The Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Protein MC163 Inhibits TNF-α-induced NF-κB Activation

Abstract

Aim: The molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) expresses several immune evasion molecules that inhibit activation of NF-κB. Presumably, inhibition of inflammatory responses mediated by NF-κB allows MCV to cause persistent infections. Materials & methods: MC163-IKK-α interactions were detected by immunoprecipitations. Results: Here, we identify a novel MCV inhibitor of NF-κB. Ectopic expression of the MC163 protein resulted in a significant decrease in TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation. However, MC163 had no detectable effect on mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein-induced activation of the IFN-β-promoter. MC163 dampened NF-κB activation induced via the overexpression of either IKK-α or IKK-β suggesting MC163 targets the IKK complex. Conclusion: Our data highlight a previously unknown function for the MC163 protein and may represent an additional strategy used by MCV to subvert host immune responses.

Keywords:

• IKK
• MC163
• MCV
• molluscum contagiosum virus
• NF-κB
• TNF-α

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Michael Beaury, Sahil Trivedi, Lissette Bouza and Catherine Suarez for technical assistance.

Authors’ contributions

All the authors made substantial contributions to the paper through conceiving the project, running experiments, analyzing the data and writing the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was made possible through Seton Hall University startup funds as well as a grant from the Seton Hall University Research Council. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.