Cholesterol 25-Hydroxylase is an Interferon-inducible Factor that Protects against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Infection

Publication date: Available online 20 September 2017 Source:Veterinary Microbiology Author(s): Zhongbao Song, Qiaoya Zhang, Xuewei Liu, Juan Bai, Yongxiang Zhao, Xianwei Wang, Ping Jiang Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus of the Arteriviridae family, has become a global health threat for swine. Cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H) is an enzyme that catalyzes oxidation of cholesterol to 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC). The purpose of this study was to explore the antiviral activity of CH25H against PRRSV infection. We found that CH25H was induced by interferon-α and PRRSV in Marc-145 monkey kidney cells. In addition, CH25H and 25HC significantly inhibited PRRSV infection by preventing virus entry. A CH25H mutant that exhibited decreased catalytic activity had an antiviral effect against PRRSV. Treatment with 25HC pre-infection or post-infection significantly inhibited PRRSV infection in primary porcine alveolar macrophages. Our results reveal that CH25H is an interferon-stimulated gene and its production of 25HC can be used as a natural antiviral agent to combat PRRSV infection.
Source: Veterinary Microbiology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research