Novel role of bone morphogenetic protein 9 in innate host responses to HCMV infection

Herpesviruses modulate immune control to secure lifelong infection. The mechanisms Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) employs in this regard can reveal unanticipated aspects of cellular signaling involved in antiviral immunity. Here, we describe a novel relationship between the TGF-beta family cytokine BMP9 and HCMV infection. We identify a cross-talk between BMP9-induced and IFN receptor-mediated signaling, showing that BMP9 boosts the transcriptional response to and antiviral activity of IFN beta, thereby enhancing viral restriction. We also show that BMP9 is secreted by human fibroblasts upon HCMV infection. However, HCMV infection impairs BMP9-induced enhancement of the IFN beta response, indicating that this signaling role of BMP9 is actively targeted by HCMV. Indeed, transmembrane proteins US18 and US20, which downregulate type I BMP receptors, are necessary and sufficient to cause inhibition of BMP9-mediated boosting of the antiviral response to IFN beta. HCMV lacking US18 and US20 is more sensitive to IFN beta. Thus, HCMV has a mutually antagonistic relationship with BMP9, which extends the growing body of evidence that BMP signaling is an underappreciated modulator of innate immunity in response to viral infection. Fibroblasts secrete BMP9 upon HCMV infection, which boosts the transcriptional response to and antiviral effects of type I interferons. However, HCMV encodes two proteins that downregulate BMP receptors, thereby protecting the virus from antiviral responses.BMP9 boosts transcriptional responses to type I IFN and enhances restriction of HCMV infection. The innate immune response of fibroblasts to HCMV infection includes secretion of BMP9. HCMV impairs BMP9-induced enhancement of the type I IFN response via US18 and US20. BMPs are an underappreciated modulator of innate immunity to viral infection. Fibroblasts secrete BMP9 upon HCMV infection, which boosts the transcriptional response to and antiviral effects of type I interferons. However, HCMV encodes two proteins that downregulate BMP receptors, thereby protecting the virus from antiviral responses.