Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Proteins Inhibit Infection by the Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus and the Related Rhesus Monkey Rhadinovirus in a Cell-Specific Manner

The interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) are broad-spectrum antiviral proteins that inhibit the entry of enveloped viruses. We analyzed the effect of IFITMs on the gamma-2 herpesviruses Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and the closely related rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV). We used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout to generate A549 cells, human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF), and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with combined IFITM1/2/3 knockout and identified IFITMs as cell-dependent inhibitors of KSHV and RRV infection in A549 cells and HFF but not HUVEC. IFITM overexpression revealed IFITM1 as the relevant IFITM that inhibits KSHV and RRV infection. Fluorescent KSHV particles did not pronouncedly colocalize with IFITM-positive compartments. However, we found that KSHV and RRV glycoprotein-mediated cell-cell fusion is enhanced upon IFITM1/2/3 knockout. Taken together, we identified IFITM1 as a cell-dependent restriction factor of KSHV and RRV that acts at the level of membrane fusion. Of note, our results indicate that recombinant IFITM overexpression may lead to results that are not representative for the situation at endogenous levels. Strikingly, we observed that the endotheliotropic KSHV circumvents IFITM-mediated restriction in HUVEC despite high IFITM expression, while influenza A virus (IAV) glycoprotein-driven entry into HUVEC is potently restricted by IFITMs even in the absence of interferon. Mechanistically, we found that KSHV colocalizes less with IFITM1 and IFITM2 in HUVEC than in A549 cells immediately after attachment, potentially contributing to the observed difference in restriction.