Understanding inhibition of viral proteins on type I IFN signaling pathways with modeling and optimization

The interferon system provides a powerful and universal intracellular defense mechanism against viruses. As one part of their survival strategies, many viruses have evolved mechanisms to counteract the host type I interferon (IFN-α/β) responses. In this study, we attempt to investigate virus- and double-strand RNA (dsRNA)-triggered type I IFN signaling pathways and understand the inhibition of IFN-α/β induction by viral proteins using mathematical modeling and quantitative analysis. Based on available literature and our experimental data, we develop a mathematical model of virus- and dsRNA-triggered signaling pathways leading to type I IFN gene expression during the primary response, and use the genetic algorithm to optimize all rate constants in the model. The consistency between numerical simulation results and biological experimental data demonstrates that our model is reasonable. Further, we use the model to predict the following phenomena: (1) the dose-dependent inhibition by classical swine fever virus (CSFV) Npro or Erns protein is observed at a low dose and can reach a saturation above a certain dose, not an increase; (2) Erns and Npro have no synergic inhibitory effects on IFN-β induction; (3) the different characters in an important transcription factor, phosphorylated IRF3 (IRF3p), are exhibited because Npro or Erns counteracted dsRNA- and virus-triggered IFN-β induction by targeting the different molecules in the signaling pathways and (4) Npro inhibits the IFN-β expression not only by interacting with IFR3 but also by affecting its complex with MITA. Our approaches help to gain insight into system properties and rational therapy design, as well as to generate hypotheses for further research.