Identification of key genes and signaling pathways during Sendai virus infection in vitro

Sendai virus (SeV) has been used as a model strain to reveal molecular features of paramyxovirus biology. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the gene profiling of murine macrophages and airway epithelial cells in response to SeV using gene expression data. The significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by GEO2R. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses were performed by DAVID. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) map of DEGs was constructed by STRING. The modules of PPI network are produced by molecular complex detection (MCODE) plug-in of Cytoscape. In total, 241 up- and 83 downregulated DEGs were identified in airway epithelial cells while 130 up- and 148 downregulated in macrophage. Particularly, Tmem119 and Colla2 are significantly downregulated in airway epithelial cells and macrophages, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis showed that upregulated DEGs are clustered in innate immunity and inflammatory response in both cell types, whereas downregulated DEGs are involved in host metabolic pathway in airway epithelial cells. PI3K-AKT signaling pathway is downregulated in macrophages. PPI network analysis indicated that some high degree of nodes exist in both cell types, such as Stat1, Tnf, and Cxcl10. In conclusion, SeV infection can induce different host cell responses in airway epithelial cells and macrophages.