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Updated: Jun 21, 2025
An Ex Vivo Chicken Primary Bursal-cell Culture Model to Study Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Pathogenesis
Published on: October 4, 2018
Chicken PRMT3 facilitates IBDV replication
Zhixuan Xiong1, Jingjing Cao2, Mengchen Xiu3
1Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Qingshan Lake, Nanchang, 330045, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, PR China.
Abstract:
Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in mammals play a role in various signaling pathways, such as virus infection, inflammasome responses, and cancer growth. While some PRMTs have been found to regulate interferon production in mammals, the mechanism in chickens remains to be fully understood. This study focused on investigating the function of chicken PRMTs. Our findings indicate that chicken PRMTs act as inhibitors of interferon production in response to dsRNA or MDA5 stimulation. Each PRMT is involved in different stages of interferon induction through the MDA5-MAVS-TBK1 pathway. Furthermore, we observed the colocalization of multiple PRMTs with the viral protein VP3 of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Among the chicken PRMTs studied, PRMT3 was found to be widely expressed in various organs and its expression was upregulated during IBDV infection. Notably, PRMT3 supported IBDV replication, as demonstrated by ectopic expression and inhibition studies using SGC-707. Silencing of PRMT3 led to enhanced interferon production and inhibition of IBDV replication. This study provides novel insights into the role of chicken PRMTs, particularly PRMT3, in promoting IBDV replication by suppressing interferon signaling.
Insights
Chicken protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) inhibit interferon production, aiding viral replication. PRMT3 specifically supports infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) replication by suppressing interferon signaling, offering new therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are crucial in mammalian signaling pathways, including antiviral responses.
- The specific roles of chicken PRMTs in interferon production and viral interactions are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of chicken PRMTs in interferon production and their role in infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) replication.
- To elucidate the involvement of PRMTs in the MDA5-MAVS-TBK1 signaling pathway.
Main Methods:
- Investigated chicken PRMTs' function in interferon production upon dsRNA or MDA5 stimulation.
- Analyzed PRMT colocalization with IBDV viral protein VP3.
- Examined PRMT3 expression, its role in IBDV replication using ectopic expression and SGC-707 inhibition, and the effects of PRMT3 silencing.
Main Results:
- Chicken PRMTs inhibit interferon production induced by dsRNA or MDA5.
- PRMTs participate at different stages of the MDA5-MAVS-TBK1 interferon induction pathway.
- PRMT3 is upregulated during IBDV infection, colocalizes with VP3, and supports IBDV replication.
- PRMT3 silencing enhances interferon production and inhibits IBDV replication.
Conclusions:
- Chicken PRMTs, particularly PRMT3, suppress interferon signaling to promote IBDV replication.
- PRMT3 is a key factor in IBDV pathogenesis, representing a potential target for antiviral strategies.
