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Published on: August 15, 2019
FICZ Exposure and Viral Infection in Mice
Taisho Yamada1, Akinori Takaoka1
1Division of Signaling in Cancer and Immunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Molecular Medical Biochemistry Unit, Biological Chemistry and Engineering Course, Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is known as a sensor for dioxins that mediates their toxicity, and also has important biophysiological roles such as circadian rhythms, cell differentiation and immune responses. 6-formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole (FICZ), which is derived through the metabolism of L-tryptophan by ultraviolet B irradiation, is one of putative physiological ligands for AHR ( Smirnova et al., 2016 ). It has recently been shown that endogenously-activated AHR signaling modulates innate immune response during viral infection ( Yamada et al., 2016 ). This section describes how to treat mice with FICZ and to infect them with virus.
Insights
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a sensor for dioxins and plays roles in immunity. This study details how to treat mice with FICZ, a potential AHR ligand, and infect them with a virus.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) functions as a dioxin sensor, mediating toxicity and influencing physiological processes like circadian rhythms, cell differentiation, and immune responses.
- 6-formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole (FICZ), a metabolite of L-tryptophan activated by UV-B, is a proposed endogenous ligand for the AHR.
- Recent findings indicate that AHR signaling, when activated endogenously, modulates innate immune responses during viral infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a methodology for treating mice with FICZ.
- To outline a protocol for infecting these treated mice with a virus.
- To facilitate research into the role of AHR signaling in viral immunity.
Main Methods:
- Mice are treated with 6-formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole (FICZ).
- Following FICZ treatment, mice are infected with a specific virus.
- This experimental setup allows for the investigation of AHR-mediated effects on viral infection.
Main Results:
- This section provides a procedural description, not experimental results.
- The described methods enable the study of FICZ's impact on viral infection dynamics.
- The protocol serves as a foundation for future research into AHR's role in antiviral immunity.
Conclusions:
- The described methodology allows for the in vivo investigation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway using FICZ.
- This protocol enables the study of how AHR signaling influences the innate immune response to viral infections in a mouse model.
- This work provides a framework for exploring the therapeutic potential of modulating AHR activity during viral pathogenesis.
