Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Identifying Caspases and their Motifs that Cleave Proteins During Influenza A Virus Infection
Published on: July 21, 2022
[Apoptosis of cancer cells induced by influenza virus and its elementary mechanism]
1Department of Microbiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forenisic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Objective:
To study the apotosis-inducing effects of influenza virus on cancer cells and the role of FasL.
Methods:
Four strains of cancer cells (Hela, Raji, SMMC-7721 and SPC-A-1) were infected with 20 m. o. i influenza virus and the effects of apoptosis were detected at different time points post infection by electron microscopy, DNA agrose gel electrophoresis, PI stained flow cytometry, and Annexin-V FITC/PI stained flow cytometry. And the concentration of FasL in the culture supernatant was measured with the use of ELISA at the same time.
Results:
All the four strains of cancer cells showed apoptotic morphological changes. DNA agarose electrophoresis also showed "ladder" in a time dependent manner after virus infection. During this course, there was an obvious increase of FasL concentration in the cell culture supernatant.
Conclusion:
Influenza virus can induce tumour cells apoptosis in vitro, and it is probably related to the increased expression of FasL.
Related Concept Videos
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Apoptosis
Influenza
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Leaky Scanning

