Attenuation of IFN signaling due to m6A modification of the host epitranscriptome promotes EBV lytic reactivation

Bose，Dipayan1; Lin，Xiang2; Gao，Le2; Wei，Zhi2; Pei，Yonggang3; Robertson，Erle S.1

2023-12-01

10.1186/s12929-023-00911-9

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE   Impact Factor & Quartile

1021-7770

1423-0127

Background: Reactivation of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) leads to modulation of the viral and cellular epitranscriptome. N6-methyladenosine (mA) modification is a type of RNA modification that regulates metabolism of mRNAs. Previous reports demonstrated that mA modification affects the stability and metabolism of EBV encoded mRNAs. However, the effect of reactivation on reprograming of the cellular mRNAs, and how this contributes to successful induction of lytic reactivation is not known. Methods: Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq), transcriptomic RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and RNA pull-down PCR were used to screen and validate differentially methylated targets. Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and immunocytochemistry were used to investigate the expression and localization of different proteins. RNA stability and polysome analysis assays were used to detect the half-lives and translation efficiencies of downstream genes. Insertion of point mutation to disrupt the mA methylation sites was used to verify the effect of mA methylation on its stability and expression levels. Results: We report that during EBV reactivation the mA eraser ALKBH5 is significantly downregulated leading to enhanced methylation of the cellular transcripts DTX4 and TYK2, that results in degradation of TYK2 mRNAs and higher efficiency of translation of DTX4 mRNAs. This resulted in attenuation of IFN signaling that promoted progression of viral lytic replication. Furthermore, inhibition of mA methylation of these transcripts led to increased production of IFN, and a substantial reduction in viral copy number, which suggests abrogation of lytic viral replication. Conclusion: Our findings illuminate the significance of mA modification in overcoming the innate immune response during EBV reactivation. We now report that during lytic reactivation EBV targets the RNA methylation system of the host to attenuate the innate immune response by suppressing the interferon signaling which facilitates successful lytic replication of the virus.

Epitranscriptome Innate Immune response Lytic reactivation N6-methyladenosine RNA immunoprecipitation

SCI

English

Others

WOS:000949373100001

CLINICAL MEDICINE

2-s2.0-85150272215

Scopus

1.Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,and Tumor Virology Program,Perelman School of Medicine,University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia,19104,United States
2.Department of Computer Science,New Jersey Institute of Technology,07102,United States
3.School of Public Health and Emergency Management,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,Guangdong,518055,China

Bose，Dipayan,Lin，Xiang,Gao，Le,et al. Attenuation of IFN signaling due to m6A modification of the host epitranscriptome promotes EBV lytic reactivation[J]. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE,2023,30(1).

Bose，Dipayan,Lin，Xiang,Gao，Le,Wei，Zhi,Pei，Yonggang,&Robertson，Erle S..(2023).Attenuation of IFN signaling due to m6A modification of the host epitranscriptome promotes EBV lytic reactivation.JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE,30(1).

Bose，Dipayan,et al."Attenuation of IFN signaling due to m6A modification of the host epitranscriptome promotes EBV lytic reactivation".JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE 30.1(2023).