51
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Vernon PS, Griffin DE. Characterization of an in vitro model of alphavirus infection of immature and mature neurons. J Virol 2005; 79:3438-47. [PMID: 15731238 PMCID: PMC1075694 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.79.6.3438-3447.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Terminally differentiated, mature neurons are essential cells that are not easily regenerated. Neurotropic viruses, such as Sindbis virus (SV), cause encephalomyelitis through their ability to replicate in neurons. SV causes the death of immature neurons, while mature neurons can often survive infection. The lack of a reproducible and convenient neuronal cell culture system has hindered a detailed study of the differences in levels of virus replication between immature and mature neurons and the molecular events involved in virus clearance from mature neurons. We have characterized SV replication in immortalized CSM14.1 rat neuronal cells that can be differentiated into neurons. During differentiation, CSM14.1 cells ceased dividing, developed neuronal morphology, and expressed neuron-specific cell markers. SV infection of undifferentiated CSM14.1 cells was efficient and resulted in high levels of virus replication and cell death. SV infection of differentiated CSM14.1 cells was less efficient and resulted in the production of 10- to 100-fold less virus and cell survival. In undifferentiated cells, SV induced a rapid shutdown of cellular protein synthesis and pE2 was efficiently processed to E2 (ratio of E2 to pE2, 2.14). In differentiated cells, the SV-induced shutdown of cellular protein synthesis was transient and pE2 was the primary form of E2 in cells (ratio of E2 to pE2, 0.0426). We conclude that age-dependent restriction of virus replication is an intrinsic property of maturing neurons and that the CSM14.1 cell line is a convenient model system for investigating the interactions of alphaviruses with neurons at various stages of differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patty S Vernon
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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52
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Tsutsui Y, Kosugi I, Kawasaki H. Neuropathogenesis in cytomegalovirus infection: indication of the mechanisms using mouse models. Rev Med Virol 2005; 15:327-45. [PMID: 16100703 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent infectious cause of developmental brain disorders and also causes brain damage in immunocompromised individuals. Although the brain is one of the main targets of CMV infection, little is known about the neuropathogenesis of the brain disorders caused by CMV in humans because of the limitations in studying human subjects. Murine CMV (MCMV) is similar to human CMV (HCMV) in terms of genome structure, pattern of gene expressions, cell tropism and infectious dynamics. In mouse models, it has been shown that neural stem/progenitor cells are the most susceptible to CMV infection in developing brains. During brain development, lytic infection tends to occur in immature glial cells, presumably causing structural disorders of the brain. In the prolonged phase of infection, CMV preferentially infects neuronal cells. Infection of neurons may tend to become persistent by evasion of immune reactions, anti-apoptotic effects and neuron-specific activation of the e1-promoter, presumably causing functional neuronal disorders. It has also been shown that CMV infection in developing brains may become latent in neural immature cells. Brain disorders may occur long after infection by reactivation of the latent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Tsutsui
- Department of Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan.
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53
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Darman J, Backovic S, Dike S, Maragakis NJ, Krishnan C, Rothstein JD, Irani DN, Kerr DA. Viral-induced spinal motor neuron death is non-cell-autonomous and involves glutamate excitotoxicity. J Neurosci 2004; 24:7566-75. [PMID: 15329404 PMCID: PMC6729638 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2002-04.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2004] [Revised: 07/15/2004] [Accepted: 07/16/2004] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroadapted Sindbis virus (NSV) is a neurotropic virus capable of inducing the death of spinal motor neurons in mice and rats. In this study we investigated the mechanisms that underlie NSV-induced motor neuron death. We found that many degenerating spinal motor neurons were not infected directly with NSV, suggesting that bystander cell death occurs. An excitotoxic mechanism was confirmed when blockade of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors attenuated motor neuron death both in vitro and in vivo. Blockade of astroglial glutamate reuptake potentiated NSV-induced motor neuron loss in vivo, suggesting that astrocyte-mediated removal of perisynaptic glutamate is important in limiting NSV-induced excitotoxic injury. Astroglial glutamate transport was reduced markedly in the spinal cord during NSV infection, in advance of motor neuron injury in susceptible mice. In contrast, we found 5.6-fold elevated glutamate uptake in the spinal cords of mice resistant to NSV-induced paralysis. Likewise, minocycline markedly increased spinal cord glutamate transport and protected mice from NSV-induced motor neuron death. These studies suggest that NSV infection triggers a cascade of events in the spinal cord resulting in impaired astrocytic glutamate transport and excitotoxic injury of motor neurons mediated via calcium-permeable AMPA receptors. Similar changes may occur in other motor neuron disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or West Nile Virus-induced poliomyelitis, suggesting a common tissue injury pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Darman
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
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54
