ISG15/USP18/STAT2 is a molecular hub regulating autocrine IFN I-mediated control of Dengue and Zika virus replication

Abstract

The establishment of a virus infection is the result of the pathogens ability to replicate in a hostile environment generated by the hosts immune system. Here, we found that ISG15 restricts Dengue and Zika viruses replication through the stabilisation of its binding partner USP18. ISG15 expression was necessary to control DV replication driven by both autocrine and paracrine type one interferon (IFN-I) signalling. Moreover, USP18 competes with NS5-mediated STAT2 degradation, a major mechanism for establishment of flavivirus infection. Strikingly, reconstitution of USP18 in ISG15-deficient cells was sufficient to restore the STAT2s stability and restrict virus growth, suggesting that the IFNAR-mediated ISG15 activity is also antiviral. Our results add a novel layer of complexity in the virus/host interaction interface and suggest that NS5 has a narrow window of opportunity to degrade STAT2, therefore suppressing hosts IFN-I mediated response and promoting virus replication. IMPORTANCEDisease is an emergent property that results from a microorganisms ability to replicate in a given host and the latters immune response. Here we describe how the immunoregulatory function of ISG15 (an interferon stimulated gene) affects Dengue and Zika virus replication by occupying a niche used by the virus non-structural protein 5 (NS5) to evade hosts immunity. In the absence of ISG15, NS5 efficiently degrades a main signalling hub of innate immunity (STAT2), leading to cell immune suppression and consequently virus growth. This sheds light into how flaviviruses intimately interact with the host immune system and could lead to a host-based therapy target.