Human Pirh2 is a novel inhibitor of prototype foamy virus replication

Viruses. 2015 Apr 2;7(4):1668-84. doi: 10.3390/v7041668.

Abstract

Prototype foamy virus (PFV) is a member of the unconventional and nonpathogenic retroviruses. PFV causes lifelong chronic infections, which are partially attributable to a number of host cell factors that restrict viral replication. Herein, we identified human p53-induced RING-H2 protein (Pirh2) as a novel inhibitor of prototype foamy virus. Overexpression of Pirh2 decreased the replication of PFV, whereas knockdown of Pirh2 with specific siRNA increased PFV replication. Dual-luciferase assays and coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated that Pirh2 negatively influences the Tas-dependent transcriptional activation of the PFV long terminal repeat (LTR) and internal promoter (IP) by interacting with the transactivator Tas and down-regulating its expression. In addition, the viral inhibitory function of Pirh2 is N-terminal and RING domain dependent. Together, these results indicated that Pirh2 suppresses PFV replication by negatively impacting its transactivator Tas and the transcription of two viral promoters, which may contribute to the latency of PFV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Simian foamy virus / immunology*
  • Simian foamy virus / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Virus Latency*
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • RCHY1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases