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Resistance to influenza virus and vesicular stomatitis virus conferred by expression of human MxA protein

J Pavlovic1, T Zürcher, O Haller

  • 1Institut für Immunologie und Virologie, Universität Zürich, Switzerland.

Journal of Virology
|July 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Human MxA protein confers resistance to influenza A and vesicular stomatitis viruses. This interferon-induced protein, MxA, located in the cytoplasm, plays a key role in antiviral defense.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • MxA and MxB are interferon-induced human proteins.
  • They are related to murine Mx1 protein, known for influenza resistance.
  • Cytoplasmic localization of MxA/MxB contrasted with nuclear Mx1, leaving their antiviral role unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of MxA and MxB in the interferon-induced antiviral state.
  • To determine if MxA confers resistance to specific viruses.

Main Methods:

  • Transfected cell lines expressing MxA and MxB were created.
  • Virus resistance assays were performed using influenza A, vesicular stomatitis virus, picornaviruses, togavirus, and herpes simplex virus type 1.
  • Effect of anti-interferon antibodies on MxA-expressing cells was assessed.

Main Results:

  • MxA expression in transfected cells conferred significant resistance to influenza A virus.
  • MxA also unexpectedly conferred resistance to vesicular stomatitis virus.
  • MxA did not affect the multiplication of picornaviruses, togavirus, or herpes simplex virus type 1.
  • MxB expression did not confer virus resistance.
  • Resistance phenotype in MxA-expressing cells was not abolished by anti-interferon antibodies.

Conclusions:

  • MxA is a key mediator of resistance against influenza A and vesicular stomatitis viruses.
  • The antiviral activity of MxA is specific and not dependent on alpha-beta interferon signaling.
  • MxB does not appear to play a similar antiviral role.

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