Avian influenza viruses suppress innate immunity by inducingtrans-transcriptional readthrough via SSU72

摘要

Innate immunity plays critical antiviral roles. The highly virulent avian influenza viruses (AIVs) H5N1, H7N9, and H5N6 can betterescape host innate immune responses than the less virulent seasonal H1N1 virus. Here, we report a mechanism by whichtranscriptional readthrough (TRT)-mediated suppression of innate immunity occurs post AIV infection. By using cell lines, mouselungs, and patient PBMCs, we showed that genes on the complementary strand (“trans” genes) influenced by TRT were involved inthe disruption of host antiviral responses during AIV infection. The trans-TRT enhanced viral lethality, and TRT abolishmentincreased cell viability and STAT1/2 expression. The viral NS1 protein directly bound to SSU72, and degradation of SSU72 inducedTRT. SSU72 overexpression reduced TRT and alleviated mouse lung injury. Our results suggest that AIVs infection induce TRT byreducing SSU72 expression, thereby impairing host immune responses, a molecular mechanism acting through the NS1-SSU72-trans-TRT-STAT1/2 axis. Thus, restoration of SSU72 expression might be a potential strategy for preventing AIV pandemics.