Primary effusion lymphoma cells undergoing human herpesvirus type 8 productive infection produce C-type retroviral particles

Primary effusion lymphomas (PELs) are invariably infected by the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)that is present in most PEL cells as latent virus but replicates in a subset of permissive cells to produce infectious progeny. Here we show that productively infected PEL cells release C-type retrovirus-like particles encoding an Mn++-dependent RT activity, which is typical of endogenous retroviruses. Strikingly, C-type particles are produced only in cells showing advanced HHV8 morphogenesis. Phorbol esters, which induce productive HHV8 replication and morphogenesis in PEL cells, increase RLP production. Phosphonoacetic acid, a blocker of HHV8 late gene expression, inhibits the production of C-type particles, whereas neutralizing anti-alphaIFN antibodies, which are known to increase HHV8 assembly, increases C-type particle production. These data suggest that factors expressed in advanced stages of HHV8 reactivation support endogenous C-type particle morphogenesis in PEL cells.

UV-B irradiated cell lines execute programmed cell death in various forms

We investigated changes typical for apoptosis in various cell lines after UV-B irradiation. Using established methods for detection of apoptosis we demonstrate changes of cellular morphology, phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, ollgonucleosomal DNA fragmentation and generation of hypochrome nuclei. To isolated high-molecular-weight (hmwt) DNA fragments we engaged a new method avoiding pulse field gel electrophoresis. Most UV-B irradiated cell lines showed oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, hypochrome nuclei, morphological changes, annexin-V binding and positive TUNEL reaction. However, no oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation could be detected in Raji and HaCaT cells. Whereas HaCaT cells displayed all other changes typical for apoptosis, Raji cells were TUNEL negative, formed low amounts of hmwt DNA and showed an 'atypically' low hypochrome shift. Nevertheless, UV-B irradiated Raji cells excluded propidium iodide (PI), bound annexin-V and stopped proliferation. This suggests that Raji cells underwent growth arrest with exposure of PS being the only feature of apoptosis. However, in the presence of phagocytes expressing the phosphatidylserine receptor these cells would share the removal pathway with apoptotic cells. Since UV-B induced programmed cell death differs in dependence of cells under investigation, the failure to detect oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation or chromatin condensation is not suitable to exclude programmed (apoptotic?) cell death.

Genetic reshuffling reconstitutes functional expression cassettes in retroviral vectors

BACKGROUND

A major prerequisite for the design of retroviral vectors encoding cell toxic or harmful genes is the possibility to tightly control gene expression, thus limiting activity to the relevant target cells and protecting the packaging cell used for production of recombinant viral particles.

METHODS

In the present study a system was developed in which genetic reshuffling during the retroviral life cycle is exploited, allowing reconstitution of functional expression cassettes from separate elements exclusively in transduced target cells. For construction of these murine leukaemia virus (MLV)-based reconstituting viral vectors (ReCon), a promoterless inverted enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene cassette was inserted in place of the U3 region of the 3' LTR. Subsequently, the human ubiquitin promoter was inserted in the inverse orientation into the R/U5 border of the 5' LTR of the vector.

RESULTS

PA317 packaging cells stably transfected with ReCon vectors were established and EGFP expression was analysed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). After detection of low-level background expression, an additional polyadenylation signal was introduced in antisense orientation into the 3' LTR at the R/U5 border to prevent accidental read-through transcription from neighbouring cellular promoters. Virus-containing cell culture supernatants were then used to infect NIH3T3 target cells. EGFP expression, recloning and sequencing of integrated proviruses demonstrated the correct reassembly of the transduced ubiquitin/EGFP transcription unit in these infected cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This facile and convenient system should allow production of retroviral vectors encoding potentially toxic proteins, cell cycle inhibitors or inducers of apoptosis, all of which would interfere with vector production if expressed in the retroviral packaging cell.

HIV type 1 Nef promotes neoplastic transformation of immortalized neural cells

To study the effects of HIV-1 Nef on CNS-derived cells in vivo, an expression system based on the murine neural stem cell line C17.2 was established. Stable expression of LAV-1(Bru)-nef in these cells induced a transformed phenotype and enhanced cell growth in soft agar. Further experiments using previously established nef-expressing human astrocytoma cell lines as well as nef-expressing murine fibroblasts suggested a brain cell-specific transforming activity of Nef. After implantation into syngeneic or nude mice both murine and human nef-expressing CNS-derived cells induced tumor development. Interestingly, human astrocytoma cells expressing a Nef mutant carrying a disrupted SH3-binding motif involved in protein-protein interactions failed to induce tumor formation. These in vivo data suggest that Nef promotes neoplastic transformation of immortalized murine neural stem cells and enhances malignancy of low-tumorigenic human astrocytoma cells. Nef may therefore be involved in the development of AIDS-associated brain tumors.

