MicroRNA-200c-targeted contactin 1 facilitates the replication of influenza A virus by accelerating the degradation of MAVS

PLoS Pathog. 2022 Feb 16;18(2):e1010299. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010299. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) continuously challenge the poultry industry and human health. Elucidation of the host factors that modulate the IAV lifecycle is vital for developing antiviral drugs and vaccines. In this study, we infected A549 cells with IAVs and found that host protein contactin-1 (CNTN1), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, enhanced viral replication. Bioinformatic prediction and experimental validation indicated that the expression of CNTN1 was reduced by microRNA-200c (miR-200c) through directly targeting. We further showed that CNTN1-modulated viral replication in A549 cells is dependent on type I interferon signaling. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that CNTN1 specifically interacts with MAVS and promotes its proteasomal degradation by removing its K63-linked ubiquitination. Moreover, we discovered that the deubiquitinase USP25 is recruited by CNTN1 to catalyze the deubiquitination of K63-linked MAVS. Consequently, the CNTN1-induced degradation cascade of MAVS blocked RIG-I-MAVS-mediated interferon signaling, leading to enhanced viral replication. Taken together, our data reveal novel roles of CNTN1 in the type I interferon pathway and regulatory mechanism of IAV replication.

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Contactin 1 / metabolism*
  • DEAD Box Protein 58 / metabolism*
  • Host Microbial Interactions
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / metabolism*
  • Influenza, Human / virology*
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Contactin 1
  • Interferon Type I
  • MAVS protein, human
  • MIRN200 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • USP25 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
  • RIGI protein, human
  • DEAD Box Protein 58

Grants and funding

This study was supported by funding from the National Key R&D program (2021YFD1800200 to QZ), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31802178 and 32172820 to SX; 31961133013 and 31772716 to QZ), and The Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAAS-ASTIP-JBGS-20210102 to SX). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.