CX3CR1 Engagement by Respiratory Syncytial Virus Leads to Induction of Nucleolin and Dysregulation of Cilium-Related Genes

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) contains a conserved CX3C motif on the ectodomain of the G protein. The motif has been indicated as facilitating attachment of the virus to the host, initiating infection via the human CX3CR1 receptor. The natural CX3CR1 ligand, CX3CL1, has been shown to induce signaling pathways resulting in transcriptional changes in the host cells. We hypothesize that binding of RSV to CX3CR1 via CX3C leads to transcriptional changes in host epithelial cells. Using transcriptomic analysis, the effect of CX3CR1 engagement by RSV was investigated. Normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells were infected with RSV virus containing either wild-type (WT) G protein or a mutant virus containing a CX4C mutation in the G protein. RNA sequencing was performed on mock-infected and 4-days-postinfected cultures. NHBE cultures were also treated with purified recombinant wild-type A2 G protein. Here, we report that RSV infection resulted in significant changes in the levels of 766 transcripts. Many nuclear associated proteins were upregulated in the WT group, including nucleolin. In contrast, cilium-associated genes, including CC2D2A and CFAP221 (PCDP1), were downregulated. The addition of recombinant G protein to the culture led to the suppression of cilium related genes while also inducing nucleolin. Mutation of the CX3C motif (CX4C) reversed these effects on transcription, decreasing nucleolin induction and lessening the suppression of cilium-related transcripts in culture. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated decreases in ciliated cells and altered morphology. Therefore, it appears that engagement of CX3CR1 leads to induction of genes necessary for RSV entry as well as dysregulation of genes associated with the function of cilia. IMPORTANCE Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has an enormous impact on infants and the elderly, including increased fatality rates and potential for causing lifelong lung problems. Humans become infected with RSV through the inhalation of viral particles exhaled from an infected individual. These virus particles contain specific proteins that the virus uses to attach to human ciliated lung epithelial cells, initiating infection. Two viral proteins, G protein and F protein, have been shown to bind to human CX3CR1and nucleolin, respectively. Here, we show that the G protein induces nucleolin and suppresses gene transcripts specific to ciliated cells. Furthermore, we show that mutation of the CX3C-motif on the G protein, CX4C, reverses these transcriptional changes.