Proteomic Analysis of Vero Cells Infected with Pseudorabies Virus

Suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV-1), known as pseudorabies virus (PRV), is one of the most devastating swine pathogens in China, particularly the sudden occurrence of PRV variants in 2011. The higher pathogenicity and cross-species transmission potential of the newly emerged variants caused not only colossal economic losses, but also threatened public health. To uncover the underlying pathogenesis of PRV variants, Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based proteomic analysis was performed to quantitatively screen the differentially expressed cellular proteins in PRV-infected Vero cells. A total of 7072 proteins were identified and 960 proteins were significantly regulated: specifically 89 upregulated and 871 downregulated. To make it more credible, the expression of XRCC5 and XRCC6 was verified by western blot and RT-qPCR, and the results dovetailed with the proteomic data. The differentially expressed proteins were involved in various biological processes and signaling pathways, such as chaperonin-containing T-complex, NIK/NF-kappa B signaling pathway, DNA damage response, and negative regulation of G2/M transition of mitotic cell cycle. Taken together, our data holistically outline the interactions between PRV and host cells, and our results may shed light on the pathogenesis of PRV variants and provide clues for pseudorabies prevention.

Automated summary

Pseudorabies virus (PRV), also known as suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV-1), is a highly devastating swine pathogen in China. The sudden emergence of PRV variants in 2011, with higher pathogenicity and cross-species transmission potential, has caused significant economic losses and posed a threat to public health. In this study, a Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based proteomic analysis was conducted to quantitatively screen for differentially expressed cellular proteins in PRV-infected Vero cells. A total of 7072 proteins were identified, with 960 proteins showing significant regulation, including 89 upregulated and 871 downregulated proteins. The differentially expressed proteins were involved in various biological processes and signaling pathways, providing insights into the pathogenesis of PRV variants and potential targets for pseudorabies prevention.