THE ROLE OF RIG-1 SIGNALING IN INFLUENZA A VIRUS INFECTION OF LUNG EPITHELIAL CELLS AND THE MODULATORY ROLE OF ANNEXIN-A1

Abstract

Within the last century, millions of lives have been lost to the four major Influenza pandemics due to Influenza A virus (IAV). Therefore, there is a need for a greater understanding of IAV and its infections so that researchers can react quickly in the event a new strain emerges. Previously, our lab reported that Annexin A1 (ANXA1) mediates various role in IAV infection of A549 lung epithelial cells. This study thus explored the role of ANXA1 in RIG-I mediated IAV infection of lung epithelial cells more in depth. Using RNA-seq, the role of ANXA1 in A549 in the context of IAV-infection was established and ANXA1 was also found mediate apoptotic cell death induced by RIG-I activation in A549 lung epithelial cells by dampening the production of IFN- and pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bid and TRAIL. ANXA1 was also found to regulate IL-6 up-regulation upon IAV infection of A549 cells.