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LAT expression during an acute HSV infection in the mouse
R G Jarman1, E K Wagner, D C Bloom
1Department of Microbiology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-2701, USA.
Virology
|September 30, 1999
Summary
The latency-associated transcript (LAT) promoter shows high activity in mouse epithelium in vivo, not just neurons. This suggests LAT promoter expression is broader in living organisms than previously observed in cell cultures.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Virology
- Neurobiology
- Gene Expression
Background:
- Previous studies indicated high LAT promoter activity in neuroblastoma cell lines compared to fibroblasts.
- This in vitro observation correlated with LAT accumulation in sensory neurons during latent infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate LAT promoter activity in vivo during acute infection.
- To compare LAT promoter expression in different cell types within a living organism.
Main Methods:
- Utilized recombinant viruses to express reporter genes under LAT promoter control in vivo.
- Analyzed reporter gene product levels in various peripheral cells and neurons in mouse models.
- Examined the impact of LAT promoter location (R(L) vs. U(L) regions) on expression.
Main Results:
- The LAT promoter exhibited high activity in mouse foot epithelium in vivo.
- Contrary to cell culture findings, similar reporter gene levels were observed in peripheral cells and neurons during acute infection.
- Reporter gene expression was higher when the LAT promoter was in the R(L) region compared to the U(L) region.
Conclusions:
- LAT promoter activity varies significantly by cell type in vivo.
- High LAT expression is not exclusive to neurons in a living organism, challenging previous assumptions based on cell culture data.