Dengue virus non-structural 1 protein interacts with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H in human monocytic cells.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study protein-protein interaction between heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H (hnRNP H) and Dengue virus (DENV) proteins. METHODS: DENV proteins were screened against the host hnRNP H protein, in order to identify the host-viral protein-protein interactions in DENV infected THP-1 cells by co-immunoprecipitation. The co-localization of the interacting proteins was further confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: The host protein hnRNP H was found to interact with DENV non-structural 1 protein and help the virus to multiply in the cell. CONCLUSIONS: The non-structural 1 glycoprotein is a key modulator of host immune response and is also involved in viral replication. Therefore, disruption of this key interaction between hnRNP H and DENV non-structural 1 could be an important therapeutic strategy for management of DENV infection.