Type I Interferons Triggered through the Toll-Like Receptor 3–TRIF Pathway Control Coxsackievirus A16 Infection in Young Mice

Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) is one of the major etiological agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in children. The host defense mechanisms against CVA16 infection remain almost entirely unknown. Unlike previous observations with enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection, here we show that gamma interferon (IFN-γ) or invariant NK T cell deficiency does not affect disease development or the survival of CVA16-infected mice. In contrast, type I interferon receptor deficiency resulted in the development of more severe disease in mice, and the mice had a lower survival rate than wild-type mice. Similarly, a deficiency of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and TRIF, but not other pattern recognition receptors, led to the decreased survival of CVA16-infected mice. TLR3-TRIF signaling was indispensable for the induction of type I interferons during CVA16 infection in mice and protected young mice from disease caused by the infection. In particular, TRIF-mediated immunity was critical for preventing CVA16 replication in the neuronal system before disease occurred. IFN-β treatment was also found to compensate for TRIF deficiency in mice and decreased the disease severity in and mortality of CVA16-infected mice. Altogether, type I interferons induced by TLR3-TRIF signaling mediate protective immunity against CVA16 infection. These findings may shed light on therapeutic strategies to combat HFMD caused by CVA16 infection.