonism.
Project description:Mitochondria are arising as critical modulators of antiviral tolerance by releasing mtDNA/mtRNA fragments to cytoplasm upon infection, activating virus sensors and type-I interferon response. The relevance of these mechanisms for mitochondrial diseases remains understudied. Here, we investigated mitochondrial recessive ataxia syndrome (MIRAS), caused by a common European founder mutation in DNA polymerase gamma (POLG1). The patients homozygous for the MIRAS variant p.W748S show exceptionally variable ages-of-onset and symptoms, indicating unknown modifying factors contributing to disease manifestation. We report that the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replicase POLG1 has a role in antiviral defence mechanisms to double-stranded DNA and positive-strand RNA virus infections (HSV-1, TBEV, SARS-CoV-2) and its p.W748S variant dampens innate immune responses. Our patient and knock-in mouse data show that p.W748S compromises mtDNA replisome stability, causing mtDNA depletion, aggravated by virus infection. Low mtDNA and mtRNA release to cytoplasm and slow interferon response in MIRAS allow an early replicative advantage for viruses, leading to augmented pro-inflammatory response, subacute loss of GABAergic neurons, liver inflammation and necrosis. A population databank of ~300,000 Finns demonstrates enrichment of immunodeficient traits in p.W748S carriers. Our evidence suggests that POLG1 defects compromise antiviral tolerance, triggering epilepsy and liver disease. The finding has important implications to mitochondrial disease spectrum, including epilepsy, ataxia, and parkinsonism. In this metabolomic dataset: To investigate the in vivo response of MIRAS to viral infection, we generated a MIRAS-knock-in mouse model and subjected the mice to TBEV infection. These animals carry a homozygous knock-in mutation and the accompanying polymorphic variant homologous to the human ancestral MIRAS allele (p.W726S+E1121G in mice and p.W748S+E1143G in humans). We performed metabolomic analyses on the mouse brain (cerebral cortex) isolated from the control (wildtype) and MIRAS mice at 4 days post TBEV infection (n=5 mice per condition).
Project description:Type-I (e.g. IFN-alpha, IFN-beta) and type-II IFNs (IFN-gamma) have antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory properties. Both types of IFN signal through the Jak/STAT pathway to elicit antiviral activity, yet IFN-gamma is thought to do so only through STAT1 homodimers while type-I IFNs activate both STAT1- and STAT2-containing complexes such as ISGF3. Here we show that ISGF3II - composed of phosphorylated STAT1, unphosphorylated STAT2, and IRF9 - also plays a role in IFN-gamma-mediated antiviral activity in humans. Using phosphorylated STAT1 as a marker for IFN signaling, western blot analysis of IFN-alpha2a treated human A549 cells revealed that pSTAT1 (Y701) levels peaked at 1h, decreased by 6h, and remained at low levels for up to 48h. Cells treated with IFN-gamma showed a biphasic pSTAT1 response with an early peak at 1-2h and a second peak at 15-24h. Gene expression microarray following IFN-gamma treatment for 24h indicated an induction of antiviral genes that are induced by ISGF3 and associated with a type-1 IFN response. Induction of these genes by autocrine type-I and type-III IFN signaling was ruled out using neutralizing antibodies to these IFNs in biological assays and by qRT-PCR. Despite the absence of autocrine IFNs, IFN-gamma treatment induced formation of ISGF3II. This novel transcription factor complex binds to ISRE promoter sequences, as shown by ChIP analysis of the PKR promoter. STAT2 and IRF9 knockdown in A549 cells reversed IFN-gamma-mediated ISRE induction and antiviral activity - implicating ISGF3II formation as a significant component of the cellular response and biological activity of IFN-gamma. Two treatments using three biological replicates each were performed using three million A549 cells. Each was seeded overnight in 10mL complete RPMI and treated. Three were treated with alpha-IFN and three treated with gamma-IFN for 24h. Control samples were left untreated.
Project description:Type-I (e.g. IFN-alpha, IFN-beta) and type-II IFNs (IFN-gamma) have antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory properties. Both types of IFN signal through the Jak/STAT pathway to elicit antiviral activity, yet IFN-gamma is thought to do so only through STAT1 homodimers while type-I IFNs activate both STAT1- and STAT2-containing complexes such as ISGF3. Here we show that ISGF3II - composed of phosphorylated STAT1, unphosphorylated STAT2, and IRF9 - also plays a role in IFN-gamma-mediated antiviral activity in humans. Using phosphorylated STAT1 as a marker for IFN signaling, western blot analysis of IFN-alpha2a treated human A549 cells revealed that pSTAT1 (Y701) levels peaked at 1h, decreased by 6h, and remained at low levels for up to 48h. Cells treated with IFN-gamma showed a biphasic pSTAT1 response with an early peak at 1-2h and a second peak at 15-24h. Gene expression microarray following IFN-gamma treatment for 24h indicated an induction of antiviral genes that are induced by ISGF3 and associated with a type-1 IFN response. Induction of these genes by autocrine type-I and type-III IFN signaling was ruled out using neutralizing antibodies to these IFNs in biological assays and by qRT-PCR. Despite the absence of autocrine IFNs, IFN-gamma treatment induced formation of ISGF3II. This novel transcription factor complex binds to ISRE promoter sequences, as shown by ChIP analysis of the PKR promoter. STAT2 and IRF9 knockdown in A549 cells reversed IFN-gamma-mediated ISRE induction and antiviral activity - implicating ISGF3II formation as a significant component of the cellular response and biological activity of IFN-gamma.
Project description:Bats harbor highly virulent viruses that can infect other mammals, including humans, posing questions about their immune tolerance mechanisms. Bat cells employ multiple strategies to limit virus replication and virus-induced immunopathology, but the coexistence of bats and fatal viruses remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) pathway in bat cells and discovered that they have an enhanced antiviral RNAi response, producing canonical viral small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) upon Sindbis virus (SINV) infection that were missing in human cells. Disruption of Dicer function resulted in increased viral load for three different RNA viruses in bat cells, indicating an interferon-independent antiviral pathway. Furthermore, our findings reveal the simultaneous engagement of Dicer and pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), such as retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), with double-stranded RNA, suggesting that Dicer attenuates the interferon response initiation in bat cells. These insights advance our comprehension of the distinctive strategies bats employ to coexist with viruses.
Project description:Bats harbor highly virulent viruses that can infect other mammals, including humans, posing questions about their immune tolerance mechanisms. Bat cells employ multiple strategies to limit virus replication and virus-induced immunopathology, but the coexistence of bats and fatal viruses remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) pathway in bat cells and discovered that they have an enhanced antiviral RNAi response, producing canonical viral small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) upon Sindbis virus (SINV) infection that were missing in human cells. Disruption of Dicer function resulted in increased viral load for three different RNA viruses in bat cells, indicating an interferon-independent antiviral pathway. Furthermore, our findings reveal the simultaneous engagement of Dicer and pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), such as retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), with double-stranded RNA, suggesting that Dicer attenuates the interferon response initiation in bat cells. These insights advance our comprehension of the distinctive strategies bats employ to coexist with viruses.