Syncytin-1 and Syncytin-2 are envelope glycoproteins encoded by human endogenous retroviruses that have been exapted for the fusion of cytotrophoblast cells into syncytiotrophoblasts during placental development. Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia are associated with altered expression of interferon-stimulated genes, including guanylate-binding protein 5 (GBP5). Here, we show that misdirected antiviral activity of GBP5 impairs processing and activation of Syncytin-1. In contrast, the proteolytic activation of Syncytin-2 is not affected by GBP5, and its fusogenic activity is only modestly reduced. Mechanistic analyses revealed that Syncytin-1 is mainly cleaved by the GBP5 target furin, whereas Syncytin-2 is also efficiently processed by the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 7 (PCSK7) and thus resistant to GBP5-mediated restriction. Mutational analyses mapped PCSK7 processing of Syncytin-2 to a leucine residue upstream of the polybasic cleavage site. In summary, we identified an innate immune mechanism that impairs the activity of a co-opted endogenous retroviral envelope protein during pregnancy and may potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of pregnancy disorders.

• MeSH
• Furin metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Fusion MeSH
• Gene Products, env metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Placenta * metabolism   cytology   MeSH
• GTP-Binding Proteins * metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Pregnancy Proteins * metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Trophoblasts * metabolism   cytology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Furin MeSH
• Gene Products, env MeSH
• GTP-Binding Proteins * MeSH
• syncytin MeSH Browser
• Pregnancy Proteins * MeSH