Cell type-specific expression and promoter activity of human endogenous retroviral long terminal repeats

Evolution over millions of years has adapted several thousand copies of retrovirus-like elements and over 10 times as many solitary long terminal repeats (LTRs) to their present location in the human genome. Transcription of these human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) has been detected in various cells and tissues, and in some cases their transcriptional control elements have been recruited by cellular genes. We used a retroviral pol-specific expression array to obtain a HERV transcription profile in a variety of human cells such as epidermal keratinocytes, liver cells, kidney cells, pancreatic cells, lymphocytes, and lung fibroblasts. This rapid screening test revealed a distinct HERV pol-expression pattern in each cell type tested so far. About 40 different U3/R regulatory sequences from the HERV-H and HERV-W families were then amplified from actively transcribed 3'HERV LTRs of various cell lines and tissues. Their promoter activities were compared with LTR sequences of other known HERV families in 12 human cell lines using a transient luciferase reporter system. Expression of the isolated HERV LTRs varied significantly in these cell lines, in some cases showing strict cell type specificity. These results suggest that endogenous retroviral LTRs may be a valuable source of transcriptional regulatory elements for the construction of targeted retroviral expression vectors.

Rapid identification of all known retroviral reverse transcriptase sequences with a novel versatile detection assay

We have developed a highly sensitive, universal assay that allows detection as well as identification of all known retroviral reverse transcriptase (RT)-related nucleic acids in a biological sample by a single two-step experiment. The assay combines polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse dot-blot hybridization (RDBH), using an array of immobilized synthetic retrovirus-specific oligonucleotides and two sets of mixed oligo primers (MOPs). These primers were derived from highly conserved motifs found in all known reverse transcriptase genes. The PCR/RDBH assay was used for qualitative analyses of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcription in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in particles released by the human mammary carcinoma-derived cell line T47D. Sensitivity was further demonstrated by detection of down to 10 copies of pig endogenous retrovirus (PERV) DNA in human cDNA samples. Therefore, this assay is particularly useful for the identification of retroviral sequences in xenografts as well as in recipients of xenografted tissues and organs. Moreover, it is a valuable tool to detect retroviral transcripts and particles in cell cultures used for production of therapeutic polypeptides. The assay is further suitable for monitoring vector preparation used in human gene therapy to exclude transfer of copackaged endogenous retroviruses into target cells.

Expression of K13/v-FLIP gene of human herpesvirus 8 and apoptosis in Kaposi's sarcoma spindle cells

BACKGROUND

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) infection is associated with all forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The HHV8 genome locus ORFK13-72-73 (ORF = open reading frame) encodes proteins that may be important in HHV8-mediated pathogenesis, i.e., the latency-associated nuclear antigen (encoded by ORF73), viral-cyc-D (v-cyc-D), a viral homologue of cellular cyclin D (encoded by ORF72), and viral-FLIP (v-FLIP), a homologue of the cellular FLICE (Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin 1 beta-converting enzyme) inhibitory protein (encoded by ORFK13; is an inhibitor of apoptosis [programmed cell death]). Through differential splicing events, this locus expresses individual RNA transcripts that encode all three proteins (tricistronic transcripts) or just two of them (v-FLIP and v-cyc-D; bicistronic transcripts). We examined expression of these transcripts in KS tissues.

METHODS

We collected tissues from patients with KS of different stages. By use of an optimized in situ hybridization procedure, we examined different ORFK13-72-73 locus transcripts in HHV8-infected cells in skin lesions and in one adjacent lymph node. Apoptosis in KS lesions was determined by use of an in situ assay.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate the following: 1) Transcripts from the ORFK13-72-73 locus appear to be spliced differentially in latently infected KS cells in skin lesions and in HHV8-infected cells in lymph nodes; specifically, ORFK13-ORF72 bicistronic transcripts were expressed abundantly in KS cells, whereas ORFK13-ORF72-ORF73 tricistronic transcripts were detected only in lymph node cells. 2) Sequences encoding the antiapoptotic protein v-FLIP are expressed at very low levels in early KS lesions, but expression increases dramatically in late-stage lesions. 3) The increase in expression of v-FLIP-encoding transcripts is associated with a reduction in apoptosis in KS lesions.

