Journal Article

DZNE-2025-00596

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Inhibition of placental trophoblast fusion by guanylate-binding protein 5.

Krchlikova, V. ; Braun, E. ; Weiss, J. ; Stafl, K. ; Jech, L. ; Badarinarayan, S. S. ; Lotke, R. ; Travnicek, M. ; Baur, C. ; Stark, P. ; Haussmann, I. ; Lu, Y. ; Petersen, M. ; Cui, W. ; Wang, W. ; Fäger, B. M. ; Reisinger, H. ; Tokunaga, K. ; Cingöz, O. ; Sparrer, K. M. J.DZNE* ; Salker, M. S. ; Hejnar, J. ; Kirchhoff, F. ; Trejbalova, K. ; Sauter, D.

2025
Assoc. Washington, DC [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1126/sciadv.adt5388

Abstract: Syncytin-1 and Syncytin-2 are envelope glycoproteins encoded by human endogenous retroviruses that have been exapted for the fusion of cytotrophoblast cells into syncytiotrophoblasts during placental development. Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia are associated with altered expression of interferon-stimulated genes, including guanylate-binding protein 5 (GBP5). Here, we show that misdirected antiviral activity of GBP5 impairs processing and activation of Syncytin-1. In contrast, the proteolytic activation of Syncytin-2 is not affected by GBP5, and its fusogenic activity is only modestly reduced. Mechanistic analyses revealed that Syncytin-1 is mainly cleaved by the GBP5 target furin, whereas Syncytin-2 is also efficiently processed by the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 7 (PCSK7) and thus resistant to GBP5-mediated restriction. Mutational analyses mapped PCSK7 processing of Syncytin-2 to a leucine residue upstream of the polybasic cleavage site. In summary, we identified an innate immune mechanism that impairs the activity of a co-opted endogenous retroviral envelope protein during pregnancy and may potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of pregnancy disorders.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Trophoblasts: metabolism (MeSH) ; Trophoblasts: cytology (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Pregnancy (MeSH) ; Pregnancy Proteins: metabolism (MeSH) ; Pregnancy Proteins: genetics (MeSH) ; GTP-Binding Proteins: metabolism (MeSH) ; GTP-Binding Proteins: genetics (MeSH) ; Furin: metabolism (MeSH) ; Placenta: metabolism (MeSH) ; Placenta: cytology (MeSH) ; Gene Products, env: metabolism (MeSH) ; Gene Products, env: genetics (MeSH) ; Cell Fusion (MeSH) ; Pregnancy Proteins ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Furin ; Gene Products, env ; syncytin

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Neurovirology and Neuroinflammation (AG Sparrer)

Research Program(s):

1. 351 - Brain Function (POF4-351) (POF4-351)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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