MINIREVIEW
Weapons ofSTAT destruction
Interferon evasionbyparamyxovirusV proteins
Curt M. Horvath
Department of Medicine, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, and Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry,
Molecular Biology & Cell Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
The signal transducer and activator of transcription ( STAT)
family ofproteins fun ction to activate gene transcription
downstream of myriad cytokine and growth factor signals.
The prototype STAT proteins, STAT1 and STAT2, are
required for innate and adaptive antimicrobial immune
responses that result from interferon signal transduction.
While many viruses have evolved the ability to avoid these
antiviral cytokines, t he Paramyxoviruses are dist inct in their
abilities to i nterfere directly with STAT proteins. Individual
paramyxovirus species diffe r greatly in their precise mech-
anism ofSTAT signaling evasion, but a virus-encoded pro-
tein called V plays a central role in this process. The theme of
V-dependent interferonevasion and its variations provide
significant insights into virus–host interactions and viral
immune evasion that c an help define tar gets for antiviral
drug design. Exposure of the viral weaponsof STAT
destruction may also be instructive for application to
STAT-directed therapeutics for diseases characterized by
STAT hyperactivity.
Keywords: antiviral; interferon; paramyxovirus; STAT; viral
evasion.
Interferons: the antiviral cytokines
The interferon (IFN) family, including type I (IFNa,IFNb)
and type II (IFNc), refers to a group of cytokines that a re
capable of modulating diverse biological responses such as
immune regulation, tumor inhibition, cell growth arrest,
innate antimicrobial responses, and promotion of a daptive
immunity. Type I IFNs have long been associated w ith the
ability t o diminish v irus replication [ 1], and this antiviral
activity is the result of IFN-induced changes in cellular gene
expression (reviewed in [2–4]). Cellular response to IFN
leads to th e establishment of an antiviral state, a process that
requires new mRNA and protein synthesis of many IFN-
stimulated gene (ISG) products that contribute to the
antiviral responses required to limit diverse virus f amilies.
Immediate responses to virus infection result in rapid
transcriptional activation of type I IFN, typified by the
single human IFNb gene (Fig. 1). This IFN induction is
initiated by diverse virus replication in termediates, including
dsRNA as well as other Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands
[5,6]. In response to these signals, serine/threonine kinases
activate immediate-responding transcription factors inclu-
ding interferon regulatory facto r (IRF) 3, AP1(ATF2/
c-Jun), and NFjB, which rapidly mobilize to the IFNb
enhancer where they collaborate to recruit a series of
transcriptional coactivators that remodel the enhancer
chromatin a nd enable RNA pol II transcription [7]. The
newly synthesized IFNb is secreted from the primary
infected cell and signals to adjacent cells through direct
binding to a transmembrane type I IFN receptor on the cell
surface. The receptors are phosphorylated by associated
Janus family tyrosine kinases, leading t o receptor tyrosine
phosphorylation. Latent STAT2 in a ssociation with IRF9
[8,9] binds to these docking sites, and becomes phosphor-
ylated, followed by the recruitment and tyrosine phosphory-
lation of latent STAT1 [ 10]. The STATs heterodimerize via
SRC homology 2 (SH2) domain–phosphotyrosine inter-
actions, and together with the STAT-associated IRF9,
assemble into a heterotrimeric complex known as the IFN-
stimulated gene factor 3, ISGF3 [11–15]. ISGF3 rapidly
accumulates in the nucleus, binds to conserved IFN-
stimulated response e lement (ISRE) sequences on IFN a/
b-stimulated gene promoters, and increases their transcrip-
tion rates. One ISG target is IRF7, which combines with
IRF3 to amplify the IFN response by inducing the
expression of the numerous IFNa genes [16–18].
