HIV-1 Vpu and SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a proteins disrupt STING-mediated activation of antiviral NF-κB signaling

Sci Signal. 2025 Jan 21;18(870):eadd6593. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.add6593. Epub 2025 Jan 21.

Abstract

Activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway by cytosolic DNA leads to the activation of the transcription factors interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Although many viruses produce proteins that inhibit IRF3-dependent antiviral responses, some viruses produce proteins that inhibit STING-induced NF-κB activation without blocking IRF3 activation. Here, we found that STING-activated, NF-κB-dependent, and IRF3-independent innate immunity inhibited the replication of the DNA virus herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the RNA virus coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16), and the retrovirus HIV-1. The HIV-1 nonstructural protein Vpu bound to STING and prevented it from interacting with the upstream NF-κB pathway kinase inhibitor of NF-κB subunit β (IKKβ), thus blocking NF-κB signaling. This function of Vpu was conserved among Vpu proteins from diverse HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus strains and was distinct from its action in disrupting other host antiviral pathways. Furthermore, the ORF3a protein from the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 also promoted viral replication by interacting with STING and blocking STING-induced activity of NF-κB but not of IRF3. These findings demonstrate that diverse viral proteins have convergently evolved to selectively inhibit NF-κB-mediated innate immunity downstream of STING activation, suggesting that targeting this pathway may represent a promising antiviral strategy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HIV-1* / genetics
  • HIV-1* / immunology
  • HIV-1* / metabolism
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins* / genetics
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / genetics
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins* / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins* / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins* / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B* / genetics
  • NF-kappa B* / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2* / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2* / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2* / physiology
  • Signal Transduction* / immunology
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins* / metabolism
  • Viroporin Proteins
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • STING1 protein, human
  • NF-kappa B
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3
  • IRF3 protein, human
  • Viroporin Proteins