Topoisomerase 1 inhibition suppresses inflammatory genes and protects from death by inflammation (RNA-Seq)

The host innate immune response is the first line of defense against pathogens and is orchestrated by the concerted expression of genes induced by microbial stimuli. Deregulated expression of these genes is linked to the initiation and progression of numerous diseases associated with exacerbated inflammation. Here, we identify Topoisomerase 1 (Top1) as a critical positive regulator of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcriptional activity at pathogen-induced genes. Notably, depletion or chemical inhibition of Top1 suppresses the host response against replicating Influenza and Ebola viruses as well as bacterial products. As a result, therapeutic pharmacological inhibition of Top1 protects mice from death in experimental models of chemical- and pathogen-induced lethal inflammation. Our results indicate that Top1 inhibition could be used as therapy against life threatening infections characterized by an acutely exacerbated immune response. RNA seq was performed on Ebola (Wild type and mutant) infected or uninfected THP-1 cells in the presence of DMSO or Camptothecin