Crosstalk between the type 1 interferon and nuclear factor kappa B pathways confers resistance to a lethal virus infection

Daniel Rubio, Ren Huan Xu, Sanda Remakus, Tracy E. Krouse, Mary Ellen Truckenmiller, Roshan J. Thapa, Siddharth Balachandran, Antonio Alcamí, Christopher C. Norbury, Luis J. Sigal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

78 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and type 1 interferon (T1-IFN) signaling are innate immune mechanisms activated upon viral infection. However, the role of NF-κB and its interplay with T1-IFN in antiviral immunity is poorly understood. We show that NF-κB is essential for resistance to ectromelia virus (ECTV), a mouse orthopoxvirus related to the virus causing human smallpox. Additionally, an ECTV mutant lacking an NF-κB inhibitor activates NF-κB more effectively in vivo, resulting in increased proinflammatory molecule transcription in uninfected cells and organs and decreased viral replication. Unexpectedly, NF-κB activation compensates for genetic defects in the T1-IFN pathway, such as a deficiency in the IRF7 transcription factor, resulting in virus control. Thus, overlap between the T1-IFN and NF-κB pathways allows the host to overcome genetic or pathogen-induced deficiencies in T1-IFN and survive an otherwise lethal poxvirus infection. These findings may also explain why some pathogens target both pathways to cause disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)701-710
Number of pages10
JournalCell Host and Microbe
Volume13
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 12 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Virology

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