The Nucleocapsid Protein and Nonstructural Protein 10 of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Enhance CD83 Production via NF-κB and Sp1 Signaling Pathways

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), is a panzootic disease that is one of the most economically costly diseases to the swine industry. A key aspect of PRRSV virulence is that the virus suppresses the innate immune response and induces persistent infection, although the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. The dendritic cell (DC) marker CD83 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and is associated with DC activation and immunosuppression of T cell proliferation when expressed as soluble CD83 (sCD83). In this study, we show that PRRSV infection strongly stimulates CD83 expression in porcine monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) and that the nucleocapsid (N) protein and nonstructural protein 10 (nsp10) of PRRSV enhance CD83 promoter activity via the NF-kappa B and Sp1 signaling pathways. R43A and K44A amino acid substitution mutants of the N protein suppress the N protein-mediated increase of CD83 promoter activity. Similarly, P192-5A and G214-3A mutants of nsp10 (with 5 and 3 alanine substitutions beginning at residues P192 and G214, respectively) abolish the nsp10-mediated induction of the CD83 promoter. Using reverse genetics, four mutant viruses (rR43A, rK44A, rP192-5A, and rG214-3A) and four revertants [rR43A(R), rK44A(R), rP192-5A(R), and rG214-3A(R)] were generated. Decreased induction of CD83 in MoDCs was observed after infection by mutants rR43A, rK44A, rP192-5A, and rG214-3A, in contrast to the results obtained using rR43A(R), rK44A(R), rP192-5A(R), and rG214-3A(R). These findings suggest that PRRSV N and nsp10 play important roles in modulating CD83 signaling and shed light on the mechanism by which PRRSV modulates host immunity. IMPORTANCE Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most economically costly pathogens affecting the swine industry. It is unclear how PRRSV inhibits the host's immune response and induces persistent infection. The dendritic cell (DC) marker CD83 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and has previously been associated with DC activation and immunosuppression of T cell proliferation and differentiation when expressed as soluble CD83 (sCD83). In this study, we found that PRRSV infection induces sCD83 expression in porcine MoDCs via the NF-kappa B and Sp1 signaling pathways. The viral nucleocapsid protein, nonstructural protein 1 (nsp1), and nsp10 were shown to enhance CD83 promoter activity. Amino acids R43 and K44 of the N protein, as well as residues 192 to 196 (P192-5) and 214 to 216 (G214-3) of nsp10, play important roles in CD83 promoter activation. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of immune suppression by PRRSV.