Genome-wide RNAi screen reveals a new role of a WNT/CTNNB1 signaling pathway as negative regulator of virus-induced innate immune responses

PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(6):e1003416. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003416. Epub 2013 Jun 13.

Abstract

To identify new regulators of antiviral innate immunity, we completed the first genome-wide gene silencing screen assessing the transcriptional response at the interferon-β (IFNB1) promoter following Sendai virus (SeV) infection. We now report a novel link between WNT signaling pathway and the modulation of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor (RLR)-dependent innate immune responses. Here we show that secretion of WNT2B and WNT9B and stabilization of β-catenin (CTNNB1) upon virus infection negatively regulate expression of representative inducible genes IFNB1, IFIT1 and TNF in a CTNNB1-dependent effector mechanism. The antiviral response is drastically reduced by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitors but restored in CTNNB1 knockdown cells. The findings confirm a novel regulation of antiviral innate immunity by a canonical-like WNT/CTNNB1 signaling pathway. The study identifies novel avenues for broad-spectrum antiviral targets and preventing immune-mediated diseases upon viral infection.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins / immunology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • DEAD Box Protein 58
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / immunology
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Interferon-beta / immunology
  • Interferon-beta / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / immunology*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Respirovirus Infections / immunology*
  • Respirovirus Infections / metabolism
  • Respirovirus Infections / pathology
  • Sendai virus / immunology*
  • Sendai virus / metabolism
  • Wnt Proteins / immunology*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / immunology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CTNNBIP1 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • IFIT1 protein, human
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • WNT2B protein, human
  • WNT9B protein, human
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Interferon-beta
  • RIGI protein, human
  • DEAD Box Protein 58
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases