Myeloid neddylation targets IRF7 and promotes host innate immunity against RNA viruses

PLoS Pathog. 2021 Sep 10;17(9):e1009901. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009901. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Neddylation, an important type of post-translational modification, has been implicated in innate and adapted immunity. But the role of neddylation in innate immune response against RNA viruses remains elusive. Here we report that neddylation promotes RNA virus-induced type I IFN production, especially IFN-α. More importantly, myeloid deficiency of UBA3 or NEDD8 renders mice less resistant to RNA virus infection. Neddylation is essential for RNA virus-triggered activation of Ifna gene promoters. Further exploration has revealed that mammalian IRF7undergoes neddylation, which is enhanced after RNA virus infection. Even though neddylation blockade does not hinder RNA virus-triggered IRF7 expression, IRF7 mutant defective in neddylation exhibits reduced ability to activate Ifna gene promoters. Neddylation blockade impedes RNA virus-induced IRF7 nuclear translocation without hindering its phosphorylation and dimerization with IRF3. By contrast, IRF7 mutant defective in neddylation shows enhanced dimerization with IRF5, an Ifna repressor when interacting with IRF7. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that myeloid neddylation contributes to host anti-viral innate immunity through targeting IRF7 and promoting its transcriptional activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-7 / biosynthesis
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-7 / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology*
  • Myeloid Cells / metabolism
  • NEDD8 Protein / deficiency
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • RNA Virus Infections / immunology*
  • RNA Viruses / immunology*
  • Ubiquitins / deficiency

Substances

  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-7
  • Irf7 protein, mouse
  • NEDD8 Protein
  • Nedd8 protein, mouse
  • Ube1c protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitins

Grants and funding

This study is supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (numbers 81625010 and 81930027 to JZ) (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.