Pathological Studies on Hantaan Virus-Infected Mice Simulating Severe Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome

Hantaan virus is the causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The Hantaan virus strain, Korean hemorrhagic fever virus clone-5 (KHF5), causes weight loss and renal hemorrhage in laboratory mice. Clone-4 (KHF4), which has a single E417K amino acid change in its glycoprotein, is an avirulent variant. In this study, KHF4 and KHF5 were compared to evaluate pathological differences in mice in vitro and in vivo. The characteristics of the two glycoproteins were not significantly different in vitro. However, the virulent KHF5 strain targeted the lungs and caused pneumonia and edema in vivo. Both strains induced high infectivity levels in the liver and caused hepatitis; however, petechial hemorrhage and glycogen storage reduction were observed in KHF5-infected mice alone. Renal hemorrhage was observed using viral antigens in the tubular region of KHF5-infected mice. In addition, an increase in white blood cell levels and neutrophilia were found in KHF5-infected mice. Microarray analysis of liver cells showed that CD8+ T cell activation, acute-phase protein production, and neutrophil activation was induced by KHF5 infection. KHF5 infectivity was significantly increased in vivo and the histological and clinicopathological findings were similar to those in patients with HFRS.