Inflammatory response induced by African swine fever virus C717R protein in mice

Abstract:

[Objective] By screening the inflammatory response system, we discovered that the African swine fever virus (ASFV) protein C717R induced an inflammatory response. This study aims to reveal the function of C717R protein by constructing recombinant C717R-lentivirus and observing the recombinant-induced inflammatory response in BALB/c mice. [Methods] C717R was screened out by the inflammasome expression system and used to construct the recombinant C717R-lentivirus. Mice were infected with the recombinant C717R-lentivirus to enable the expression of C717R in mouse tissue. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to examine the package of C717R-lentivirus, protein expression, and the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and interferon-beta (IFN-β), respectively. [Results] C717R protein was normally expressed in mouse tissue. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IFN-β were elevated in the expression of C717R protein in mice. The mRNA levels of C717R, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly up-regulated in the expression of C717R protein in mice. Western blotting demonstrated that expression of C717R protein induced the caspase-1 and IL-1β in different tissues. The lesions in the liver, heart, lungs, and other organs of BALB/c mice expressing C717R protein were severer than those in the control mice. [Conclusion] The expression of C717R protein induced an inflammatory response in BALB/c mice. The findings provide a basis for deciphering the mechanism of C717R protein-mediated inflammation.