Autophagy receptor optineurin promotes spring viremia of carp virus replication via mitophagy and innate immune pathways in Cyprinus carpio.

Abstract

Optineurin (OPTN), an important biological macromolecule protein, functions as a selective autophagy receptor that is essential for mitophagy induction and innate immune regulation. This study identified and characterized two OPTN genes from common carp (Cyprinus carpio), demonstrating that CcOPTNs promoted mitophagy while downregulating the interferon pathway and inflammatory response. Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), an RNA virus, poses a significant threat to Cyprinidae fish health. A comprehensive analysis of its interaction with the host can provide valuable insights for fish disease prevention and control. Therefore, we established an SVCV infection model and observed that SVCV stimulation significantly altered the expression of CcOPTNs. Furthermore, CcOPTNs facilitated SVCV replication by promoting mitophagy and impairing innate antiviral immunity. Collectively, our findings indicated that CcOPTNs serve as critical regulators of mitophagy and innate immunity, playing a pivotal role in the immune response to SVCV infection.