RIG-I-like receptors (retinoic acid-inducible gene-I-like receptors, RLRs) are a type of intracellular pattern recognition receptor involved in the recognition of viruses by the innate immune system. [1] [2] RIG-I (retinoic-acid inducible gene or DDX58) is the best characterized receptor within the RIG-I like receptor (RLR) family. Together with MDA5 (melanoma differentiation-associated 5) and LGP2 (laboratory of genetics and physiology 2), this family of cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are sentinels for intracellular viral RNA that is a product of viral infection. The RLR receptors provide frontline defence against viral infections in most tissues.
The RIG-I receptor prefers to bind short (<2000 bp) single- or double-stranded RNA carrying an uncapped 5’ triphosphate and additional motifs such as poly-uridine rich RNA motifs. [3] [4] RIG-I triggers an immune response to RNA viruses from various families including the paramyxoviruses (e.g. measles), rhabdoviruses (e.g. vesicular stomatitis virus) and orthomyxoviruses (e.g. influenza A). [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] MDA5 ligands are poorly characterized, but the preference is for long double-stranded RNA (>2000 bp), such as the replicative form of picornavirus RNA that is found in picornavirus-infected cells. [10] [11] LGP2 binds to blunt-ended double-stranded RNA of variable length, [12] [13] and also to RNA-bound MDA5 to regulate filament formation. [14] The latter is linked to LGP2's recognition of picornaviruses (e.g. encephalomyocarditis virus), as per MDA5. [15]
The RLR receptors are members of the DEAD-box (SF2) helicase family (despite containing a DExD/H motif, rather than the DEAD motif characteristic of the family) and share a common domain architecture. All contain a catalytic helicase core made up of two RecA-like domains. The catalytic helicase core contains at least 9 highly conserved sequence motifs that coordinate ATP and RNA binding and the hydrolysis of ATP to unwind RNA. A C-terminal domain (CTD; InterPro : IPR021673 ) follows the helicase core and this domain also binds viral RNA. Distinct RNA-binding loops within the CTD of the three RLRs dictate the type of RNA that they can bind. [16] In addition to the helicase core and CTD, RIG-I and MDA5 have two N-terminal CARD (caspase active recruitment domains) that are essential to the initiation of downstream signaling. LGP2 is dissimilar to both RIG-I and MDA5 as it lacks the CARD signaling domains and instead is implicated as a positive and negative regulator of RIG-I and MDA5. [14] [17] [18] [19] [20] [15] [21]
In uninfected cells that are absent of viral RNA RIG-I exists in an inactive conformation in which the CARD domains are masked due to their interaction with the CTD. [22] Upon binding RNA, RIG-I changes into a conformation in which the CARD domains are exposed and ‘available’ for signaling. Conversely, the MDA5 CARDs are unhindered in the absence of viral RNA. [23] As a safeguard for RLR activation, the exposed RIG-I and MDA5 CARDs can undergo post-translational modifications (e.g. ubiquitination, phosphorylation) that either positively or negatively regulate downstream signaling.
In the activated state the exposed RIG-I CARD domains interact with the CARD domains of MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein, also known as IPS-1, VISA or Cardif) which sits on the outer surface of the mitochondria. This binding event is essential to signaling as it causes MAVS to form large functional aggregates in which TRAF3 (TNF receptor-associated factor 3) and subsequently the IKKε/TBK1 (I-kappa-B kinase-epsilon/TANK-binding kinase 1) complex are recruited. The IKKε/TBK1 complex leads to the activation of the transcription factors interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and IRF7 which induce type I (including IFNα and IFNβ) and type III interferons (IFN). The type I IFNs bind type I IFN receptors on the surface of the cell that produced them, and also other cell types that express the receptor, to activate JAK-STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription) signaling. This leads to the induction of hundreds of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) that amplify the IFN response. Overall this causes the death of infected cells, the protection of surrounding cells and the activation of the antigen-specific antiviral immune response. Collectively this coordinated antiviral immune response controls the viral infection.
