Induction of IFN-β and the Innate Antiviral Response in Myeloid Cells Occurs through an IPS-1-Dependent Signal That Does Not Require IRF-3 and IRF-7

Interferon regulatory factors (IRF)-3 and IRF-7 are master transcriptional factors that regulate type I IFN gene (IFN-α/β) induction and innate immune defenses after virus infection. Prior studies in mice with single deletions of the IRF-3 or IRF-7 genes showed increased vulnerability to West Nile virus (WNV) infection. Whereas mice and cells lacking IRF-7 showed reduced IFN-α levels after WNV infection, those lacking IRF-3 or IRF-7 had relatively normal IFN-b production. Here, we generated IRF-3 −/− × IRF-7 −/− double knockout (DKO) mice, analyzed WNV pathogenesis, IFN responses, and signaling of innate defenses. Compared to wild type mice, the DKO mice exhibited a blunted but not abrogated systemic IFN response and sustained uncontrolled WNV replication leading to rapid mortality. Ex vivo analysis showed complete ablation of the IFN-α response in DKO fibroblasts, macrophages, dendritic cells, and cortical neurons and a substantial decrease of the IFN-β response in DKO fibroblasts and cortical neurons. In contrast, the IFN-β response was minimally diminished in DKO macrophages and dendritic cells. However, pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB and ATF-2/c-Jun, the two other known components of the IFN-β enhanceosome, strongly reduced IFN-β gene transcription in the DKO dendritic cells. Finally, a genetic deficiency of IPS-1, an adaptor involved in RIG-I- and MDA5-mediated antiviral signaling, completely abolished the IFN-β response after WNV infection. Overall, our experiments suggest that, unlike fibroblasts and cortical neurons, IFN-β gene regulation after WNV infection in myeloid cells is IPS-1-dependent but does not require full occupancy of the IFN-β enhanceosome by canonical constituent transcriptional factors.