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Cronier S, Laude H, Peyrin JM. Prions can infect primary cultured neurons and astrocytes and promote neuronal cell death. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:12271-6. [PMID: 15302929 PMCID: PMC514468 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0402725101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies arise as a consequence of infection of the central nervous system by prions, where neurons and glial cells are regarded as primary targets. Neuronal loss and gliosis, associated with the accumulation of misfolded prion protein (PrP), are hallmarks of prion diseases; yet the mechanisms underlying such disorders remain unclear. Here we introduced a cell system based on primary cerebellar cultures established from transgenic mice expressing ovine PrP and then exposed to sheep scrapie agent. Upon exposure to low doses of infectious agent, such cultures, unlike cultures originating from PrP null mice, were found to accumulate de novo abnormal PrP and infectivity, as assessed by mouse bioassay. Importantly, using astrocyte and neuron/astrocyte cocultures, both cell types were found capable of sustaining efficient prion propagation independently, leading to the production of proteinase K-resistant PrP of the same electrophoretic profile as in diseased brain. Moreover, contrasting with data obtained in chronically infected cell lines, late-occurring apoptosis was consistently demonstrated in the infected neuronal cultures. Our results provide evidence that primary cultured neural cells, including postmitotic neurons, are permissive to prion replication, thus establishing an approach to study the mechanisms involved in prion-triggered neurodegeneration at a cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Cronier
- Unité de Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
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55
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Nargi-Aizenman JL, Havert MB, Zhang M, Irani DN, Rothstein JD, Griffin DE. Glutamate receptor antagonists protect from virus-induced neural degeneration. Ann Neurol 2004; 55:541-9. [PMID: 15048893 DOI: 10.1002/ana.20033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal damage during acute viral encephalomyelitis can result directly from virus infection or indirectly from the host immune response to infection. In neurodegenerative diseases and stroke, neuronal death also can result from excess release of excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters, such as glutamate. To determine the role of glutamate excitotoxicity in fatal alphavirus-induced paralytic encephalomyelitis, we treated mice infected with neuroadapted Sindbis virus (NSV) with antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) subtypes of glutamate receptors. Both apoptotic and necrotic neurons in the hippocampus were decreased in animals treated with MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, or GYKI-52466, an AMPA receptor antagonist. However, only AMPA receptor blockade prevented damage to spinal cord motor neurons and protected mice from paralysis and death due to NSV infection. Protection was not caused by altered virus replication because treatment did not affect virus distribution and actually delayed virus clearance. These results provide evidence that NSV infection activates neurotoxic pathways that result in aberrant glutamate receptor stimulation and neuronal damage. Furthermore, AMPA receptor-mediated motor neuron death is an important contributor to paralysis and mortality in acute alphavirus-induced encephalomyelitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Nargi-Aizenman
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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56
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Nelson EL, Prieto D, Alexander TG, Pushko P, Lofts LA, Rayner JO, Kamrud KI, Fralish B, Smith JF. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Replicon Immunization Overcomes Intrinsic Tolerance and Elicits Effective Anti-tumor Immunity to the ‘Self’ tumor-associated antigen, neu in a Rat Mammary Tumor Model. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2003; 82:169-83. [PMID: 14703064 DOI: 10.1023/b:brea.0000004373.09678.bb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Many tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) represent 'self' antigens and as such, are subject to the constraints of immunologic tolerance. There are significant barriers to eliciting anti-tumor immune responses of sufficient magnitude. We have taken advantage of a Venezuelan equine encephalitis-derived alphavirus replicon vector system with documented in vivo tropism for immune system dendritic cells. We have overcome the intrinsic tolerance to the 'self' TAA rat neu and elicited an effective anti-tumor immune response using this alphavirus replicon vector system and a designed target antigen in a rigorous rat mammary tumor model. We have demonstrated the capacity to generate 50% protection in tumor challenge experiments (p = 0.004) and we have confirmed the establishment of immunologic memory by both second tumor challenge and Winn Assay (p = 0.009). Minor antibody responses were identified and supported the establishment of T helper type 1 (Th1) anti-tumor immune responses by isotype. Animals surviving in excess of 300 days with established effective anti-tumor immunity showed no signs of autoimmune phenomena. Together these experiments support the establishment of T lymphocyte dependent, Th1-biased anti-tumor immune responses to a non-mutated 'self' TAA in an aggressive tumor model. Importantly, this tumor model is subject to the constraints of immunologic tolerance present in animals with normal developmental, temporal, and anatomical expression of a non-mutated TAA. These data support the continued development and potential clinical application of this alphaviral replicon vector system and the use of appropriately designed target antigen sequences for anti-tumor immunotherapy.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine/genetics
- Female
- Genetic Vectors/immunology
- Genetic Vectors/therapeutic use
- Humans
- Immunization
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Neoplasm Proteins/immunology
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred F344
- Receptor, ErbB-2/chemistry
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Replicon/immunology
- Self Tolerance
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward L Nelson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 97697-4060, USA.
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57
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Shrestha B, Gottlieb D, Diamond MS. Infection and injury of neurons by West Nile encephalitis virus. J Virol 2003; 77:13203-13. [PMID: 14645577 PMCID: PMC296085 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.77.24.13203-13213.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2003] [Accepted: 09/12/2003] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) infects neurons and leads to encephalitis, paralysis, and death in humans, animals, and birds. We investigated the mechanism by which neuronal injury occurs after WNV infection. Neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cords of paralyzed mice exhibited a high degree of WNV infection, leukocyte infiltration, and degeneration. Because it was difficult to distinguish whether neuronal injury was caused by viral infection or by the immune system response, a novel tissue culture model for WNV infection was established in neurons derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells. Undifferentiated ES cells were relatively resistant to WNV infection. After differentiation, ES cells expressed neural antigens, acquired a neuronal phenotype, and became permissive for WNV infection. Within 48 h of exposure to an exceedingly low multiplicity of infection (5 x 10(-4)), 50% of ES cell-derived neurons became infected, producing nearly 10(7) PFU of infectious virus per ml, and began to die by an apoptotic mechanism. The establishment of a tractable virus infection model in ES cell-derived neurons facilitates the study of the molecular basis of neurotropism and the mechanisms of viral and immune-mediated neuronal injury after infection by WNV or other neurotropic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bimmi Shrestha
- Departments of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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58
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Thoulouze MI, Lafage M, Yuste VJ, Baloul L, Edelman L, Kroemer G, Israel N, Susin SA, Lafon M. High level of Bcl-2 counteracts apoptosis mediated by a live rabies virus vaccine strain and induces long-term infection. Virology 2003; 314:549-61. [PMID: 14554083 DOI: 10.1016/s0042-6822(03)00491-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
We report here that rabies virus strains, currently used to immunize wildlife against rabies, induce not only caspase-dependent apoptosis in the human lymphoblastoid Jurkat T cell line (Jurkat-vect), but also a caspase-independent pathway involving the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). In contrast, a strain of neurotropic RV that does not induce apoptosis did not activate caspases or induce AIF translocation. Bcl-2 overproduction in Jurkat T cells (Jurkat-Bcl-2) abolished both pathways. ERA infection and production were similar in Jurkat-vect and Jurkat-Bcl-2 cells, indicating Bcl-2 has no direct antiviral effects. Bcl-2 production is naturally upregulated by day 3 in ERA-infected Jurkat-vect cultures. The increase in Bcl-2 levels seems to be controlled by the virus infection itself and results in the establishment of long-term, persistently infected cultures that continue to produce virus. Thus, in infections with live RV vaccine strains, infected cells may be productive reservoirs of virus in the long term. This may account for the high efficacy of live rabies vaccines.
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59
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Zhirnov O, Klenk HD. Human influenza A viruses are proteolytically activated and do not induce apoptosis in CACO-2 cells. Virology 2003; 313:198-212. [PMID: 12951033 DOI: 10.1016/s0042-6822(03)00264-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Replication of human influenza A/H3N2 and A/H1N1 viruses was studied in human CACO-2 cells, a continuous line of intestinal epithelial differentiated cells. Hemagglutinin (HA) was cleaved in these cells by an endogenous protease. Thus, infectious virus was produced that underwent multiple cycle replication and plaque formation in the absence of trypsin added to the media. Cleavage of de novo-synthesized HA occurred at a late stage of the exocytic pathway as indicated by pulse-chase labeling and by experiments employing endoglycosidase H and brefeldin A treatment. However, surface-labeling experiments employing biotinylation suggested that there is no cleavage at the plasma membrane. Unlike HA of serotypes H5 and H7 cleaved at multibasic cleavage sites by furin, the HAs with monobasic cleavage sites analyzed here were not cleaved in CACO-2 cells in the presence of aprotinin, a natural inhibitor of trypsinlike proteases. Growing CACO-2 cells were able to cleave HA of incoming virus, although influenza virus activating protease was not detected in culture medium. These observations indicate that the activating enzyme of CACO-2 cells is a trypsinlike protease functioning in the trans-Golgi network and presumably endosomes. In support of this concept immune staining with antibodies specific to human and bovine trypsin revealed the presence of a trypsinlike protease in CACO-2 cells. Unlike MDCK and CV-1 cells undergoing rapid apoptosis after influenza virus infection, CACO-2 cells showed no apoptosis but displayed cytopathic effects with necrotic signs significantly later after infection. It follows from these data that, depending on the cell type, influenza virus may kill cells either by apoptosis or by necrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Zhirnov
- D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Gamaleya 16, Moscow 123098, Russia.
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60
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Thach DC, Shaffer KM, Ma W, Stenger DA. Assessing the feasibility of using neural precursor cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells for detection of bioactive Sindbis virus. Biosens Bioelectron 2003; 18:1065-72. [PMID: 12782470 DOI: 10.1016/s0956-5663(02)00246-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Viruses form a significant class of bio-threat agents. Currently, the only method to determine the bioactivity of viruses in vitro is to measure viral and cellular responses after co-incubation of cells with virus. Our goal is to find biomarkers for classification of agents, establishment of bioactivity, and/or prediction of disease outcomes. To begin development of a cell-based biosensor for detection of bioactive Sindbis virus (SV), our model analyte, we surveyed the outcomes of SV interaction with primary rat neural precursor cells (NPC) and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Confocal fluorescence analysis of NPC treated with recombinant SV carrying green-fluorescent-protein (SV-GFP) showed that most cells were GFP positive by day 1 post inoculation. 4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining of the nucleus showed nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and the percentage of TUNEL positive cells were higher in virus-treated cells than in mock-treated control. Also, there were less BrdU positive cells in virus-treated cells compared to control. Thus, SV infects NPC, decreases cellular proliferation, and induces cell death via apoptosis. PBMC were treated with SV- or UV-inactivated SV. By day 5 post infection, there were fewer adherent cells in SV-treated PBMC compared to UV-inactivated SV treated PBMC. However, the percentage of viable cells remained the same, and virus growth curves showed only clearance of virus. Thus, SV induces detachment of a subpopulation of PBMC while not killing most of the cells. Together, these results indicate that NPC and PBMC respond to bioactive SV inoculation, suggesting potential use as detectors of SV in cell-based biosensor paradigm. These studies also provide the rationale, time-scale, and phenotypic correlates for further studies with gene expression arrays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dzung C Thach
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6910, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
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61
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Kimura T, Griffin DE. Extensive immune-mediated hippocampal damage in mice surviving infection with neuroadapted Sindbis virus. Virology 2003; 311:28-39. [PMID: 12832200 DOI: 10.1016/s0042-6822(03)00110-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Viral infections of the central nervous system and immune responses to these infections cause a variety of neurological diseases. Infection of weanling mice with Sindbis virus causes acute nonfatal encephalomyelitis followed by clearance of infectious virus, but persistence of viral RNA. Infection with a neuroadapted strain of Sindbis virus (NSV) causes fatal encephalomyelitis, but passive transfer of immune serum after infection protects from fatal disease and infectious virus is cleared. To determine whether persistent NSV RNA is associated with neurological damage, we examined the brains of recovered mice and found progressive loss of the hippocampal gyrus, adjacent white matter, and deep cerebral cortex associated with mononuclear cell infiltration. Mice deficient in CD4(+) T cells showed less tissue loss, while mice lacking CD8(+) T cells showed lesions comparable to those in immunocompetent mice. Mice deficient in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells developed severe tissue loss similar to immunocompetent mice and this was associated with extensive infiltration of macrophages. The number of CD4(+) cells and macrophage/microglial cells, but not CD8(+) cells, infiltrating the hippocampal gyrus was correlated with the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling positive pyramidal neurons. These results suggest that CD4(+) T cells can promote progressive neuronal death and tissue injury, despite clearance of infectious virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kimura
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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62
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Fannjiang Y, Kim CH, Huganir RL, Zou S, Lindsten T, Thompson CB, Mito T, Traystman RJ, Larsen T, Griffin DE, Mandir AS, Dawson TM, Dike S, Sappington AL, Kerr DA, Jonas EA, Kaczmarek LK, Hardwick JM. BAK alters neuronal excitability and can switch from anti- to pro-death function during postnatal development. Dev Cell 2003; 4:575-85. [PMID: 12689595 DOI: 10.1016/s1534-5807(03)00091-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BAK is a pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein that localizes to mitochondria. Here we evaluate the function of BAK in several mouse models of neuronal injury including neuronotropic Sindbis virus infection, Parkinson's disease, ischemia/stroke, and seizure. BAK promotes or inhibits neuronal death depending on the specific death stimulus, neuron subtype, and stage of postnatal development. BAK protects neurons from excitotoxicity and virus infection in the hippocampus. As mice mature, BAK is converted from anti- to pro-death function in virus-infected spinal cord neurons. In addition to regulating cell death, BAK also protects mice from kainate-induced seizures, suggesting a possible role in regulating synaptic activity. BAK can alter neurotransmitter release in a direction consistent with its protective effects on neurons and mice. These findings suggest that BAK inhibits cell death by modifying neuronal excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihru Fannjiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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63
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Perkins D, Gyure KA, Pereira EFR, Aurelian L. Herpes simplex virus type 1-induced encephalitis has an apoptotic component associated with activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. J Neurovirol 2003; 9:101-11. [PMID: 12587073 DOI: 10.1080/13550280390173427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2002] [Revised: 06/04/2002] [Accepted: 08/08/2002] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) triggered apoptosis in hippocampal cultures, as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry with antibody specific for the large fragment of activated caspase 3. The levels of phosphorylated (activated) c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were also increased in HSV-1-infected hippocampal cultures as were the levels of activated c-Jun, its target. JNK activation was involved in HSV-1-induced apoptosis as evidenced by apoptosis inhibition with the JNK inhibitor SP600125. HSV-2 activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated protein kinase (MEK/ERK) survival pathway and did not trigger apoptosis in hippocampal cultures. The MEK specific inhibitor U0126 inhibited ERK activation and caused a significant increase in the percent TUNEL(+) cells in HSV-2-infected cultures, indicating that the failure of HSV-2 to trigger apoptosis is due to its ability to activate the MEK/ERK survival pathway. JNK was also activated in brain tissues from patients with HSV-associated acute focal encephalitis (HSE) that were positive for HSV-1 antigen. JNK activation correlated with apoptosis, as determined by immunohistochemistry with antibody to activated caspase 3 or cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The data suggest that HSE has an apoptotic component that may contribute to disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Perkins
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA
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64
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Abstract
Within the flavivirus family, viruses that cause natural infections of the central nervous system (CNS) principally include members of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) serogroup and the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) serocomplex. The pathogenesis of diseases involves complex interactions of viruses, which differ in neurovirulence potential, and a number of host factors, which govern susceptibility to infection and the capacity to mount effective antiviral immune responses both in the periphery and within the CNS. This chapter summarizes progress in the field of flavivirus neuropathogenesis. Mosquito-borne and tickborne viruses are considered together. Flavivirus neuropathogenesis involves both neuroinvasiveness (capacity to enter the CNS) and neurovirulence (replication within the CNS), both of which can be manipulated experimentally. Neuronal injury as a result of bystander effects may be a factor during flavivirus neuropathogenesis given that microglial activation and elaboration of inflammatory mediators, including IL-1β and TNF-α, occur in the CNS during these infections and may accompany the production of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite, which can cause neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Chambers
