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Paramyxovirus infections alter certain functional properties in cultured sensory neurons
1Division of Cellular and Neuropathology (Department of Pathology), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
Functional properties of cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion cells infected with paramyxoviruses have been studied using intracellular recording techniques. Mumps virus, which causes a persistent non-lytic infection, and Sendai virus, which causes an infection that leads to cell lysis after about a week were used. In the early phase of the infection (24-48 h) both viruses caused a reduction in the influx of calcium ions during the action potential, but did not alter resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude or input resistance. At later times functional properties became normal in mumps infected neurons. In contrast, Sendai virus infected neurons showed a reduction of action potential amplitude and input resistance at 48-72 h after infection, and finally there was also a reduction of membrane potential before the cells disintegrated. These results show that different paramyxovirus infections may cause different types of alterations in the functional properties of neurons. The reduced calcium influx resulting from mumps infection suggests that a non-lytic viral infection may have selective effects on important regulators of neuronal functions. Moreover, a lethal viral infection (Sendai) may influence specific membrane properties, such as calcium channel activation, several days prior to general structural and functional degeneration.
Insights
Different paramyxoviruses impact neuronal function uniquely. Mumps virus causes transient calcium influx reduction, while Sendai virus leads to progressive neuronal degeneration and cell death.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Paramyxoviruses can infect neurons, potentially altering their function.
- Understanding how different viral infections affect neuronal properties is crucial for neuroscience and disease research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional changes in cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons infected with mumps virus (persistent, non-lytic) and Sendai virus (lytic).
- To compare the effects of lytic versus non-lytic paramyxovirus infections on neuronal electrophysiology and calcium signaling.
Main Methods:
- Intracellular recording techniques were used to study cultured mouse DRG cells.
- Cells were infected with mumps virus or Sendai virus.
Main Results:
- Both viruses initially reduced calcium ion influx during action potentials within 24-48 hours.
- Mumps virus infection resulted in recovery of neuronal function over time.
- Sendai virus infection led to decreased action potential amplitude and input resistance at later stages (48-72 hours), preceding cell disintegration.
Conclusions:
- Different paramyxovirus infections induce distinct alterations in neuronal functional properties.
- Non-lytic infections (mumps) may selectively affect neuronal regulators like calcium influx.
- Lytic infections (Sendai) can impact specific membrane properties, such as calcium channels, before widespread neuronal degeneration occurs.