Tucker, J. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2020

Intracellular Cryptococcus neoformans disrupts the transcriptome profile of M1- and M2-polarized host macrophages

Macrophages serve as a first line of defense against infection with the facultative intracellular pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn). However, the ability of these innate phagocytic cells to destroy ingested Cn is strongly influenced by polarization state with classically (M1) activated macrophages better able to control cryptococcal infections than alternatively (M2) activated cells. While earlier studies have demonstrated that intracellular Cn minimally affects the expression of M1 and M2 markers, the impact on the broader transcriptome associated with these states remains unclear. To investigate this, we used an in vitro cell culture model of intracellular infection together with RNA sequencing-based transcriptome profiling to measure the impact of Cn infection on gene expression in both polarization states. The gene expression profile of both M1 and M2 cells was extensively altered to become more like naive (M0) macrophages. Gene ontology analysis suggested that this involved changes in the activity of the Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT), p53, and nuclear factor-{kappa}B (NF-{kappa}B) pathways. Analyses of the principle polarization markers at the protein-level also revealed discrepancies between the RNA- and protein-level responses. In contrast to earlier studies, intracellular Cn was found to increase protein levels of the M1 marker iNos. In addition, we identified common gene expression changes that occurred post-Cn infection, independent of polarization state. This included upregulation of the transcriptional co-regulator Cited1, which was also apparent at the protein level. These changes constitute a transcriptional signature of macrophage Cn infection and provide new insights into how Cn impacts gene expression and the phenotype of host phagocytes.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

The conserved herpesviral kinase ORF36 activates B2 retrotransposons during murine gammaherpesvirus infection

Short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) are RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) transcribed, retrotransposable noncoding RNA (ncRNA) elements ubiquitously spread throughout mammalian genomes. While normally silenced in healthy somatic tissue, SINEs can be induced during infection with DNA viruses, including the model murine gammaherpesvirus MHV68. Here, we explored the mechanisms underlying MHV68 activation of SINE ncRNAs. We demonstrate that lytic MHV68 infection of B cells, macrophages and fibroblasts leads to robust activation of the B2 family of SINEs in a cell autonomous manner. B2 ncRNA induction requires neither host innate immune signaling factors nor involvement of the RNAPIII master regulator Maf1. However, we identify MHV68 ORF36, the conserved herpesviral kinase, as playing a key role in B2 induction during lytic infection. SINE activation is linked to ORF36 kinase activity and can also be induced by HDAC1/2 inhibition, which is one of the known ORF36 functions. Collectively, our data suggest that ORF36-mediated changes in chromatin modification contribute to B2 activation during MHV68 infection, and that this activity is conserved in other herpesviral protein kinase homologs. AUTHOR SUMMARYViral infection dramatically changes the levels of many types of RNA in a cell. In particular, certain oncogenic viruses activate expression of repetitive genes called retrotransposons, which are normally silenced due to their ability to copy and spread throughout the genome. Here, we established that infection with the gammaherpesvirus MHV68 leads to a dramatic induction of a class of noncoding retrotransposons called B2 SINEs in multiple cell types. We then explored how MHV68 activates B2 SINEs, revealing a role for the conserved herpesviral protein kinase ORF36. Both ORF36 kinase-dependent and kinase-independent functions contribute to B2 induction, perhaps through ORF36 targeting of proteins involved in controlling the accessibility of chromatin surrounding SINE loci. Understanding features underlying induction of these elements following MHV68 infection should provide insight into core elements of SINE regulation, as well as dis-regulation of SINE elements associated with disease.

molecular biology↗