Effect of rotavirus strain on the murine model of biliary atresia

Steven R Allen1, Mubeen Jafri, Bryan Donnelly

  • 1Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 2923, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Journal of Virology
|November 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus strain tropism determines biliary epithelial cell infection, impacting biliary atresia development in a mouse model. Specific strains cause disease, while others do not, highlighting strain-specific characteristics.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Hepatology
  • Neonatal Disease

Background:

  • Biliary atresia is a severe neonatal liver disease causing inflammation and fibrosis of the extrahepatic biliary tract.
  • Viral infection is a suspected contributing factor to the etiology of biliary atresia.
  • Rhesus rotavirus (RRV) in a murine model causes biliary epithelial cell infection, leading to bile duct obstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if tropism for biliary epithelial cells is unique to RRV.
  • To evaluate the impact of different rotavirus strains on the murine model of biliary atresia.

Main Methods:

  • Newborn mice were intraperitoneally injected with five rotavirus strains: RRV, SA11-FM, SA11-SM, EDIM, and Wa.
  • Clinical manifestations, mortality, and viral distribution were assessed.
  • Immunohistochemistry was used to determine viral tropism for biliary epithelial cells.

Main Results:

  • RRV and SA11-FM induced bile duct obstruction and high mortality.
  • SA11-SM caused hepatobiliary injury with reduced mortality.
  • EDIM and Wa did not cause hepatobiliary disease; RRV and SA11-FM targeted biliary epithelial cells, while SA11-SM did not.

Conclusions:

  • Rotavirus strain-specific characteristics dictate tropism for hepatobiliary cells.
  • Tropism for biliary epithelial cells is crucial for inducing the murine model of biliary atresia.
  • Understanding strain-specific tropism is key to modeling biliary atresia.

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