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, USA
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65
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Liu J, Wei T, Kwang J. Avian encephalomyelitis virus induces apoptosis via major structural protein VP3. Virology 2002; 300:39-49. [PMID: 12202204 DOI: 10.1006/viro.2002.1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) strain L(2)Z was investigated for its apoptotic activity in specific-pathogen-free chick embryo brain tissue. DNA fragmentation analysis and electron microscopy observation demonstrated that AEV could induce apoptosis in chick embryo brain tissues characterized by chromatin condensation, plasma membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, and nucleosomal DNA fragmentation after 4 days postinfection. AEV structural protein genes VP1, VP2, and VP3 were transfected into Cos-7 and chick embryo brain (CEB) cells, respectively. The results showed that only VP3 protein was an apoptotic inducer, as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation analysis and TUNEL assay at 24 and 48 h posttransfection. Furthermore, expression of VP3 protein resulted in the activation of caspase-3-like proteases in both cells, which could be inhibited by a caspase-3-like protease-specific inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO peptide, suggesting that AEV VP3 protein induces apoptosis through a caspase-3-like protease pathway. In addition, VP3 protein localized to mitochondria in the Cos-7 and CEB cells at 24 h posttransfection observed by confocal microscopy, indicating that mitochondria may play an important role in VP3-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results show that AEV could induce apoptosis in chick embryo brain tissue, structural protein VP3 could serve as an apoptotic inducer resulting in apoptosis in cell culture through a caspase-3-like protease pathway, which may be related to its localization to mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jue Liu
- Animal Health Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Agrobiology, The National University of Singapore, 1 Research Link, 117604, Singapore
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66
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Rowell JF, Griffin DE. Contribution of T cells to mortality in neurovirulent Sindbis virus encephalomyelitis. J Neuroimmunol 2002; 127:106-14. [PMID: 12044981 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(02)00108-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Intranasal inoculation of C57BL/6 mice with a neurovirulent strain of Sindbis virus (SV) results in fatal encephalomyelitis. Mice with selective immune deficiencies were studied to determine the role of the immune response in fatal outcome. Mortality was decreased in mice deficient in alphabeta, but not gammadelta, T cells demonstrating a contribution of alphabeta T cells. Mice lacking either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells also had reduced mortality and mice lacking interferon (IFN)-gamma were completely protected. Clearance of infectious virus was identical in mice without T cells or IFN-gamma, but clearance of viral RNA was delayed compared to normal mice. Mice unable to produce antibody, perforin, Fas, TNF-alpha receptor1, IL-6 or IL-12 were not protected. These data suggest that T cells contribute to fatal acute viral encephalomyelitis through the production of IFN-gamma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer F Rowell
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Nargi-Aizenman JL, Simbulan-Rosenthal CM, Kelly TA, Smulson ME, Griffin DE. Rapid activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase contributes to Sindbis virus and staurosporine-induced apoptotic cell death. Virology 2002; 293:164-71. [PMID: 11853409 DOI: 10.1006/viro.2001.1253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a chromatin-associated enzyme that is activated by DNA strand breaks and catalyzes the transfer of ADP-ribose groups from NAD to itself and other nuclear proteins. Although caspase-mediated PARP-1 cleavage occurs during almost all forms of apoptosis, the contribution of PARP-1 activation and cleavage to this cell death process remains unclear. Using immortalized fibroblasts from wild-type (PARP-1(+/+)) and PARP-1 knockout (PARP-1(-/-)) mice, and a mouse neuroblastoma cell line (N18), the role that poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation plays in Sindbis virus (SV)-induced apoptosis was examined. Robust PARP-1 activation occurred in SV-infected cells prior to morphologic changes associated with apoptotic cell death and PARP-1 activity ceased simultaneously with caspase-3 activation and PARP-1 proteolysis. PARP-1 activity was maximal before detectable DNA fragmentation, but was absent when DNA damage was most intense. SV and staurosporine-induced cell death was delayed in fibroblasts lacking PARP-1 activity, suggesting that PARP-1 activation contributes to apoptotic cell death induced by these stimuli. SV replication was not affected by lack of PARP-1 activity, but DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation were delayed and occurred at lower levels in PARP-1-deficient fibroblasts. Early virus-induced PARP-1 activation may represent a novel way by which cells signal to the nucleus to regulate protein function by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in response to virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Nargi-Aizenman
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
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