Junfeng Sun

Dr. Junfeng Sun


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 June 2021 in Journal of Virology
Verified
Journal Article
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RZRan Zhao
Ran Zhao
QSQiankai Shi
Qiankai Shi
ZHZongxi Han
Zongxi Han
ZFZhen Fan
Zhen Fan
HAHui Ai
Hui Ai
SLShengwang Liu
Shengwang Liu
The cellular entry pathways and the mechanisms of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) entry into cells are poorly characterized. In this study, we demonstrated that chicken interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 (chIFITM1) which is located in the early endosomes could limit the replication of NDV in chicken macrophage cell line HD11, suggesting the endocytic entry of NDV into chicken macrophages. Then, we presented a systematic study about the entry mechanism of NDV into chicken macrophages. First, we demonstrated that a low-pH condition and dynamin were required during NDV entry. However, NDV entry into chicken macrophages was independent of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. We also found that NDV entry was dependent on membrane cholesterol. The NDV entry and replication were significantly reduced by nystatin and Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment, overexpression of dominant negative (DN) caveolin-1 or knockdown of caveolin-1, suggesting that NDV entry depends on caveola-mediated endocytosis. However, macropinocytosis did not play a role in NDV entry into chicken macrophages. Additionally, we found that Rab5, rather than Rab7, was involved in the entry and traffic of NDV. The colocalization of NDV with Rab5 and early endosome suggested that NDV virion was transported to early endosomes in a Rab5-dependent manner after internalization. Of particular note, the caveola-mediated endocytosis was also utilized by NDV to enter primary chicken macrophages. And NDV entered different cell types using different pathways. Collectively, our findings demonstrate for the first time that NDV virion enters chicken macrophages via a pH-dependent, dynamin and caveola-mediated endocytosis pathway and Rab5 is involved in the traffic and location of NDV. IMPORTANCE Although the pathogenesis of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been extensively studied, the detailed mechanism of NDV entry into host cells is largely unknown. Macrophages are the first-line defenders of host defense against infection of pathogens. Chicken macrophages are considered as one of the main types of target cells during NDV infection. Here, we comprehensively investigated the entry mechanism of NDV in chicken macrophages. This is the first report to demonstrate that NDV enters chicken macrophages via a pH-dependent, dynamin and caveola-mediated endocytosis pathway that requires Rab5. The result is important for our understanding of the entry of NDV in chicken macrophages, which will further advance the knowledge of NDV pathogenesis and provide useful clues for the development of novel preventive or therapeutic strategies against NDV infection. In addition, this information will contribute to our further understanding of pathogenesis with regard to other numbers of Avulavirus genus in Paramyxoviridae family.

1 February 2021 in Journal of Advanced Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
TZTianyu Zhu
Tianyu Zhu
ZWZhuoyin Wang
Zhuoyin Wang
GWGuojun Wang
Guojun Wang
ZHZhihao Hu
Zhihao Hu
HDHengxuan Ding
Hengxuan Ding
JSJunfeng Sun
Junfeng Sun
The hypoxia microenvironment induces the expression of HIF1 and EPAS1 in GCA. During tumor development, the EPAS1 suppresses the expression of HIF1, resulting in the dominant form of HIFs switching from HIF1 to EPAS1. LncRNA ZFAS1 binds to EPAS1, facilitating the HIF1 suppression, EPAS1 up-regulation, and the switching from HIF1 to EPAS1.

19 March 2024 in Journal of Virology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
QSQiankai Shi
Qiankai Shi
RZRan Zhao
Ran Zhao
LCLinna Chen
Linna Chen
TLTianyi Liu
Tianyi Liu
TDTao Di
Tao Di
SLShengwang Liu
Shengwang Liu
As an intrinsic cellular mechanism responsible for the internalization of extracellular ligands and membrane components, caveolae-mediated endocytosis (CavME) is also exploited by certain pathogens for endocytic entry [e.g., Newcastle disease virus (NDV) of paramyxovirus]. However, the molecular mechanisms of NDV-induced CavME remain poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that sialic acid-containing gangliosides, rather than glycoproteins, were utilized by NDV as receptors to initiate the endocytic entry of NDV into HD11 cells. The binding of NDV to gangliosides induced the activation of a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src, leading to the phosphorylation of caveolin-1 (Cav1) and dynamin-2 (Dyn2), which contributed to the endocytic entry of NDV. Moreover, an inoculation of cells with NDV-induced actin cytoskeletal rearrangement through Src to facilitate NDV entry via endocytosis and direct fusion with the plasma membrane. Subsequently, unique members of the Rho GTPases family, RhoA and Cdc42, were activated by NDV in a Src-dependent manner. Further analyses revealed that RhoA and Cdc42 regulated the activities of specific effectors, cofilin and myosin regulatory light chain 2, responsible for actin cytoskeleton rearrangement, through diverse intracellular signaling cascades. Taken together, our results suggest that an inoculation of NDV-induced Src-mediated cellular activation by binding to ganglioside receptors. This process orchestrated NDV endocytic entry by modulating the activities of caveolae-associated Cav1 and Dyn2, as well as specific Rho GTPases and downstream effectors. IMPORTANCE: In general, it is known that the paramyxovirus gains access to host cells through direct penetration at the plasma membrane; however, emerging evidence suggests more complex entry mechanisms for paramyxoviruses. The endocytic entry of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), a representative member of the paramyxovirus family, into multiple types of cells has been recently reported. Herein, we demonstrate the binding of NDV to induce ganglioside-activated Src signaling, which is responsible for the endocytic entry of NDV through caveolae-mediated endocytosis. This process involved Src-dependent activation of the caveolae-associated Cav1 and Dyn2, as well as specific Rho GTPase and downstream effectors, thereby orchestrating the endocytic entry process of NDV. Our findings uncover a novel molecular mechanism of endocytic entry of NDV into host cells and provide novel insight into paramyxovirus mechanisms of entry.

11 July 2023 in iScience
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
LPLuis J. Perez-Valencia
Luis J. Perez-Valencia
KVKevin M. Vannella
Kevin M. Vannella
MRMarcos Javier Ramos-Benitez
Marcos Javier Ramos-Benitez
JSJunfeng Sun
Junfeng Sun
Mones S Abu-AsabMones S Abu-Asab
Mones S Abu-Asab
DCDaniel S. Chertow
Daniel S. Chertow
Lymphocyte depletion is a distinctive feature of Ebola virus (EBOV) disease. The ectodomain of EBOV glycoprotein (GP) is cleaved off the surface of infected cells into circulation as shed GP. To test the hypothesis that shed GP induces lymphocyte death, we cultured primary human B, NK, or T cells with shed GP in vitro. We found that shed GP dependably decreased B, NK, and T cell viability across donors. B and NK cells exhibited higher susceptibility than T cells. Continuous monitoring revealed shed GP began to kill B and NK cells by 4 h and T cells by 5 h. We also demonstrated that shed GP-induced lymphocyte death can be both caspase dependent and caspase independent. Our data are evidence that the cytotoxic effect of shed GP on lymphocytes may contribute to EBOV disease and highlight the need for further research to clarify mechanisms of shed GP-induced death.