The cold-inducible RNA-binding protein RBM3 stabilises viral mRNA at cooler temperatures representative of the upper respiratory tract
Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
Temperature is a critical determinant of host–pathogen interactions in the respiratory tract, where influenza A virus (IAV) has adapted to the cooler environment of the upper respiratory tract (URT) to enable efficient replication and transmission. The cold-inducible RNA-binding protein RBM3 is highly expressed in nasopharyngeal tissue and is known to stabilise mRNAs under hypothermic conditions; however, its role during viral infection has not been defined. Here, we identify RBM3 as a key host factor that facilitates IAV replication at sub-physiological temperatures. siRNA-mediated depletion of RBM3 significantly impaired viral replication, while its constitutive overexpression at 37°C restored replication to levels typically observed at 33°C. Mechanistically, RBM3 binds directly to viral nucleoprotein (NP) mRNA, prolongs its half-life, and promotes the formation of cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granules. This effect was abolished in an RNA-binding-deficient RBM3 mutant, confirming the requirement for direct RNA interaction. Crucially, this positive regulation of NP mRNA was validated in well-differentiated primary nasal epithelial cells, highlighting the physiological relevance of RBM3 in the human URT.
These results reveal a temperature-sensitive host–virus interaction that promotes IAV replication in the cooler URT, a key site for viral shedding and transmission. By linking environmental temperature, host RNA-binding proteins, and viral mRNA stability, this study uncovers a novel mechanism of respiratory virus adaptation and identifies RBM3 as a potential therapeutic target for limiting early-stage viral replication and transmission.
Author Summary
To establish productive infection and ensure transmission, respiratory viruses such as influenza A virus (IAV) must adapt to the diverse environments of the human respiratory tract. One key challenge is the temperature gradient that exists between the upper and lower respiratory tract. The upper respiratory tract (URT), the main site of viral entry and transmission, maintains a lower physiological temperature (∼33°C) than the lower respiratory tract (∼37°C), creating a distinct cellular environment. In this study, we investigated how this cooler URT temperature alters the landscape of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which play a central role in regulating gene expression after transcription. Using mass spectrometry-based profiling and molecular virology approaches, we identified a cold-inducible RBP, RBM3, as significantly enriched at 33°C and acting as a key host factor during IAV infection. We show that RBM3 binds directly to viral nucleoprotein (NP) mRNA, promoting its stability and forming cytoplasmic granules that enhance the production of infectious virions. Importantly, disrupting RBM3’s RNA-binding ability abolished this proviral effect. These findings reveal that RBM3, elevated in the cooler URT environment, directly supports IAV replication. This work highlights how subtle physiological differences in host tissue can reshape post-transcriptional regulation and influence the outcome of respiratory virus infection.