DespitethenegativeselectivepressureexertedbyIFN
signaling on viruses, the very existence of successful
infectious and pathogenic viruses in IFN-competent hosts
demonstrates their ability t o r esist host defenses. In fact,
many well-characterized virus adaptations allow t hem to
Correspondence to C. M. Horvath, Department of Biochemistry,
Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, Northwestern University, Pan-
coe Pavillion, Room 4401, 2200 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208,
USA. Tel.: +1 847 491 5530, E-mail: horvath@northwestern.edu
Abbreviations: CTD, C-terminal domain; CRM1, chromosomal
region maintenance 1; DDB1, UV-damaged DNA binding protein 1;
E1, Ub-activating enzyme; E2, Ub-conjugating enzyme; E3, Ub-
ligating enzyme; IFN, interferon; ISG, IFN-stimulated gene; ISRE,
IFN-stimulated response element; NES, nuclear export signal; NDV,
Newcastle disease virus; SH2, SRC homology 2; STAT, signal trans-
ducer and activator of transcription; SV5, simian virus 5; TLR, Toll-
like receptor; Ub, ubiquitin; VDC, V protein-dependent degradation
complex; VIP, V interaction protein.
(Received 7 January 2 004, revised 6 February 2004,
accepted 7 October 2004)
Eur. J. Biochem. 271, 4621–4628 (2004) Ó FEBS 2004 doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.04425.x
evade IFN-induced innate antiviral responses through a
number of access points vulnerable to viral invaders [3,19]
(Fig. 2). For s ome viruses, the common early steps of IFN
induction are targeted by general inhibitory mechanisms
that can occur via dsRNA sequestration or signaling
interference to antagonize IRF3 and NFjB pathways,
protein kinase inhibition by protein–protein interaction, or
TLR signaling interference by viral products. In other cases,
virus-encoded soluble IFN receptors or receptor antagonists
block cytokine signalling. Viruses can also block specific
antiviral effectors to preserve key cellular machinery needed
for their replication. Recent investigations of paramyxo-
virus IFN evasion strategies have revealed unique abilitie s
to directly target STAT components of IFN signal trans-
duction. While phenotypically similar, the molecular mech-
anisms of STAT-directed IFN evasion are as diverse as the
viruses themselves. These similarities and differences are
highlighted in the descriptions below.
Paramyxoviruses and their V protein
Paramyxoviruses e ncompass a large family of enveloped,
negative strand RNA viruses that cause zoonotic diseases
including significant hu man pathogens like measles virus
Fig. 2. Targets for virus evasionof IFN antiviral responses. Vulnerable access points for virus evasion include: (1) Induction of IFN biosynthesis, (2)
Interaction between IFN and receptor, (3) IF N signal transduction and (4) Activities of antiviral effectors.
Fig. 1. IFN biosynthesis and antiviral signal transduction induced b y virus infection. Left cell illustrates IFNb biosynthesis. In r esponse to virus
infection, Toll-like receptor (TLR) signal transduction, or intracellular dsRNA, pathogens activate IRF3 and NFjB transcription factors which
combine wit h ATF2/ c-jun to init iate IF Nb tran scription. IjB, inhibitor of NFjB. Right cell illustrates the cellular response to the released IFNb.
Interaction with specific cell surface receptor initiates a tyrosine phosphorylation signaling program. Upon tyrosine phosphorylation, latent STAT1
and STAT2 (which can b e p reassociated with IRF9 [8,9]) heter odimerize to induce the trimeric IRF9–STAT1–STAT2 complex, ISGF3. ISGF3 binds
to response elements in the promoters of target antiviral genes, and increases the rate of tran scription. JAK1, Janus kinase 1; Tyk2, tyrosine kinase 2.
4622 C. M. Horvath (Eur. J. Biochem. 271) Ó FEBS 2004
and mumps virus, or the more treacherous Nipah virus and
Hendra virus. The large family Paramyxoviridae is subdi-
vided into several genera, including the Rubulavirus, Hen-
ipavirus, Morbillivirus,andRespirovirus groups. All of these
viruses s hare common structural, biochemical, and genetic
elements including the s ingle-stranded RNA genome that
encodes a small number of proteins, including surface
glycoproteins and several subunits of an RNA-dependent
RNA polymerase (reviewed in [20]). One locus contains a
polycistronic gene that encodes two or more viral proteins
from overlapping ORFs that code for the phosphopro tein,
P, a s econd protein named V (Fig. 3), and in some species
additional overprinted proteins called C, W, X or Y. Due to
a unique coding strategy involving generation of alternate
mRNAs via cotranscriptional insertion of nontemplated
guanine nucleotides [21], the paramyxovirus P and V
proteins are amino coterminal but have unique C-termini.
Paramyxovirus Vproteins ar e readily identifiable by a
highly conserved cysteine-rich domain at their C-termini
derived from the overlapping ORF [20–22]. This conserved
C-terminal domain (CTD) is approximately 50% identical
among all p aramyxovirus Vproteins and contains seven
invariant cysteine residues. This domain enables the V
protein to bind two atoms of zinc, a stoichiometry similar to
that found in some cellular zinc-binding proteins [22,23].
Aside from this outward resemblance, it is important to note
that Vproteins have no cellular homologues and that the
spacing of CTD cysteine residues is not consistent with
known cellular zinc-binding domains including the RING,
PHD, or LIM motifs [ 24]. Paramyxovirus host evasion has
been ascribed to this locus, and a diverse r ange o f host
evasion activities, including IFN signaling i nhibition [25],
prevention of apoptosis [26,27], cell cycle alterations [28],
inhibition of double-stranded RNA signaling [27,29], and
prevention of IFN biosynthesis [26,27,29] have been
ascribed to paramyxovirusV proteins. A number of recent
findings demonstrate that a fundamentally important
activity associated with a variety ofparamyxovirus V
proteins is direct interference with STAT p rotein function,
but individual genera within the family exhibit remarkably
diverse mechanisms ofSTAT inhibition.
Rubulavirus
V proteins: STAT ubiquitin ligases
The STATproteins are well known to cycle between active
and inactive states as the result of reversible post-transla-
tional modification, namely tyrosine phosphorylation and
dephosphorylation [30–32]. The estimated half-lives of
STAT1 and STAT2 are in the o rder of days rather than
hours [32–34], but this long half-life can be greatly reduced
upon infection with Rubulavirus species or following
expression of the Rubulavirus V protein. In the prototype
example, STAT1 protein accumulation was found to be
dramatically reduced by infection of cells with simian virus 5
(SV5) [25]. This STAT1 targeting w as conferred by the sole
expression of the SV5 V protein, and similar STAT
degradation properties were soon found to be shared by V
proteins from a variety of Rubulaviruses [2,25,34–40].
Chemical proteasome inhibitors can prevent STAT degra-
dation by Rubulavirus Vproteins [25,34]. Moreover,
expression of the Rubulavirus Vproteins induces polyubi-
quitylation of specific target STATs [34,39–41]. Character-
ization of bacterially expressed SV5 and type II human
parainfluenza virus (HPIV2) Vproteins in vitro revealed an
intrinsic ability to catalyze t he transfer of u biquitin (Ub) in a
reaction that required ATP, Ub-activating enzyme (E1),
and Ub-conjugating enzyme (E2). This intrinsic enzymatic
activity meets the definition of a Ub -ligating e nzyme ( E3),
but the in vitro reaction failed to fully recapitulate the native
reaction because it w as substrate-independent and g ener-
ated only mono-Ub transfer rather than a poly-Ub chain
[41]. In intact cells that express V protein, the complete
Fig. 3. Paramyxovirus c oding s trategies f or accessing the conserved V protein CTD. Diagrams illustrate the open reading frames generated in
alternate mRNAs that encode C-terminally unique P and V proteins. Coloring ind icates common translational reading frames. C TD, cysteine-rich,
V-specific C-terminal domain. (A) Coding st rategy used by the Rubulavirus genus. The c olinea r mRNA e ncod es the V protein from a single
translational reading frame , but site-sp ecific addition of two nontemplated guanine nucleotides (+2G) ge nerates a second ÔeditedÕ mRNA encoding
the P protein from two overlapping reading frames. (B) Coding strategy used by th e Henipavirus, Morbillivirus,andRespirovirus genera. The
colinear mRNA encodes the P protein, but sit e-specific addition o f a single nontemplated guanine nu cleotide (+1G) generates a second ÔeditedÕ
mRNA encoding the V protein from two overlapping reading frames. In Sendai virus, both transcripts encode a third overlapping open reading
frame that encodes a nested set of C proteins (C¢, C, Y1, and Y2). ( C) Comparison o f the am ino acid se quen ces in the V-specific C-te rminal domain
of several paramyxoviruses. Boxes highlight conserved amino acids.
Ó FEBS 2004 WeaponsofSTATdestruction (Eur. J. Biochem. 271) 4623
STAT targeting b y polyubiquitylation results i n protea-
some-dependent degradation.
It is striking that, in spite of the high amino acid sequence
identity between Vproteins a nd similar abilities to target
STAT pr oteins for proteasomal degradation, Rubulavirus
species differ in their specificity. While the SV5 V protein
can t arget STAT1 for polyubiquitylation and proteasomal
degradation, HPIV2 V protein targets STAT2 [34], and
mumps v irus V protein can eliminate both STAT1 [42] and
STAT3 [40]. Affinity purification of Rubulavirus Vproteins
from host cells identified strikingly s imilar p atterns o f V
interaction protein (VIP) partners (Fig. 4) but in detail each
species also exhibited unique superim posed VIP p atterns.
These differences in the VIP composition have been
suggested to account for differential V protein activities
and target specificity [40,41].
The STAT-targeting machinery consists ofV protein-
dependent degradation co mplexes (VDCs) that contain the
V protein and VIPs including STAT1 and STAT2 (and
STAT3 in the case of mumps virus). A number of additional
cellular proteins including DDB1, a UV-damaged DNA
binding protein [40,41,43,44], and members of the C ullin
family of ubiquitin ligase subunits including Cullin 4A are
also required [40,41] (Fig. 4). RNA interference experiments
demonstrate that DDB1 a nd Cullin 4A are required f or
STAT1 degradation by SV5, lending support t o the model
that the VDC is a coalition of virus-encoded and host
factors that together function as a STAT-directed E3
ubiquitin ligase enzyme [41].
Somatic cell genetics and biochemical analysis has
revealed that all of the Rubulavirus Vproteins require the
participation of a nontarget STAT for their in vivo E3 Ub
ligase activity [36]. SV5 can only target STAT1 in cells that
express S TAT2, w hile HPIV2-mediated STAT2 degrada-
tion fails in the absence of STAT1. For mumps virus,
STAT1 targeting requires cellular STAT2, but STAT3
targeting is STAT2-independent [40]. A powerful c onfirma-
tion for the role of STAT2 in STAT1 destructionby SV5
was provided by the discovery that STAT2 acts as a host
range determinant for this virus [35]. SV5 does not replicate
efficiently or cause STAT1 degradation in the mouse [45,46],
where the murine STAT2 protein is unusually divergent in
amino acid sequence [ 47–49]. Expression of human STAT2
in mouse c ells Ôrescues Õ the defective STAT1 targeting and
provides the virus wit h a replication advantage [35]. The
Newcastle disease virus (NDV, a member of the Avulovirus
genus that is restricted to avian species) also encodes a V
protein that can antagonize the avian IFN system [50]. Like
SV5, the NDV IFN inhibition is species-restricted. The
molecular b asis underlying this NDV species-specificity has
not yet b een revealed, but it is interesting to speculate that
avian STAT2 might be involved.