As prolonged IFN production is linked to human disease RLR signaling must be tightly regulated. One of various ways that this is achieved is by post-translationally modifying, or tagging, host RLR signaling proteins with phosphate (known as phosphorylation) or ubiquitin (known as ubiquitination). These tags can also be removed, which adds an additional regulatory layer to RLR signaling. These post-translational modifications, and their removal, are prevalent in RLR signaling and even regulate the RIG-I receptor itself. Most famously the RIG-I CARD domain is phosphorylated by protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) and PKC-β in the resting state to negatively regulate signaling. [24] [25] [26] Upon viral infection RIG-I is dephosphorylated by PP1α and PP1γ, [27] permitting the ubiquitination of the RIG-I CARD domain by the E3 ligase TRIM25 to activate the RLR-mediated antiviral immune response. [28] Given post-translational modifications are so pertinent to the activation of RLR signaling, it is not surprising that they are directly, or indirectly, targeted by viruses such as influenza A [29] and measles, [30] respectively, to suppress signaling.
Viruses have evolved ways to subvert RLR signaling to enhance their survival. For example, influenza A virus and West Nile virus (WNV) use their NS1 (nonstructural protein 1) proteins to block RIG-I ubiquitination by TRIM25, or cause RIG-I degradation, respectively, which in turn inhibits IFN production. [29] [31] This outcome is also achieved by the hepatitis C (HCV) NS3/4A protein by cleaving a part of MAVS, [32] and the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) leader protease (Lpro) which cleaves LGP2. [33] Likewise, dengue virus (DENV) uses its NS2B3, NS2A and NS4B proteins to bind IKKε and prevent IRF3 phosphorylation [34] [35] and its NS4A protein, as per the zika virus, to bind MAVS to block RLR receptor binding. [36] [37] Another prominent example is that of the paramyxovirus V proteins, which directly bind various RLR or downstream signaling proteins including MDA5, LGP2, and STAT, [38] [39] [40] or proteins such as PP1α and PP1γ [30] that negatively regulate RLR signaling.
Interferons are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defenses.
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a crucial role in the proper function of the innate immune system. PRRs are germline-encoded host sensors, which detect molecules typical for the pathogens. They are proteins expressed mainly by cells of the innate immune system, such as dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, as well as by epithelial cells, to identify two classes of molecules: pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are associated with microbial pathogens, and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which are associated with components of host's cells that are released during cell damage or death. They are also called primitive pattern recognition receptors because they evolved before other parts of the immune system, particularly before adaptive immunity. PRRs also mediate the initiation of antigen-specific adaptive immune response and release of inflammatory cytokines.
Ribonuclease L or RNase L, known sometimes as ribonuclease 4 or 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase-dependent ribonuclease, is an interferon (IFN)-induced ribonuclease which, upon activation, destroys all RNA within the cell. RNase L is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the RNASEL gene.
The innate immune system or nonspecific immune system is one of the two main immunity strategies in vertebrates. The innate immune system is an alternate defense strategy and is the dominant immune system response found in plants, fungi, prokaryotes, and invertebrates.
Caspase recruitment domains, or caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARDs), are interaction motifs found in a wide array of proteins, typically those involved in processes relating to inflammation and apoptosis. These domains mediate the formation of larger protein complexes via direct interactions between individual CARDs. CARDs are found on a strikingly wide range of proteins, including helicases, kinases, mitochondrial proteins, caspases, and other cytoplasmic factors.
The type-I interferons (IFN) are cytokines which play essential roles in inflammation, immunoregulation, tumor cells recognition, and T-cell responses. In the human genome, a cluster of thirteen functional IFN genes is located at the 9p21.3 cytoband over approximately 400 kb including coding genes for IFNα, IFNω (IFNW1), IFNɛ (IFNE), IFNк (IFNK) and IFNβ (IFNB1), plus 11 IFN pseudogenes.
The type III interferon group is a group of anti-viral cytokines, that consists of four IFN-λ (lambda) molecules called IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, and IFN-λ4. They were discovered in 2003. Their function is similar to that of type I interferons, but is less intense and serves mostly as a first-line defense against viruses in the epithelium.
Interferon regulatory factor 3, also known as IRF3, is an interferon regulatory factor.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the STAT2 gene. It is a member of the STAT protein family. This protein is critical to the biological response of type I interferons (IFNs). It functions as a transcription factor downstream of type I interferons. STAT2 sequence identity between mouse and human is only 68%.
RIG-I is a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that can mediate induction of a type-I interferon (IFN1) response. RIG-I is an essential molecule in the innate immune system for recognizing cells that have been infected with a virus. These viruses can include West Nile virus, Japanese Encephalitis virus, influenza A, Sendai virus, flavivirus, and coronaviruses.
