Interplay between Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Signaling Activated by Type I Interferons and Viral Antagonism

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology 2017-12, Vol.8, p.1758-1758
• Main Authors: Nan, Yuchen, Wu, Chunyan, Zhang, Yan-Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Immunology; interferons; Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling; Janus kinases; signal transducer and activator of transcriptions; viral antagonism; viral attenuation
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01758

Interferons (IFNs), which were discovered a half century ago, are a group of secreted proteins that play key roles in innate immunity against viral infection. The major signaling pathway activated by IFNs is the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, which leads to the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), including many antiviral effectors. Viruses have evolved various strategies with which to antagonize the JAK/STAT pathway to influence viral virulence and pathogenesis. In recent years, notable progress has been made to better understand the JAK/STAT pathway activated by IFNs and antagonized by viruses. In this review, recent progress in research of the JAK/STAT pathway activated by type I IFNs, non-canonical STAT activation, viral antagonism of the JAK/STAT pathway, removing of the JAK/STAT antagonist from viral genome for attenuation, and the potential pathogenesis roles of tyrosine phosphorylation-independent non-canonical STATs activation during virus infection are discussed in detail. We expect that this review will provide new insight into the understanding the complexity of the interplay between JAK/STAT signaling and viral antagonism.