Dengue virus subverts the interferon induction pathway via NS2B/3 protease-IκB kinase epsilon interaction

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2014 Jan;21(1):29-38. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00500-13. Epub 2013 Oct 30.

Abstract

Dengue is the world's most common mosquito-borne viral infection and a leading cause of morbidity throughout the tropics and subtropics. Viruses are known to evade the establishment of an antiviral state by regulating the activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), a critical transcription factor in the alpha/beta interferon induction pathway. Here, we show that dengue virus (DENV) circumvents the induction of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptor (RLR) pathway during infection by blocking serine 386 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3. This effect is associated with the expression of nonstructural 2B/3 protein (NS2B/3) protease in human cells. Using interaction assays, we found that NS2B/3 interacts with the cellular IκB kinase ε (IKKε). Docking computational analysis revealed that in this interaction, NS2B/3 masks the kinase domain of IKKε and potentially affects its functionality. This observation is supported by the DENV-associated inhibition of the kinase activity of IKKε. Our data identify IKKε as a novel target of DENV NS2B/3 protease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dengue Virus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • I-kappa B Kinase / metabolism
  • Immune Evasion*
  • Interferons / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interferons / biosynthesis
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • NS2B protein, flavivirus
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Interferons
  • I-kappa B Kinase
  • NS3 protease, dengue virus
  • Serine Endopeptidases