Impaired Japanese encephalitis virus replication in p62/SQSTM1 deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts

The role of the autophagy adaptor protein p62/SQSTM1 in Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) replication in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) was investigated. Amounts of JEV RNA and E protein were significantly smaller in p62-deficient cells than wild-type cells at 24 hr post-infection (p.i.). JEV RNA quantitation and viral plaque assays showed significant reductions in viral titers in p62-deficient cell culture fluid. Our results indicate that JEV replication is impaired in p62-deficient MEFs, suggesting that p62 positively regulates JEV replication in host cells.