Henipavirus
V proteins: STAT sequestration in
high molecular mass cytoplasmic complexes
Nipah virus and Hendra virus are the two known species of
a recently emerged and deadly paramyxovirus genus,
Henipavirus, that was responsible for outbreaks of res-
piratory disease and fatal encephalitis in humans and
livestock in Malaysia and Australia [51,52]. Both Henipa-
virus species were demonstrated to share V-dependent IFN
signaling evasion p roperties with other paramyxoviru ses
[50,53–55].
Nucleotide sequencing of the Henipavirus genomes
revealed many similarities with other paramyxoviruses,
including a polycistronic gene encoding a V protein CTD
[52,56]. In comparison to the STAT-degrading Rubulavirus
V proteins, the Vproteinsof Nipah virus and Hend ra virus
share 50% amino acid identity within the CTD (Fig. 5).
The Henipavirus V protein N-terminus is larger and entirely
unique compared to other paramyxovirus proteomes and
has no obvious homology to any cellular protein. This
sequence divergence between Henipavirus and Rubulavirus
V proteins indicates an alternate mechanism of IFN
signaling inhibition. The Henipavirus Vproteins are overall
58% identical in amino acid sequence, with 83%
identity between amino acids 1–140, 44% identity
Fig. 4. Schematic diagram of the Rubulavirus
VDC ubiquitin ligase c omplex. In this model,
the box representation of the SV5 V protein
serves as a nucleation site for protein inter-
actions that coordinate the transfer of ubiqu-
itin (Ub) via Ub-conjugating enzymes (E2) to
the specific STAT protein target (in this case,
STAT1). Colored ovals represent the cellular
V i nteraction protein com ponents required f or
complete E3 Ub ligase a ctivity to g enerate
polyubiquitylation of STATs, some of which
are identified as DDB1, Cullin 4A, STAT1,
STAT2. Also depicted are the Ub-activating
enzyme, E1, and polyubiquitylation leading to
degradat ion via the prote asome . This model is
illustrative only, is not drawn to scale, and
does not accurately p ortray protein inter-
action sites or stoichiometry.
4624 C. M. Horvath (Eur. J. Biochem. 271) Ó FEBS 2004
between amino acids 141–405, and 80% identity within
the CTD (amino acids 406–457). This sequence conserva-
tion accounts for the functional similarity in the IFN
evasion activities of the Nipah virus and Hendra v irus V
proteins. Both Henipavirus V p roteins have b een demon-
strated to subvert I FN responses by sequester ing STAT1
and STAT2 in high molecular mass cytoplasmic complexes
without inducing their degradation [53,54]. This c omplex
formation prevents IFN-induced STAT tyrosine phos-
phorylation [53].
In addition to the ability to bind t o both S TAT1 and
STAT2, the Henipavirus Vproteins e xhibit nuclear–cyto-
plasmic shuttling behavior that depends on chromosomal
region maintenance 1 (CRM1)-dependent nuclear export
signals. Not only does this shuttling affect the steady-state
subcellular distribution of t he V protein, but it also alters the
distribution of the latent STAT1. STAT1 is typically
observed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of unstimulated
cells, and expression of the Henipavirus V p rotein efficiently
relocalizes the latent STAT1 protein to the cytoplasm
[53,54]. Unexpectedly, despite the high degree of sequence
conservation within the cysteine-rich CTD, it is dispensable
for IFN signaling inhibition [50].
Dissection of Nipah V protein functional domains
revealed insights into the molecular mechanisms underlyin g
Henipavirus IFN evasion and explained the dispensable role
of the CTD [55]. Three V protein activities, nuclear export,
STAT protein interaction, and IFN signaling i nhibition, all
map to the N-terminal portion (Fig. 5 B). A no vel nuclear
export signal (NES) was i dentified within Nipah V amino
acids 174–192. Deletion or substitution within the N ES
prevents V p rotein cytoplasmic accumulation and also
prevents redistribution of latent STAT1 to the cytoplasm.
However, the ability to thwart IFN-dependent STAT1 and
STAT2 nuclear translocation r emains intact r egardless of
NES mutation, suggesting that the shuttling behavior of the
V protein has a distinct role in Henipavirus biology.
Dissection of the V protein domains involved in IFN
evasion activity and STAT protein interactions revealed
that these functions also map within Nipah V amino acid
residues 100–300. STAT1 binds independently to residues
100–160, and this interaction site is the primary evasion
motif, sufficient t o block IFN signaling responses. The
amino coterminal P and W proteins [57], or artificial fusion
proteins that share t his sequence motif [55] can also prevent
IFN signaling. Moreover, STAT1 binding is a prerequisite
for S TAT2 binding, a nd association with STAT2 conse-
quently requires a large overlapping binding s ite between
residues 100–300. Evidence from site-directed mutagenesis
suggests that contact between STAT2 and Nipah V requires
a conserved peptide including amino acids 230–237. Hence,
in intact cells, a coordinately assembled trimeric V–STAT1–
STAT2 complex forms that inhibits IFN signal transduc-
tion. As these p rotein interaction domains are absolutely
required for V protein IFN evasion activity, they are prime
candidates for therapeutic intervention with Henipavirus
outbreaks.
The region of STAT1 bound by Nipah V was also
determined. Nipah V binds to STAT1 but not to STAT3,
and only binds to chimeric STAT1–STAT3 fusion proteins
when the C-terminal region was derived from S TAT1. The
results indicate that a STAT1 fragment containing the linker
domain and SH2 domain is the target site for Henipavirus V
protein interaction, two regions important for STAT
activation, dimerization, and DNA binding.
Morbillivirus
V proteins: inhibition of STAT
nuclear translocation
Measles virus, a prototype species of the Morbillivirus genus,
encodes a V protein distinct from both the Rubulavirus and
Henipavirus genera, sharing only 20% overall amino acid
sequence identity. Despite the divergence, measles virus V
protein is an efficient inhibitor of IFN signal transduction
but acts via a mechanism distinct from either Rubulavirus
or Henipavirus Vproteins [58]. Measles virus V protein
expression effe ctively prevents both IFNa/b and IFNc-
induced transcriptional responses. The measles virus V
protein does not degrade STATs or prevent IFN-induced
STAT protein activating tyrosine phosphorylation, but
effectively prevents IFN-induced STAT1 and STAT2
nuclear import. Unlike the Henipaviruses, measles V does
not shuttle between nucleus and cytoplasm, and conse-
quently does not alter the distribution pattern of latent
STAT1.
Affinity chromatography demonstrated that the measles
V protein copurifies STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, and IRF9,
but not the cellular c omponents required f or Rubulavirus
VDC ubiquitin ligase function, in agreemen t with its distinct
mechanism of action. In addition, measles V binds to an IFN
receptor subunit (IFNAR2.2 or b
Long
; H. Palosaari and
C. M. Horvath, unpublished observations) and a signaling
Fig. 5. Henipavirus V protein sequence conservation and domain structure. (A) Comparison of Nipah virus and Hendra virus Vproteins to SV5 V
and HPIV2 V. Percent sequence identities were d etermine d using NCBI
BLAST
algorithms. (B) Illustration of functional domains mapped in the
Nipah virus V protein. (Adapted f rom [55], see text for details.)
Ó FEBS 2004 WeaponsofSTATdestruction (Eur. J. Biochem. 271) 4625
adaptor, RACK1 [59], possibly indicating multivalent
receptor i nteractions. The measles V-dependent binding of
STAT3 partially inhibits signaling by IL6 and v-Src, which,
in conjunction with the mumps virus S TAT3 degradation,
further suggests a role for STAT3 in antiviral responses.
