The host cells suppress the proliferation of pseudorabies virus by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

ABSTRACT Pseudorabies virus (PRV), a member of the alpha-herpesviruses, can infect both the nervous and reproductive systems of pigs, causing neonatal mortality and reproductive failure in sows, which incurs substantial economic losses. Neurotropism is a common characteristic of various viruses, allowing them to cross the blood-brain barrier and access the central nervous system. However, the precise mechanisms by which PRV affects the blood-brain barrier are not well understood. To investigate the mechanism of PRV’s interaction with the blood-brain barrier and its engagement with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway during infection, an in vitro monolayer cell model of the blood-brain barrier was established. Our research found that PRV activates Matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), which degrades Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and consequently enhances the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. PRV infection elevated the transcriptional levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) and inhibited its degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, leading to higher intracellular concentrations of TIMP1 protein. TIMP1 regulates apoptosis and inhibits PRV replication in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In summary, our study delineates the mechanism through which PRV compromises the blood-brain barrier and provides insights into the host’s antiviral defense mechanisms post-infection. IMPORTANCE PRV, known for its neurotropic properties, is capable of inducing severe neuronal damage. Our study discovered that following PRV infection, the expression of MMP2 was upregulated, leading to the degradation of ZO-1. Furthermore, upon PRV infection in the host, the promoter of TIMP1 is significantly activated, resulting in a significant increase in TIMP1 protein levels. This upregulation of TIMP1 inhibits the proliferation of PRV through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study elucidated the mechanism through which PRV, including the PRV XJ delgE/gI/TK strains, compromises the blood-brain barrier and identifies the antiviral response characterized by the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway within infected host cells. These findings provide potential therapeutic targets for the clinical management and treatment of PRV.