<i>FHL2</i> Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication by Enhancing <i>IFN-β</i> Expression through Regulating <i>IRF-3</i>

oleh: Zhiqiang Xu, Mingyao Tian, Qihan Tan, Pengfei Hao, Zihan Gao, Chang Li, Ningyi Jin

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-12-01

Deskripsi

SARS-CoV-2 triggered the global COVID-19 pandemic, posing a severe threat to public health worldwide. The innate immune response in cells infected by SARS-CoV-2 is primarily orchestrated by type I interferon (IFN), with <i>IFN-β</i> exhibiting a notable inhibitory impact on SARS-CoV-2 replication. <i>FHL2</i>, acting as a docking site, facilitates the assembly of multiprotein complexes and regulates the transcription of diverse genes. However, the association between SARS-CoV-2 and <i>FHL2</i> remains unclear. In this study, we report for the first time that SARS-CoV-2 infection in Caco2 cells results in the upregulation of <i>FHL2</i> expression, while the virus’s N proteins can enhance <i>FHL2</i> expression. Notably, the knockdown of <i>FHL2</i> significantly amplifies SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Conversely, the overexpression of <i>FHL2</i> leads to a marked reduction in SARS-CoV-2 replication, with the antiviral property of <i>FHL2</i> being independent of the cell or virus type. Subsequent experiments reveal that <i>FHL2</i> supports <i>IFN-β</i> transcription by upregulating the expression and phosphorylation of IRF-3, thereby impeding SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells. These findings highlight <i>FHL2</i> as a potential antiviral target for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections.