1
Return

ASFV D117L hijacks KEAP1 to induce oxidative stress-dependent vascular endothelial cell death

delete2026-08-08
delete0
delete
OA
AI
Y
Yumei Han
F
Fayu Yang
W
Wenchao Xue
T
Tianxing Cao
X
Xiaoyun Li
K
Kunpeng Zhang
Y
Yuxuan Li
Z
Zhonghui Zhang
Z
Zhengshan Feng
H
Huanan Liu
Z
Zhengwang Shi
W
Weijun Cao
赵俊 (Jun Zhao)
E
Elke H. Heiß
H
Haixue Zheng
Z
Zixiang Zhu *
张石磊 (Shilei Zhang) *
DOI:10.1007/s00018-026-06380-1delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
African swine fever (ASF), caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), is a fatal hemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs that causes significant economic losses in the global pig industry. Systemic hemorrhages and abnormal coagulation of multiple tissues and organs are the typical lesions of ASFV infection, but the mechanism is still unknown. The exaggerated inflammation caused by ASFV infection is believed to contribute to endothelial injury and coagulopathy. Here, we demonstrate that circulating endothelial cells are significantly elevated in ASFV-infected pigs. In vitro infection assay shows that both primary and immortalized endothelial cells are permissive for ASFV replication, and ASFV infection triggers apoptosis of infected cells. ASFV disrupts redox homeostasis by negatively regulating the NRF2 pathway, which in turn leads to oxidative stress and ROS-mediated endothelial cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, ASFV D117L suppresses NRF2 signaling by interacting with KEAP1 and promoting the ubiquitination of NRF2. Functional analyses reveal that KEAP1 acts as a proviral factor for ASFV infection in endothelial cells, whereas its substrate, NRF2, suppresses viral replication. Further, pharmacological inhibition of KEAP1 by 4-Octyl itaconate (4-OI) and Sulforaphane (SFN) inhibits ASFV replication and ROS-dependent cell death. Our findings uncover a potential mechanism for endothelial dysfunction during ASFV infection and suggest that targeting KEAP1 to maintain endothelial redox homeostasis could be a promising approach for ASF treatment.
Keywords:
African swine fever virus
Endothelial cells
Oxidative stress
KEAP1

Journal

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences cover
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
IF:
6.2
Papers:
9.1K
Citations:
4.0W

Organization

L
Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute
Scholars:
196
Papers: 42
Citations: 1.1K
F
Faculty of Life Sciences
Scholars:
325
Papers: 135
Citations: 0
C
college of veterinary medicine
Scholars:
1.4K
Papers: 324
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers