1
|
Li D, Bühler M, Runft S, Gerold G, Marek K, Baumgärtner W, Strowig T, Gerhauser I. ASC- and caspase-1-deficient C57BL/6 mice do not develop demyelinating disease after infection with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10960. [PMID: 37414913 PMCID: PMC10326010 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38152-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) induces an acute polioencephalomyelitis and a chronic demyelinating leukomyelitis in SJL mice. C57BL/6 (B6) mice generally do not develop TMEV-induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD) due to virus elimination. However, TMEV can persist in specific immunodeficient B6 mice such as IFNβ-/- mice and induce a demyelinating process. The proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 are activated by the inflammasome pathway, which consists of a pattern recognition receptor molecule sensing microbial pathogens, the adaptor molecule Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and the executioner caspase-1. To analyze the contribution of the inflammasome pathway to the resistance of B6 mice to TMEV-IDD, ASC- and caspase-1-deficient mice and wild type littermates were infected with TMEV and investigated using histology, immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and Western Blot. Despite the antiviral activity of the inflammasome pathway, ASC- and caspase-1-deficient mice eliminated the virus and did not develop TMEV-IDD. Moreover, a similar IFNβ and cytokine gene expression was found in the brain of immunodeficient mice and their wild type littermates. Most importantly, Western Blot showed cleavage of IL-1β and IL-18 in all investigated mice. Consequently, inflammasome-dependent activation of IL-1β and IL-18 does not play a major role in the resistance of B6 mice to TMEV-IDD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Melanie Bühler
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sandra Runft
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gisa Gerold
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, 90185, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, 90185, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Katarzyna Marek
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Baumgärtner
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Till Strowig
- Department for Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
- Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ingo Gerhauser
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|