IMPLICATIONS

These data suggest that functional v-FLIP is produced in vivo and that antiapoptotic mechanisms may be involved in the rapid growth of KS lesions, where only a few cells undergoing mitosis are generally observed.

Transcriptional activation of endogenous retroviral sequences in human epidermal keratinocytes by UVB irradiation

Ultraviolet radiation is a pathogenic factor in various diseases, e. g., autoimmune disorders such as lupus erythematosus. On the other hand, endogenous retroviruses are discussed as etiologic agents in lupus erythematosus. Therefore, we investigated the influence of ultraviolet irradiation on expression of human endogenous retroviral sequences and human endogenous retroviral sequence promoter-driven transcription of cellular genes using human epidermal keratinocytes as a model system. First, conserved sequences of endogenous retroviral pol genes were amplified from cellular mRNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with degenerate oligonucleotide primers. Polymerase chain reaction products were hybridized in a reverse dot blot hybridization assay to a representative number of distinct cloned human endogenous retroviral pol fragments. Using this method, we could show that irradiation with 30 mJ per cm2 ultraviolet B activates transcription of various endogenous retroviral pol sequences in primary epidermal keratinocytes as well as in a spontaneously immortalized keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Interestingly, some of these sequences were found to be closely related to pol sequences of human endogenous retroviral sequences which have been shown to be expressed in autoimmune patients. Analysis of human endogenous retroviral pol expression in vivo using skin biopsies of lupus erythematosus patients revealed similar activation patterns. In a second approach, ultraviolet B- induced chimeric transcripts were isolated which are initiated by human endogenous retroviral promoters and proceed into cellular sequences using a newly established modified differential display polymerase chain reaction technique. The activation of human endogenous retroviral sequence transcription by ultraviolet B may contribute to the pathogenesis of lupus erythematosus, where inappropriate antigenic presentation of ultraviolet B-induced viral and cellular proteins could stimulate autoantibody production.

Expression of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) encoded pathogenic genes in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) primary lesions

Transcription of six different HHV-8 specific mRNAs was examined in early- and late-stage KS primary lesions. Expression of the latency-associated T0.7 mRNA and of VP23 mRNA which is a specific marker of lytic/productive infection suggested that HHV-8 is secondarily recruited into the KS lesions by productively infected monocytes, macrophages. From these cells HHV-8 is transmitted to the KS spindle cells, which are latently infected. v-BCL-2, v-MCP-1 and v-IL-6 were not expressed in latently infected KS spindle cells, therefore the impact of these factors in KS pathogenesis appears to be low. By contrast, v-Cyclin D was highly expressed in almost all latently infected spindle cells and may therefore be an important factor triggering progression of late-stage KS lesions.

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus-1 increases expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor in T cells: implications for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated vasculopathy

Alterations in the vascular system and the onset of angioproliferative lesions such as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) are common traits of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-infected patients. To investigate possible factors involved in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated vasculopathy and vascular malfunction, expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor-A (VEGF-A) was analyzed in HUT 78 T lymphocytes upon infection with HIV-1. VEGF-A was found to be increased in supernatants from infected cells as compared with uninfected cells. In addition, VEGF-A mRNA expression and protein secretion were significantly increased in HUT 78 cells incubated with conditioned medium (CM) derived from HIV-1 chronically infected HUT 78 cells (HIV-TCM) as compared with CM from uninfected cells (TCM). Increase of VEGF-A production in T cells was promoted by inflammatory cytokines (IC) present in HIV-TCM, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interferon gamma (IFNgamma), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6. These IC that have been shown to be increased in sera of HIV-1-infected patients and to be increased by HIV-1 infection or cell activation in these individuals as well as HIV-TCM also increased VEGF-A expression in primary T lymphocytes. Consistent with this, VEGF-A concentrations were found to be higher in sera of HIV-1-infected patients with (mean, 357.1 +/- 197.9 pg/mL) and without KS (mean, 256.7 +/- 137.5 pg/mL) as compared with uninfected individuals (mean, 188.6 +/- 91.7 pg/mL). These data suggest that increased secretion of VEGF-A by T lymphocytes of HIV-1-infected individuals may induce vascular leakage and stimulate proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, which are hallmarks of AIDS-associated vasculopathy and especially of KS development.

An antiviral mechanism of nitric oxide: inhibition of a viral protease

Although nitric oxide (NO) kills or inhibits the replication of a variety of intracellular pathogens, the antimicrobial mechanisms of NO are unknown. Here, we identify a viral protease as a target of NO. The life cycle of many viruses depends upon viral proteases that cleave viral polyproteins into individual polypeptides. NO inactivates the Coxsackievirus protease 3C, an enzyme necessary for the replication of Coxsackievirus. NO S-nitrosylates the cysteine residue in the active site of protease 3C, inhibiting protease activity and interrupting the viral life cycle. Substituting a serine residue for the active site cysteine renders protease 3C resistant to NO inhibition. Since cysteine proteases are critical for virulence or replication of many viruses, bacteria, and parasites, S-nitrosylation of pathogen cysteine proteases may be a general mechanism of antimicrobial host defenses.

HSP47, a collagen-specific molecular chaperone, delays the secretion of type III procollagen transfected in human embryonic kidney cell line 293: a possible role for HSP47 in collagen modification

HSP47 is a stress protein (heat shock protein) which resides in the endoplasmic reticulum, and is postulated to function as a collagen-specific molecular chaperone. To elucidate the role of HSP47 in procollagen biosynthesis, we have established human embryonic kidney 293 cell lines, which were stably transfected with alpha1(III) procollagen chains with or without HSP47. 293 cells do not produce any extracellular matrix proteins including collagens, and the level of HSP47 expression is almost undetectable in this cell line. Recombinant type III procollagens in 293 cells form trypsin-resistant homotrimers, which are secreted into the medium as trimers in the presence or absence of recombinant mouse HSP47. The secretion of procollagen III was delayed in 293 cells stably transfected with proalpha1(III) collagen chains [293+proalpha1(III) cells] in comparison with human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RD, which normally produces type III procollagens. In this study, we examined the rate of type III procollagen secretion in detail. In cells cotransfected with mouse HSP47 [293+proalpha1(III)+HSP47 cells], the rate of type III procollagen secretion was slower than in 293+proalpha1(III) cells. The binding of HSP47 with proalpha1(III) collagen chains was confirmed by immunoprecipitation using the chemical cross-linker, DSP. The electrophoretic mobility of proalpha1(III) collagen chains in 293+proalpha1(III) cells was slightly slower than that in RD cells, whereas the recombinant proalpha1(III) chains of 293+proalpha1(III)+HSP47 cells showed almost the same electrophoretic mobility as those of RD cells. The melting temperature (Tm) of type III procollagen in 293+proalpha1(III)+HSP47 cells was almost the same as that in RD cells, and the Tm in 293+proalpha1(III) cells was slightly higher than that in RD cells. These data suggest that the recombinant proalpha1(III) collagen chain is overmodified in 293+proalpha1(III) cells, but not in 293+proalpha1(III)+HSP47 cells.

Expression of HHV-8 latency-associated T0.7 RNA in spindle cells and endothelial cells of AIDS-associated, classical and African Kaposi's sarcoma

Analysis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological studies have demonstrated a close association between the novel human herpes virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) or human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) and the development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). To clarify the role of HHV-8 in KS pathogenesis, we investigated at the cellular level by in situ hybridization the expression of a recently described 0.7-kb HHV-8-encoded mRNA (T0.7 mRNA) in KS tissues of different epidemiological origin (AIDS-KS, African endemic KS and classical KS). The T0.7 mRNA likely encodes a small membrane protein, supposedly expressed in latently HHV-8-infected cells. Indeed, we detected T0.7 mRNA in virtually all cells of the cell line BCBL-1 established from a body cavity-based lymphoma (BCBL) and latently infected with HHV-8. In all KS biopsies examined, independent of their epidemiological type, the late-stage (nodular) KS tissues showed a high level of T0.7 mRNA expression in typical KS spindle cells but also in endothelial cells lining blood vessels, indicating latent HHV-8 infection of these cells. The presence of T0.7-expressing cells was restricted to KS tumor tissue and therefore appears to indicate an important role of latent HHV-8 infection in KS pathogenesis.

Biological significance of human endogenous retroviral sequences

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have been known for many years to exist in numerous natural and laboratory animal species. In humans it has been demonstrated that at least 1% of the genome consists of retrovirus-related sequences. Involvement of ERVs in the development of neoplastic and autoimmune diseases in the mouse model implicated a potentially pathogenic role of ERVs for humans, too. The research in this field led to a number of results strongly suggesting that human endogenous retroviral sequences (HERVs) are biologically active, on the RNA and even on the protein level. Particle formation, regulation or dysregulation of cellular gene expression, and synthesis of potentially pathogenic viral proteins indicate the broad spectrum of mechanisms by which HERVs may obtain biological significance.

