HCFC1R1 Deficiency Blocks Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Infection by Inhibiting Nuclear Translocation of HCFC1 and VP16

Upon HSV-1 infection, viral protein 16 (VP16), supported by Host Cell Factor C1 (HCFC1), is rapidly transported into the nucleus, and help to express a series of HSV-1 immediate-early proteins to begin its lytic replication. However, no direct evidence has shown if the HCFC1 deficiency can affect the proliferation of HSV-1 so far. Here, we showed that the HCFC1 deficiency led to a strong resistance to HSV-1 infection. Moreover, we identified Host Cell Factor C1 Regulator 1 (HCFC1R1) as a new host factor acting early in HSV infection for the transport of the HSV-1 capsid to the nucleus. The HCFC1R1 deficiency also led to a strong resistance to HSV-1 infection. The HCFC1R1 deficiency did not affect the attachment of HSV-1 to host cells but act early in HSV-1 infection by perturbing the formation of HCFC1/VP16 complex. Remarkably, in addition to wild-type HSV-1 infection, the host cells in the absence of either HCFC1 or HCFC1R1 showed strong resistant to the infection of TK-deficient HSV-1, which strain can course severe symptoms and tolerate to the current anti-HSV drug Acyclovir. Our data suggest that HCFC1 or HCFC1R1 may be used as the novel target for developing anti-HSV-1 therapies. IMPORTANCEHerpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is widely spread in the human population and can cause a variety of herpetic diseases. Acyclovir, a guanosine analogue that targets the TK protein of HSV-1, is the first specific and selective anti-HSV-1 drug. However, the rapid emergence of resistant HSV-1 strains is occurring worldwide, endangering the efficacy of Acyclovir. Alternatively, targeting host factors is another strategy to stop HSV-1 infection. Unfortunately, although the HSV-1s receptor, Nectin-1, was discovered in 1998, no effective antiviral drug to date has been developed by targeting Nectin-1. Targeting multiple pathways is the ultimate choice to prevent HSV-1 infection. Here we demonstrated that the deletion of HCFC1 or HCFC1R1 exhibits a strong inhibitory effect on both wild-type and TK-deficient HSV-1. Overall, we present evidence that HCFC1 or HCFC1R1 may be used as the novel target for developing anti-HSV-1 therapies with a defined mechanism of action.