Zhou Qinjie, Lavorgna Alfonso, Bowman Melissa, Hiscott John, Harhaj Edward W
From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136.
the Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
J Biol Chem. 2015 Jun 5;290(23):14729-39. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M114.633065. Epub 2015 Apr 24.
The transcription factor IRF7 (interferon regulatory factor 7) is a key regulator of type I interferon and plays essential roles in restricting virus infection and spread. IRF7 activation is tightly regulated to prevent excessive inflammation and autoimmunity; however, how IRF7 is suppressed by negative regulators remains poorly understood. Here, we have identified AIP (aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein) as a new binding partner of IRF7. The interaction between AIP and IRF7 is enhanced upon virus infection, and AIP potently inhibits IRF7-induced type I IFN (IFNα/β) production. Overexpression of AIP blocks virus-induced activation of IFN, whereas knockdown of AIP by siRNA potentiates virally activated IFN production. Consistently, AIP-deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts are highly resistant to virus infection because of increased production of IFNα/β. AIP inhibits IRF7 function by antagonizing the nuclear localization of IRF7. Together, our study identifies AIP as a novel inhibitor of IRF7 and a negative regulator of innate antiviral signaling.
转录因子IRF7(干扰素调节因子7)是I型干扰素的关键调节因子,在限制病毒感染和传播中发挥着重要作用。IRF7的激活受到严格调控以防止过度炎症和自身免疫;然而,IRF7如何被负调节因子抑制仍知之甚少。在此,我们鉴定出芳烃受体相互作用蛋白(AIP)是IRF7的一个新结合伴侣。病毒感染后AIP与IRF7之间的相互作用增强,并且AIP强烈抑制IRF7诱导的I型干扰素(IFNα/β)产生。AIP的过表达阻断病毒诱导的IFN激活,而通过小干扰RNA(siRNA)敲低AIP则增强病毒激活的IFN产生。同样,由于IFNα/β产生增加,AIP缺陷的小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞对病毒感染具有高度抗性。AIP通过拮抗IRF7的核定位来抑制IRF7功能。总之,我们的研究将AIP鉴定为IRF7的一种新型抑制剂和先天性抗病毒信号的负调节因子。