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p21(Waf1/Cip1) as a molecular sensor for BoHV-4 replication.
A Capocefalo1, V Franceschi, C B A Whitelaw
1Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Dipartimento di Salute Animale, Sezione di Malattie Infettive degli Animali, Parma, Italy.
Journal of Virological Methods
|June 23, 2009
Summary
Bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) infection activates p21 expression, a key cell-cycle regulator, specifically in permissive cells. This indicates p21 expression can serve as a marker for BoHV-4 replication and potential cellular defense.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) requires the S-phase of the cell cycle for viral DNA synthesis.
- The cell cycle regulator p21 is crucial for the G1/S-phase transition and is induced by DNA damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of p21 in cells infected with BoHV-4.
- To determine if p21 expression correlates with BoHV-4 replication.
Main Methods:
- Infection of permissive and non-permissive cells with BoHV-4.
- Analysis of p21 promoter activation and expression levels following infection.
- Dose- and time-dependent studies of p21 induction.
Main Results:
- BoHV-4 infection led to significant activation of the p21 promoter.
- p21 expression was induced in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
- p21 activation was observed exclusively in cells permissive for BoHV-4 replication.
Conclusions:
- p21 expression serves as a reliable indicator of BoHV-4 replication.
- The induction of p21 may represent a host cell defense mechanism against BoHV-4 infection-induced cellular damage.
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