Interferon alpha-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IFNA2 gene.
Mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) is a protein that is essential for antiviral innate immunity. MAVS is located in the outer membrane of the mitochondria, peroxisomes, and mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM). Upon viral infection, a group of cytosolic proteins will detect the presence of the virus and bind to MAVS, thereby activating MAVS. The activation of MAVS leads the virally infected cell to secrete cytokines. This induces an immune response which kills the host's virally infected cells, resulting in clearance of the virus.
Tripartite motif-containing protein 25 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TRIM25 gene.
MDA5 is a RIG-I-like receptor dsRNA helicase enzyme that is encoded by the IFIH1 gene in humans. MDA5 is part of the RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) family, which also includes RIG-I and LGP2, and functions as a pattern recognition receptor capable of detecting viruses. It is generally believed that MDA5 recognizes double stranded RNA (dsRNA) over 2000nts in length, however it has been shown that whilst MDA5 can detect and bind to cytoplasmic dsRNA, it is also activated by a high molecular weight RNA complex composed of ssRNA and dsRNA. For many viruses, effective MDA5-mediated antiviral responses are dependent on functionally active LGP2. The signaling cascades in MDA5 is initiated via CARD domain. Some observations made in cancer cells show that MDA5 also interacts with cellular RNA is able to induce an autoinflammatory response.
Probable ATP-dependent RNA helicase DHX58 also known as RIG-I-like receptor 3 (RLR-3) or RIG-I-like receptor LGP2 (RLR) is a RIG-I-like receptor dsRNA helicase enzyme that in humans is encoded by the DHX58 gene. The protein encoded by the gene DHX58 is known as LGP2.
Interleukin-28 receptor is a type II cytokine receptor found largely in epithelial cells. It binds type 3 interferons, interleukin-28 A, Interleukin-28B, interleukin 29 and interferon lambda 4. It consists of an α chain and shares a common β subunit with the interleukin-10 receptor. Binding to the interleukin-28 receptor, which is restricted to select cell types, is important for fighting infection. Binding of the type 3 interferons to the receptor results in activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.
NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 11 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NLRP11 gene located on the long arm of human chromosome 19q13.42. NLRP11 belongs to the NALP subfamily, part of a large subfamily of CATERPILLER. It is also known as NALP11, PYPAF6, NOD17, PAN10, and CLR19.6
Stimulator of interferon genes (STING), also known as transmembrane protein 173 (TMEM173) and MPYS/MITA/ERIS is a protein that in humans is encoded by the STING1 gene.
An interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) is a gene that can be expressed in response to stimulation by interferon. Interferons bind to receptors on the surface of a cell, initiating protein signaling pathways within the cell. This interaction leads to the expression of a subset of genes involved in the innate immune system response. ISGs are commonly expressed in response to viral infection, but also during bacterial infection and in the presence of parasites. It's currently estimated that 10% of the human genome is regulated by interferons (IFNs). Interferon stimulated genes can act as an initial response to pathogen invasion, slowing down viral replication and increasing expression of immune signaling complexes. There are three known types of interferon. With approximately 450 genes highly expressed in response to interferon type I. Type I interferon consists of INF-α, INF-β, INF-ω and is expressed in response to viral infection. ISGs induced by type I interferon are associated with viral replication suppression and increase expression of immune signaling proteins. Type II interferon consists only of INF-γ and is associated with controlling intracellular pathogens and tumor suppressor genes. Type III interferon consists of INF-λ and is associated with viral immune response and is key in anti-fungal neutrophil response.
The mammalian immune system has evolved complex methods for addressing and adapting to foreign antigens. At the same time, viruses have co-evolved evasion machinery to address the many ways that host organisms attempt to eradicate them. DNA and RNA viruses use complex methods to evade immune cell detection through disruption of the Interferon Signaling Pathway, remodeling of cellular architecture, targeted gene silencing, and recognition protein cleavage.
This article was adapted from the following source under a CC BY 4.0 license (2019) (reviewer reports): Natalie Borg (2019). "RIG-I like receptors" (PDF). WikiJournal of Science. 2 (1): 1. doi: 10.15347/WJS/2019.001 . ISSN 2470-6345. Wikidata Q62604415.
The other two families of PRRs, the NOD-like receptors (NLRs) and the RIG-like helicases (RLHs) are soluble receptors present in the cytosol and act as sensors to detect a variety of viral and bacterial products.