Structure of a novel extracellular Ca(2+)-binding module in BM-40

The EF-hand is a highly conserved Ca(2+)-binding motif found in many cytosolic Ca(2+)-modulated proteins. Here we report the crystal structure at 2.0 A resolution of the carboxy-terminal domain of human BM-40 (SPARC, osteonectin), an extracellular matrix protein containing an EF-hand pair. The two EF-hands interact canonically but their detailed structures are unusual. In the first EF-hand a one-residue insertion is accommodated by a cis-peptide bond and by substituting a carboxylate by a peptide carbonyl as a Ca2+ ligand. The second EF-hand is stabilized by a disulphide bond. The EF-hand pair interacts tightly with an amphiphilic amino-terminal helix, reminiscent of target peptide binding by calmodulin. The present structure defines a novel protein module occurring in several other extracellular proteins.

The C-terminal portion of BM-40 (SPARC/osteonectin) is an autonomously folding and crystallisable domain that binds calcium and collagen IV

The extracellular glycoprotein BM-40 consists of three domains, an acidic domain I, a follistatin (FS)-like domain II and a calcium-binding EC domain with an EF-hand related motif. BM-40 and several other related proteins (QR1, SC1/hevin, testican and tsc-36/FRP) are members of a novel modular protein family that share the FS domain followed by an EC domain. We have expressed this pair of FS and EC domains (mutant delta I) and the calcium-binding EC domain alone (mutant delta I, II) of human BM-40 as recombinant proteins in human 293 cells. Circular dichroism demonstrated that both mutants were obtained as folded proteins with a distinct three-dimensional conformation. In addition, mutant delta I, II could be readily crystallized and diffraction patterns with a resolution limit of 2.4 A resolution were obtained. Calcium binding to this fragment was ten times weaker (Kd = 0.8 microM) than for the wild-type protein. Identical reversible increases in alpha-helicity upon calcium binding were observed for the 150-residue long mutant delta I, II and for BM-40 (286 residues). A 26-residue synthetic peptide corresponding to the EF-hand related motif exhibited much weaker calcium binding. The apparent dissociation constant decreased with increasing peptide concentration (from Kd 2.4 mM at 1 microM, to Kd 0.3 mM at 100 microM peptide concentration) and calcium binding was accompanied by dimerization of the peptide. This suggests that for strong calcium binding the EF-hand related motif has to be embedded into a larger protein domain that can form an autonomously folding protein module. The EC domain was also shown by surface plasmon resonance assay to be responsible for calcium-dependent binding to collagen IV with an affinity (Kd = 19 microM) only sixfold lower than that of intact human BM-40.

Two adjacent N-terminal glutamines of BM-40 (osteonectin, SPARC) act as amine acceptor sites in transglutaminaseC-catalyzed modification

The extracellular matrix protein BM-40 (osteonectin, SPARC) has recently been shown to be a major target for transglutaminase-catalyzed cross-linking in differentiating cartilage. In the present study we demonstrate that recombinant human BM-40 can be modified with [3H]putrescine in a 1:1 molar ratio by transglutaminaseC (tissue transglutaminase). Residues Gln3 and Gln4 were identified as major amine acceptor sites. This was confirmed with several mutant proteins, including deletions in the N-terminal domain I of BM-40, site-directed mutagenesis of the reactive glutamines, and fusion of the seven-amino acid-long N-terminal sequence (APQQEAL) to an unrelated protein. The results showed that the N-terminal target site is sufficient for modification by transglutaminase but at a low level. For high efficiency amine incorporation an intact domain I is required. The conservation of at least one of the transglutaminase target glutamines in the known vertebrate BM-40 sequences and their absence in an invertebrate homologue point to an important, but yet unknown, role of this modification in vertebrates.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus leader proteinase: purification of the Lb form and determination of its cleavage site on eIF-4 gamma

