Effects of APOBEC3G on the replications of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit 3G (APOBEC3G)on virus replication and IL-6 production during severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection. Methods Lentiviral infection was used to establish A549 cell lines that overexpress APOBEC3G, which were then infected with patient-derived SFTSV. RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of APOBEC3G, non-structural protein-encoding gene of SFTSV(non-structural protein, NS)and IL-6. Moreover, protein level of IL-6 in the culture supernatant was determined by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Results SFTSV infection significantly induced mRNA expression of APOBEC3G and IL-6 by about 100 and 800 times respectively (P<0.001). The mRNA expression of NS gene was down-regulated by 57% after APOBEC3G overexpression (P=0.001), while IL-6 mRNA expression was up-regulated by 58% (P=0.001). Protein level of IL-6 in the supernatant of APOBEC3G-overexpressing cells(15 150.65±215.54) was increased in comparison to the control[(11 257.92±274.36) pg/mL, P<0.001)]. Conclusion SFTSV infection could induce APOBEC3G expression that, in turn, inhibit the replication of SFTSV and promote the production of IL-6.

Keywords

• severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (sftsv)
• apobec3g
• il-6