FBXO6 regulates the antiviral immune responses via mediating alveolar macrophages survival

Inducing early apoptosis in alveolar macrophages is one of the strategies influenza A virus (IAV) evolved to subvert host immunity. Correspondingly, the host mitochondrial protein nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐like receptor (NLR)X1 is reported to interact with virus polymerase basic protein 1‐frame 2 (PB1‐F2) accessory protein to counteract virus‐induced apoptosis. Herein, we report that one of the F‐box proteins, FBXO6, promotes proteasomal degradation of NLRX1, and thus facilitates IAV‐induced alveolar macrophages apoptosis and modulates both macrophage survival and type I interferon (IFN) signaling. We observed that FBXO6‐deficient mice infected with IAV exhibited decreased pulmonary viral replication, alleviated inflammatory‐associated pulmonary dysfunction, and less mortality. Analysis of the lungs of IAV‐infected mice revealed markedly reduced leukocyte recruitment but enhanced production of type I IFN in Fbxo6(−/−) mice. Furthermore, increased type I IFN production and decreased viral replication were recapitulated in FBXO6 knockdown macrophages and associated with reduced apoptosis. Through gain‐ and loss‐of‐function studies, we found lung resident macrophages but not bone marrow‐derived macrophages play a key role in the differences FBXO6 signaling pathway brings in the antiviral immune response. In further investigation, we identified that FBXO6 interacted with and promoted the proteasomal degradation of NLRX1. Together, our results demonstrate that FBXO6 negatively regulates immunity against IAV infection by enhancing the degradation of NLRX1 and thus impairs the survival of alveolar macrophages and antiviral immunity of the host.