Inhibition of interferon signalling by the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) full-length vIRF-2 protein

S Fuld, C Cunningham, K Klucher, AJ DAvison, David Blackbourn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

82 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Interferon (IFN) signal transduction involves interferon regulatory factors (IRF). Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes four IRF homologues: viral IRF 1 (vIRF-1) to vIRF-4. Previous functional studies revealed that the first exon of vIRF-2 inhibited alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) signaling. We now show that full-length vIRF-2 protein, translated from two spliced exons, inhibited both IFN-alpha- and IFN-lambda-driven transactivation of a reporter promoter containing the interferon stimulated response element (ISRE). Transactivation of the ISRE promoter by IRF-1 was negatively regulated by vIRF-2 protein as well. Transactivation of a full-length IFN-beta reporter promoter by either IRF-3 or IRF-1, but not IRF-7, was also inhibited by vIRF-2 protein. Thus, vIRF-2 protein is an interferon induction antagonist that acts pleiotropically, presumably facilitating KSHV infection and dissemination in vivo.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3092-3097
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of virology
Volume80
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Mar 2006

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