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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Protein Transfection of Mouse Lung
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Protein Transfection of Mouse Lung

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African Swine Fever Virus R238L and R298L Disrupt Lung Cell Collagen Formation and Cell Adhesion Pathway by Targeting

Siqi Niu1, Fanghong Zhang1, Jingchun Wen1

  • 1College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China.

Veterinary Sciences
|March 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) infection disrupts collagen and cell adhesion by targeting host transcription factors. ASFV proteins R238L and R298L bind SP2 and KLF6, downregulating key genes.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) infection impacts collagen formation and cell adhesion pathways.
  • The precise regulatory mechanisms and host targets involved in ASFV pathogenesis are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if ASFV manipulates host collagen synthesis and cell adhesion pathways by targeting transcriptional regulators.
  • To identify specific ASFV proteins and host factors involved in this interaction.

Main Methods:

  • Weighted Kendall correlation analysis of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from ASFV-infected pig lung tissue.
  • Domain-domain interaction prediction and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays.
  • Overexpression studies in HeLa and 3D4/21 cell lines.

Main Results:

  • SP2 and KLF6 were identified as key transcription factors (TFs) regulating collagen synthesis and cell adhesion, respectively.
  • ASFV proteins R238L and R298L were found to directly bind to SP2 and KLF6.
  • Overexpression of R238L and R298L led to downregulation of SP2 and KLF6 target genes.

Conclusions:

  • ASFV proteins R238L and R298L interfere with host transcription factors SP2 and KLF6.
  • This interaction potentially disrupts collagen matrix integrity and cell adhesion, facilitating ASFV pathogenesis.
  • Reveals a novel viral mechanism impacting host cellular processes.
Keywords:
African swine fever virusextracellular matrixtranscription factorstranscriptional regulationvirus–host interaction

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