BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infection in humans is usually asymptomatic but ultimately results in viral persistence. In immunocompromised hosts, virus reactivation can lead to nephropathy or hemorrhagic cystitis. The urinary tract serves as a silent reservoir for the virus. Recently, it has been demonstrated that human bladder microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVECs) serve as viral reservoirs, given their unique response to infection, which involves interferon (IFN) production. The aim of the present study was to better understand the life cycle of BKPyV in HBMVECs, uncover the molecular pathway leading to IFN production, and to identify the connection between the viral life cycle and the activation of the IFN response. Here, in the early stage of infection, BKPyV virions were found in internalized monopinocytic vesicles, while later they were detected in late endosomes, lysosomes, tubuloreticular structures, and vacuole-like vesicles. The production of viral progeny in these cells started at 36 h postinfection. Increased cell membrane permeability and peaks of virion release coincided with the leakage of viral and cellular DNA into the cytosol at approximately 60 h postinfection. Leaked DNA colocalized with and activated cGAS, leading to the activation of STING and the consequent transcription of IFNB and IFN-related genes; in contrast, the IFN response was attenuated by exposure to the cGAS inhibitor, G140. These findings highlight the importance of the cGAS-STING pathway in the innate immune response of HBMVECs to BKPyV.

• Keywords
• BK polyomavirus, BKPyV reservoir cells, STING, cGAS, interferon response,
• MeSH
• Endothelial Cells * virology   MeSH
• Interferons metabolism   MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Membrane Proteins metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Urinary Bladder * virology   MeSH
• Nucleotidyltransferases metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Polyomavirus Infections virology   immunology   MeSH
• Virus Replication MeSH
• Signal Transduction * MeSH
• Virion MeSH
• BK Virus * physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• cGAS protein, human MeSH Browser
• Interferons MeSH
• Membrane Proteins MeSH
• Nucleotidyltransferases MeSH
• STING1 protein, human MeSH Browser