The ability to prevent STAT nuclear import is also
observed in measles virus-infected cells, where a dramatic
redistribution of cellular STATproteins is also observed. In
measles-infected cells, a portion of the STAT1 and STAT2
proteins are redistributed to cytoplasmic aggregates that
also stain for the viral nucleocapsid protein and nucleic
acids [58]. Similar intracellular a ggregates are observed for
many viruses, including mumps virus, where STAT2 is
condensed to cytoplasmic bodies. It is enticing to speculate
that these bodies represent intracellular sites of virus
replication or assembly, possibly i ndicating that the STATs
may also play some role in measle s virus replication.
Respirovirus
V and C proteins
Sendai v irus, the most studied member of the Respirovirus
genus, h as also evolved strategies t o e vade the host IFN
response. Lik e other paramyxoviruses, Sendai virus contains
a polycistronic P /V gene encoding multiple proteins, c om-
plicated by the presence of several additional polypeptides
derived from alternative nested translational initiation sites
that encode the collective C proteins (C, C¢, Y1 and Y2 [20])
from a third overlapping translational reading frame
(Fig. 3 B). Investigation of V-deficient recombinant viruses
indicates that the V protein of Sendai appears to p lay a role
in pathogenesis in animal infections, but its exact function
has not been well characterized [60]. However, the four
Sendai virus C proteins have been found to block IFN
signaling [61–64]. Several studies of C protein functions in
IFN evasion have been conducted, and a broad range of
activities are documented. C p roteins have b een shown to
bind STAT1 and induce its shift to a high molecular mass
complex [65]. Other studies report that C proteins inhibit
both STAT1 and STAT2 tyrosine phosphorylation [61,66].
It has also been reported that the C proteins cau se prolonged
tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1, and can impair S TAT1
serine phosphorylation [67]. Remarkably, C proteins have
been described to cause mono-ubiquitylation and degrada-
tion of the STAT1 protein in certain mou se cell lines, but
with a concomitant increase in and preservation of tyrosine
phosphorylated STAT1 [66,68]. The mechanistic basis for C
protein effects on the IFN re sponse will need to be examined
carefully to clarify the role of this protein in host evasion.
Furthermore, independent studies of the Sendai virus V
protein’s potential for STAT inhibition are required to
clarify the molecular basis for Respirovirus IF N antagonism .
Conclusions
The diverse mechanisms that have evolved for V protein-
dependent IFN e vasion provide many insights into STAT
protein inhibition that might not be easily discerned by
laboratory investigations. Discovery of new paramyxovi-
ruses and their IFN evasion properties will almost certainly
reveal novel mechanisms ofSTAT protein antagonism, and
may also uncover new functions for STAT proteins.
Probing the molecular details of virus-designed STAT
inhibitors will not only y ield new t herapeutic targets a nd
vaccination strategies for the control of the infectious
diseases themselves, but will also undoubtedly provide
insights into new ways to regulate h yperactive cytokine–
JAK-STAT signaling that is characteristic of neoplastic and
inflammatory diseases.
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to all the members of the Horvath Laboratory,
and wishes t o acknowle dge the contributions in the study ofV proteins
made by Jean-Patrick Parisien, Cristian Cruz, Christina Ulane, Jason
Rodriguez, Heidi Palosaari, and Tom Kraus. P aramyxovirus research
in the Horvath Laboratory is supported by NIH grants AI-50707 and
AI-55733.
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. MINIREVIEW Weapons of STAT destruction Interferon evasion by paramyxovirus V proteins Curt M. Horvath Department of Medicine, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, and Departments of. to STAT- directed therapeutics for diseases characterized by STAT hyperactivity. Keywords: antiviral; interferon; paramyxovirus; STAT; viral evasion. Interferons: the antiviral cytokines The interferon. Disease Virus (NDV)-Based Assay Demonstrates Interferon- Antagonist A ctivity f or th e NDV V Protein and the Nipah Virus V, W, and C Proteins. J. Virol. 77, 1501–1511. Ó FEBS 2004 Weapons of STAT destruction