Strain-dependent effects of PB1-F2 of triple-reassortant H3N2 influenza viruses in swine

J Gen Virol. 2012 Oct;93(Pt 10):2204-2214. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.045005-0. Epub 2012 Jul 18.

Abstract

The PB1-F2 protein of the influenza A viruses (IAVs) can act as a virulence factor in mice. Its contribution to the virulence of IAV in swine, however, remains largely unexplored. In this study, we chose two genetically related H3N2 triple-reassortant IAVs to assess the impact of PB1-F2 in virus replication and virulence in pigs. Using reverse genetics, we disrupted the PB1-F2 ORF of A/swine/Wisconsin/14094/99 (H3N2) (Sw/99) and A/turkey/Ohio/313053/04 (H3N2) (Ty/04). Removing the PB1-F2 ORF led to increased expression of PB1-N40 in a strain-dependent manner. Ablation of the PB1-F2 ORF (or incorporation of the N66S mutation in the PB1-F2 ORF, Sw/99 N66S) affected the replication in porcine alveolar macrophages of only the Sw/99 KO (PB1-F2 knockout) and Sw/99 N66S variants. The Ty/04 KO strain showed decreased virus replication in swine respiratory explants, whereas no such effect was observed in Sw/99 KO, compared with the wild-type (WT) counterparts. In pigs, PB1-F2 did not affect virus shedding or viral load in the lungs for any of these strains. Upon necropsy, PB1-F2 had no effect on the lung pathology caused by Sw/99 variants. Interestingly, the Ty/04 KO-infected pigs showed significantly increased lung pathology at 3 days post-infection compared with pigs infected with the Ty/04 WT strain. In addition, the pulmonary levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and gamma interferon were regulated differentially by the expression of PB1-F2. Taken together, these results indicate that PB1-F2 modulates virus replication, virulence and innate immune responses in pigs in a strain-dependent fashion.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Death / genetics
  • Cell Death / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Dogs
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / genetics*
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Interleukin-8 / genetics
  • Interleukin-8 / immunology
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / virology
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / immunology
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / virology
  • Mutagenesis / genetics
  • Mutagenesis / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / genetics
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology*
  • Swine / genetics
  • Swine / immunology
  • Swine / virology*
  • Viral Load / genetics
  • Viral Load / immunology
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*
  • Virulence / genetics
  • Virulence / immunology
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / immunology
  • Virus Replication / genetics
  • Virus Replication / immunology
  • Virus Shedding / genetics
  • Virus Shedding / immunology

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8
  • PB1-F2 protein, Influenza A virus
  • Viral Proteins
  • Virulence Factors
  • Interferon-gamma