Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the main etiological agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The mechanism of pathogenicity associated with PCV2 infection is still not fully understood. Nevertheless, the fact that large amounts...
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the main etiological agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The mechanism of pathogenicity associated with PCV2 infection is still not fully understood. Nevertheless, the fact that large amounts of proinflammatory cytokines within lymphoid tissues are released during the early stage of PCV2 infection may induce chronic inflammatory responses followed by the destruction of lymphoid tissues. However, how PCV2 infection causes an excessive inflammatory response in the host immune system during the early stage of PCV2 infection is still not elucidated. Defining how each ORF of PCV2 manipulates the host immune system may be helpful to understand disease progression of PMWS. In this study, it was found that PCV2 ORF3 directly interact with RGS16 in the cytoplasm of host epithelial cells and its interaction leads to ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of RGS16. Facilitated degradation of the RGS16 by PCV2 ORF3 further enhances NFB translocation into the nucleus through the ERK 1/2 signaling pathway and increased secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 proinflammatory cytokine. Consequently, more severe inflammatory responses and leukocyte infiltration occur around PCV2 infection site. Furthermore, direct interaction between the PCV2 ORF2 and C1QBP within the cytoplasm of host macrophages was demonstrated in this study. The physical interaction between PCV2 ORF2 and C1QBP inhibits ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of C1QBP in macrophages. Increased stability of the C1QBP by the interaction with PCV2 ORF2 further enhances phagocytic activity of porcine macrophages through the phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway. These results may provide the first evidence showing how PCV2 infection facilitates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, enhances phagocytic activity of macrophages and creates a more severe inflammatory response during the early stages of PCV2 infection.