Many picornaviruses cause a dramatic decrease in the translation of cellular mRNAs in the infected cell, without affecting the translation of their own RNA. Specific proteolysis of protein synthesis initiation factor eIF-4 gamma occurs during infection with rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, and aphthoviruses, apparently leading to an inability of the ribosomes to bind capped mRNAs. Cleavage of eIF-4 gamma in human rhinoviruses and enteroviruses is carried out by the viral 2A proteinase; in aphthoviruses (i.e., foot-and-mouth disease viruses), the leader proteinase is responsible for this reaction. We describe here the purification to homogeneity of the Lb form of the leader proteinase expressed in Escherichia coli. The primary cleavage products of eIF-4 gamma obtained in vitro with purified leader or 2A proteinase are electrophoretically indistinguishable from those found during infection in vivo. However, additional proteolysis products of eIF-4 gamma are observed with the leader proteinase and the human rhinovirus type 2 2A proteinase in vitro. The cleavage site of the leader proteinase in eIF-4 gamma from rabbit reticulocyte was determined by sequencing the purified C-terminal cleavage product by automated Edman degradation. The cleavage site is between Gly-479 and Arg-480 and thus differs from that of rhinovirus and enterovirus 2A proteinases, which cleave between Arg-486 and Gly-487.

Investigation of the coxsackievirus B3 nonstructural proteins 2B, 2C, and 3AB: generation of specific polyclonal antisera and detection of replicating virus in infected tissue

The coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) nonstructural proteins 2B and 3AB were synthesized as beta-galactosidase fusion proteins in E. coli in order to generate specific polyclonal antisera. 2B and 3AB fusion proteins were purified by preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and inoculated into rabbits. Protein 2C-specific antiserum was produced using synthetic oligopeptides which were defined by computer based amino acid sequence analysis. Specificity of the generated antisera was analysed by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. All antisera allowed specific detection of the viral proteins 2B, 2C, and 3AB in CVB3-infected cells as well as in myocardial and pancreatic tissue of CVB3-infected mice. In addition, the CVB3 2C-specific antiserum was shown to be highly cross-reactive with the analogous protein of other picornaviruses, including cardiotropic enterovirus serotypes such as coxsackievirus A9, coxsackievirus B (types 1-5), and echovirus 11. Moreover, the immunological detection of nonstructural proteins enables diagnosis of replicating virus in infected tissue. These results demonstrate that the generated antisera are valuable tools for diagnostic approaches. Furthermore, they may help to elucidate the role of the nonstructural proteins 2B, 2C, and 3AB in enteroviral replication and pathogenesis.

Ongoing enterovirus-induced myocarditis is associated with persistent heart muscle infection: quantitative analysis of virus replication, tissue damage, and inflammation

Coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis in different immunocompetent mouse strains was used as a model to investigate interrelationships between virus replication and development of chronic enteroviral heart disease. Using in situ hybridization to detect enteroviral RNA, we show that heart muscle infection is not only detected in acute myocarditis but is also detected during the chronic phase of the disease. Coxsackievirus B3 could evade immunological surveillance in a host-dependent fashion, thus inducing a persistent infection of the myocardium in association with ongoing inflammation. Patterns of acute and persistent myocardial infection were quantitatively assessed in one representative mouse strain (A.CA/SnJ, H-2f) by applying computer-assisted digital image processing; these patterns were then related to the extent of myocardial tissue damage as well as to inflammation. We observed a strong correlation, both spatial and temporal, between viral replication and development of myocardial lesions, indicating that acute and chronic myocardial injuries are a consequence of multifocal organ infection. Analysis of strand-specific in situ hybridization revealed that viral replication in persistent infection is restricted at the level of RNA synthesis. The described procedure for quantitating organ infection provides a powerful tool for evaluating virus-host interactions and will be of particular interest to those studying human enterovirus-induced cardiomyopathies.

Strand-specific detection of enteroviral RNA in myocardial tissue by in situ hybridization

In this report we describe the development and application of single-stranded RNA probes for strand-specific detection of enterovirus RNA in infected heart tissue by in situ hybridization. For synthesis of RNA probes a full-length reverse-transcribed, recombinant CVB3 cDNA was inserted into the transcription vector pSPT18. Run-off transcripts of plus-strand and minus-strand orientation were produced using either T7 or SP6 RNA polymerase. Binding specificity and sensitivity of the radioactively labelled RNA probes were determined by slot-blot hybridization. Due to the high degree of genetic identity among enteroviruses, the in vitro transcribed CVB3 RNA probes hybridized with various enterovirus serotypes, including group A and B coxsackieviruses and echoviruses, which are commonly implicated in human viral heart disease. Strand-specific in situ hybridization led to detection of viral plus-strand or minus-strand RNA in infected cell cultures and in myocardial tissue sections of infected mice. In consecutive sections either viral genomic plus-strand RNA or complementary minus-strand RNA were localized in the same infected myocardial cells. In situ hybridization with enterovirus-specific and highly sensitive single-stranded RNA probes is of particular interest for the diagnosis of myocardial infections and for studies concerning viral RNA replication.