Influenza virus continues to threaten humans and remains a major health concern around the world. Following influenza virus infection, the host produces type I interferon (IFN) to inhibit viral spread. Although type I IFN interferes with virus replication and stimulates host immunity to protect the host from harmful viral cytotoxicity, the IFN itself can cause a detrimental inflammatory response. Therefore, factors that regulate the local induction and activity of type I IFN must be identified and traced to better understand and manipulate the interplay between the host and the influenza virus. The sphingolipids are bioactive lipid mediators, which include sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide, that regulate multiple cellular conditions with important therapeutic potential. However, the action mode by which sphingolipid metabolism modulates the host protective signaling and immune response against influenza virus infection remains unknown. Preliminary data indicate that overexpression of S1P lyase renders cells resistant to influenza virus infection and viral cytopathic effects. Activation of JAK/STAT type I IFN signaling is critical for the host defensive mechanism mediated by S1P lyase. In contrast, cells overexpressing sphingosine kinase (SK) 1 are more susceptible to the infection, and an inhibitor blocking SK1 displayed anti-influenza viral activity. Further, a ceramide analog dramatically enhanced the induction of type I IFN in dendritic cells (DCs) upon influenza virus infection and also enhanced DC maturation and T cell stimulation. These results indicate the capacity of sphingolipid metabolism to control host protection and immunity in part via the function of type I IFN. In this study, the regulation of influenza virus propagation and viral pathogenesis by S1P-metabolizing enzymes and ceramide will be further investigated. The unique research aims and experiments include 1) determining the intracellular signaling mechanism by which S1P-metabolizing enzymes control influenza virus replication, 2) defining the role of SK1 blockade in influenza pathogenesis and host immunity to the infection by using SK1- specific inhibitors, and 3) investigating the mechanism of ceramide's effect on influenza virus spread and host immune responses, specifically via antigen-presenting DCs and anti-viral T cells. Ultimately, the research proposed here should produce a detailed understanding of cellular signals that regulate viral replication and promote the development of therapeutic interventions to remedy viral diseases.

Public Health Relevance

Influenza virus is a major public health concern, requiring identification of cellular changes to inhibit viral pathogenicity for its control. Recent discovery of sphingolipids as mediators that modulate important cellular processes prompted us to investigate the roles of these factors and their metabolizing enzymes in the type I interferon-mediated host response to influenza virus infection. Uncovering the molecular signaling mechanisms of this interaction and the effect of sphingolipid metabolism on viral pathogenicity and the host immune response comprises a promising route for the future development of novel therapeutics to conquer viral diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI091797-05
Application #
8823724
Study Section
Virology - B Study Section (VIRB)
Program Officer
Hauguel, Teresa M
Project Start
2011-05-01
Project End
2017-04-30
Budget Start
2015-05-01
Budget End
2017-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Missouri-Columbia
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
153890272
City
Columbia
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
65211
Xia, Chuan; Wolf, Jennifer J; Vijayan, Madhuvanthi et al. (2018) Casein Kinase 1? Mediates the Degradation of Receptors for Type I and Type II Interferons Caused by Hemagglutinin of Influenza A Virus. J Virol 92:
Vijayan, Madhuvanthi; Xia, Chuan; Song, Yul Eum et al. (2017) Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Lyase Enhances the Activation of IKK? To Promote Type I IFN-Mediated Innate Immune Responses to Influenza A Virus Infection. J Immunol 199:677-687
Pritzl, Curtis J; Seo, Young-Jin; Xia, Chuan et al. (2015) A ceramide analogue stimulates dendritic cells to promote T cell responses upon virus infections. J Immunol 194:4339-49
Xia, Chuan; Vijayan, Madhuvanthi; Pritzl, Curtis J et al. (2015) Hemagglutinin of Influenza A Virus Antagonizes Type I Interferon (IFN) Responses by Inducing Degradation of Type I IFN Receptor 1. J Virol 90:2403-17
Sherman, Michael P; Pritzl, Curtis J; Xia, Chuan et al. (2015) Lactoferrin acts as an adjuvant during influenza vaccination of neonatal mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 467:766-70
Vijayan, Madhuvanthi; Seo, Young-Jin; Pritzl, Curtis John et al. (2014) Sphingosine kinase 1 regulates measles virus replication. Virology 450-451:55-63
Vijayan, Madhuvanthi; Hahm, Bumsuk (2014) Influenza viral manipulation of sphingolipid metabolism and signaling to modulate host defense system. Scientifica (Cairo) 2014:793815
Seo, Young-Jin; Hahm, Bumsuk (2014) Sphingosine analog AAL-R promotes activation of LCMV-infected dendritic cells. Viral Immunol 27:82-6
Seo, Young-Jin; Pritzl, Curtis J; Vijayan, Madhuvanthi et al. (2013) Sphingosine kinase 1 serves as a pro-viral factor by regulating viral RNA synthesis and nuclear export of viral ribonucleoprotein complex upon influenza virus infection. PLoS One 8:e75005
Seo, Young-Jin; Pritzl, Curtis J; Vijayan, Madhuvanthi et al. (2012) Sphingosine analogue AAL-R increases TLR7-mediated dendritic cell responses via p38 and type I IFN signaling pathways. J Immunol 188:4759-68

Showing the most recent 10 out of 11 publications