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Fortin, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Fortin, A..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

RNASeq analysis identifies non-canonical role of STAT2 and IRF9 in the regulation of a STAT1-independent antiviral and immunoregulatory transcriptional program induced by IFNβ and TNFα

IFN{beta} typically induces an antiviral and immunoregulatory transcriptional program through the activation of ISGF3 (STAT1, STAT2 and IRF9) transcriptional complexes. The response to IFN{beta} is context-dependent and is prone to crosstalk with other cytokines, such as TNF IFN{beta} and TNF synergize to drive a specific delayed transcriptional program. Previous observation led to the hypothesis that an alternative STAT1-independent pathway involving STAT2 and IRF9 might be involved in gene induction by the combination of IFN{beta} and TNF. Using genome wide transcriptional profiling by RNASeq, we found that the costimulation with IFN{beta} and TNF induces a broad antiviral and immunoregulatory transcriptional program independently of STAT1. Additionally, STAT2 and IRF9 are involved in the regulation of only a subset of these STAT1-independent genes. Consistent with the growing literature, STAT2 and IRF9 act in concert to regulate a subgroup of these genes. Unexpectedly, STAT2 and IRF9 were also engaged in specific independent pathways to regulate distinct sets of IFN{beta} and TNF-induced genes. Altogether these observations highlight the existence of distinct previously unrecognized non-canonical STAT1-independent, but STAT2 and/or IRF9-dependent pathways in the establishment of a delayed antiviral and immunoregulatory transcriptional program in conditions where elevated levels of both IFN{beta} and TNF are present.

immunology

DUSP1 promotes apoptosis and suppresses cell migration, while leaving the JIP1-protected cytokine production intact, during paramyxovirus infection.

The host antiviral response involves the induction of interferons and proinflammatory cytokines, but also the activation of cell death pathways, including apoptosis, to limit viral replication and spreading. This host defense is strictly regulated to eliminate the infection while limiting tissue damage that is associated with virus pathogenesis. Post-translational modifications, most notably phosphorylation, are key regulators of the antiviral defense implying an important role of protein phosphatases. Here, we investigated the role of the dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) in the host defense against human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a pathogenic virus of the Pneumoviridae family, and Sendai virus (SeV), a model virus being developed as a vector for anti-RSV vaccine. We found that DUSP1 is upregulated before being subjected to proteasomal degradation. DUSP1 does not inhibit the antiviral response, but negatively regulates virus-induced JNK/p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Interaction with the JNK-interacting protein 1 scaffold protein prevents dephosphorylation of JNK by DUSP1, likely explaining that AP-1 activation and downstream cytokine production are protected from DUSP1 inhibition. Importantly, DUSP1 promotes SeV-induced apoptosis and suppresses cell migration in RSV-infected cells. Collectively, our data unveil a previously unrecognized selective role of DUSP1 in the regulation of tissue damage and repair during infections by RSV and SeV.

microbiology