Frontiers in Microbiology (Jun 2021)

Porcine RIG-I and MDA5 Signaling CARD Domains Exert Similar Antiviral Function Against Different Viruses

  • Shuangjie Li,
  • Shuangjie Li,
  • Shuangjie Li,
  • Shuangjie Li,
  • Qi Shao,
  • Qi Shao,
  • Qi Shao,
  • Qi Shao,
  • Yuanyuan Zhu,
  • Yuanyuan Zhu,
  • Yuanyuan Zhu,
  • Yuanyuan Zhu,
  • Xingyu Ji,
  • Xingyu Ji,
  • Xingyu Ji,
  • Xingyu Ji,
  • Jia Luo,
  • Jia Luo,
  • Jia Luo,
  • Jia Luo,
  • Yulin Xu,
  • Yulin Xu,
  • Yulin Xu,
  • Yulin Xu,
  • Xueliang Liu,
  • Xueliang Liu,
  • Xueliang Liu,
  • Xueliang Liu,
  • Wanglong Zheng,
  • Wanglong Zheng,
  • Wanglong Zheng,
  • Wanglong Zheng,
  • Nanhua Chen,
  • Nanhua Chen,
  • Nanhua Chen,
  • Nanhua Chen,
  • François Meurens,
  • François Meurens,
  • Jianzhong Zhu,
  • Jianzhong Zhu,
  • Jianzhong Zhu,
  • Jianzhong Zhu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.677634
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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The RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) RIG-I and MDA5 play critical roles in sensing and fighting viral infections. Although RIG-I and MDA5 have similar molecular structures, these two receptors have distinct features during activation. Further, the signaling domains of the N terminal CARD domains (CARDs) in RIG-I and MDA5 share poor similarity. Therefore, we wonder whether the CARDs of RIG-I and MDA5 play similar roles in signaling and antiviral function. Here we expressed porcine RIG-I and MDA5 CARDs in 293T cells and porcine alveolar macrophages and found that MDA5 CARDs exhibit higher expression and stronger signaling activity than RIG-I CARDs. Nevertheless, both RIG-I and MDA5 CARDs exert comparable antiviral function against several viruses. Transcriptome analysis showed that MDA5 CARDs are more effective in regulating downstream genes. However, in the presence of virus, both RIG-I and MDA5 CARDs exhibit similar effects on downstream gene transcriptions, reflecting their antiviral function.

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