Rabies viral mechanisms to escape the IFN system: the viral protein P interferes with IRF-3, Stat1, and PML nuclear bodies

Abstract

Interferons (IFNs) are a family of secreted proteins with antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities. The different biologic actions of IFN are believed to be mediated by the products of specifically IFN-stimulated genes (ISG) in the target cells. The IFN response is the first line of defense against viral infections. Viruses, which require the cellular machinery for their replication, have evolved different ways to counteract the action of IFN by inhibiting IFN production or Jak-Stat signaling or by altering ISG products. This review focuses on the role of viral proteins from the RNA virus family, particularly rabies P protein. P protein mediates inhibition of the IFN system by different pathways: it inhibits IFN production by impairing IFN regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3) phosphorylation and IFN signaling by blocking nuclear transport of Stat1 and alters promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies by retaining PML in the cytoplasm.