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Persistent infection of a gammaherpesvirus in the central nervous system

Hye-Ri Kang1, Hye-Jeong Cho, Sungbum Kim

  • 1Virus-Host Interactions Laboratory, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.

Virology
|December 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) can persist in the central nervous system (CNS) and spleen after CNS infection in mice. Cyclosporine A treatment reactivated latent MHV-68 from both locations.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Human gammaherpesvirus infections are associated with neurological diseases.
  • Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is a model for human gammaherpesviruses and infects the mouse CNS.
  • Viral persistence of MHV-68 within the CNS remains uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the persistence and dissemination of MHV-68 following CNS infection.
  • To establish a model for studying MHV-68 latency and reactivation in the CNS and periphery.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a recombinant MHV-68 expressing firefly luciferase (M3FL) for noninvasive bioluminescence imaging.
  • Monitored virus progression and dissemination after intracranial inoculation in mice.
  • Detected viral genome and transcripts to confirm systemic spread and latency.
  • Administered Cyclosporine A (CsA) to induce reactivation of latent virus.

Main Results:

  • Bioluminescence imaging revealed systemic spread of M3FL from the brain to abdominal organs.
  • Viral genome and transcripts confirmed dissemination and establishment of latency in the spleen.
  • Latent MHV-68 was successfully reactivated from both the brain and spleen following CsA treatment.

Conclusions:

  • MHV-68 can establish persistent infection both within the CNS and systemically outside the CNS after initial CNS entry.
  • The spleen serves as a site for MHV-68 latency following CNS infection.
  • MHV-68 latency in both CNS and spleen is susceptible to reactivation.

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