22Word count for the Abstract: 219 words. 23Word count for the Importance: 149 words. 24Word count for the main text: 3461 words 25 ABSTRACT Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the pathogen 26 of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which is one of the most 27 economically harmful diseases in modern pig production worldwide. Receptor of activated 28 protein C kinase 1 (RACK1) was previously shown to be indispensable for the PRRSV 29 replication and NF-κB activation in Marc-145 cells. Here we identified a membrane protein, 30 integrin β3 (ITGB3) , as a RACK1-interacting protein. PRRSV infection in Marc-145 cells 31 upregulated the ITGB3 expression. Abrogation of ITGB3 by siRNA knockdown or antibody 32 blocking inhibited PRRSV infection and NF-κB activation, while on the other hand, 33 overexpression of ITGB3 enhanced PRRSV infection and NF-κB activation. Furthermore, 34inhibition of ITGB3 alleviated the cytopathic effects and reduced the TCID 50 titer in Marc-35 145 cells. We also showed that RACK1 and ITGB3 were NF-κB target genes during PRRSV 36 infection, and that they regulate each other. Our data indicate that ITGB3, presumably as a co-37 receptor, plays an imperative role for PRRSV infection and NF-κB activation in Marc-145 38 cells. PRRSV infection activates a positive feedback loop involving the activation of NF-κB 39 and upregulation of ITGB3 and RACK1 in Marc-145 cells. The findings would advance our 40 elaborated understanding of the molecular host-pathogen interaction mechanisms underlying 41 PRRSV infection in swine and suggest ITGB3 and NF-κB signaling pathway as potential 42 therapeutic targets for PRRS control. 43 44 IMPORTANCE Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of 45 the pathogens in pig production worldwide. Several cell surface receptors, such as heparan 46sulphate, sialoadhesin, vimentin and CD163, were identified to be involved in PRRSV 47 infection and NF-κB activation in Marc-145 cells, presumably as a co-receptor of CD136 or 51 vimentin. Both ITGB3 and RACK1 were NF-κB target genes, and they regulate each other. 52The activation of NF-κB and the transcription of its downstream genes are beneficial for 53 PRRSV infection/replication. The novel findings would advance our elaborated understanding 54 of the molecular host-pathogen interaction mechanisms underlying PRRSV infection in swine 55 and suggest ITGB3-RACK1-NF-κB axis as a potential therapeutic target for PRRS control. 56 57 KEYWORDS Integrin β3; RACK1; porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; 58 infection; NF-κB; Marc-145 cells 59 60