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Canine distemper virus induces apoptosis through caspase-3 and -8 activation in vero cells

M Kajita1, H Katayama, T Murata

  • 1Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.

Journal of Veterinary Medicine. B, Infectious Diseases and Veterinary Public Health
|August 16, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The canine distemper virus-Onderstepoort vaccine strain triggers apoptosis in infected Vero cells. This occurs via caspase-3 and caspase-8 activation, not mitochondrial pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a significant pathogen.
  • Understanding vaccine strain-induced apoptosis is crucial for vaccine development.
  • Vero cells are a common model for studying viral effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the signal-transduction pathway of CDV-Ond vaccine strain-mediated apoptosis in Vero cells.
  • To determine the specific apoptotic mechanisms activated by CDV-Ond infection.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of Vero cells with CDV-Ond at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1.
  • Assessing DNA fragmentation and TUNEL staining to detect apoptosis.
  • Immunofluorescence staining for CDV-N protein.
  • Measuring caspase-3 and caspase-8 activation.
  • Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for apoptosis-related gene expression (Fas, Bcl-2, Bax).

Main Results:

  • CDV-Ond infection induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis specifically in infected cells (CDV-N-protein-positive).
  • Activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was observed.
  • Increased mRNA expression of the death receptor Fas was detected.
  • Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, involved in intrinsic apoptosis, remained unchanged.

Conclusions:

  • CDV-Ond vaccine strain induces apoptosis in Vero cells through the extrinsic pathway.
  • The primary mechanism involves activation of caspase-3, likely via caspase-8 signaling.
  • Mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis (p53/Bax pathway) is not the main route for CDV-Ond-induced cell death in this model.

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