DEAD-box RNA helicase 10 inhibits porcine circovirus type 3 replication by interacting with the viral capsid protein and activating interferon responses.

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is an emerging pathogen that causes porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome-like symptoms, multisystemic inflammation, and reproductive failure. The PCV3 capsid (Cap) protein interacts with DEAD-box RNA helicase 10 (DDX10), a protein that functions primarily through regulating interferon (IFN)-β production to exert its antiviral activity. However, how the interaction between DDX10 and PCV3 Cap regulates viral replication remains unknown. We used Western blotting, interaction assays, and knockdown analyses to observe impaired PCV3 proliferation in transiently DDX10-overexpressing cells, as indicated by decreased viral protein expression levels and virus production. In contrast, PCV3 replication increased upon small interfering RNA-mediated depletion. Furthermore, DDX10 positively regulated IFN-β production and interferon-stimulated gene expression, inhibiting PCV3 replication. Mechanistically, PCV3 Cap co-localized and interacted with DDX10, and the N-terminal nuclear localization signal of PCV3 Cap and the helicase domain of DDX10 were essential for the Cap-DDX10 interaction. Furthermore, PCV3 infection decreases DDX10 expression to antagonize its antiviral activity. These results show that DDX10 antagonizes PCV3 replication by interacting with the PCV3 Cap protein and activating IFN-β responses, which provides important insight into the prevention and control of PCV3 infection.IMPORTANCEClarifying how host factors contribute to infection with PCV3, a newly discovered pathogen associated with multiple clinicopathological signs in swine, helps elucidate viral pathogenesis. The PCV3 Cap protein has been shown to interact with DDX10, a crucial protein that regulates RNA virus replication. Herein, we further demonstrated that DDX10 expression is downregulated in PCV3-infected cells and antagonizes the replication of PCV3 and that DDX10 increases interferon-β and interferon-stimulated gene levels to inhibit PCV3 replication by binding to the PCV3 Cap. In addition, PCV3 infection decreases DDX10 expression to antagonize its antiviral activity. These results reveal a molecular mechanism by which DDX10 antagonizes PCV3 replication by binding to the PCV3 Cap protein and activating IFN signals, thereby providing important targets for preventing and controlling PCV3 infection.