The methyltransferase PRMT6 attenuates antiviral innate immunity by blocking TBK1-IRF3 signaling

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) play diverse biological roles and are specifically involved in immune cell development and inflammation. However, their role in antiviral innate immunity has not been elucidated. Viral infection triggers the TBK1-IRF3 signaling pathway to stimulate the production of type-I interferon, which mediates antiviral immunity. We performed a functional screen of the nine mammalian PRMTs for regulators of IFN-β expression and found that PRMT6 inhibits the antiviral innate immune response. Viral infection also upregulated PRMT6 protein levels. We generated PRMT6-deficient mice and found that they exhibited enhanced antiviral innate immunity. PRMT6 deficiency promoted the TBK1-IRF3 interaction and subsequently enhanced IRF3 activation and type-I interferon production. Mechanistically, viral infection enhanced the binding of PRMT6 to IRF3 and inhibited the interaction between IRF3 and TBK1; this mechanism was independent of PRMT6 methyltransferase activity. Thus, PRMT6 inhibits antiviral innate immunity by sequestering IRF3, thereby blocking TBK1-IRF3 signaling. Our work demonstrates a methyltransferase-independent role for PRMTs. It also identifies a negative regulator of the antiviral immune response, which may protect the host from the damaging effects of an overactive immune system and/or be exploited by viruses to escape immune detection.