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Mumps virus-induced alterations in cellular excitability during persistent infections
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota-Duluth 55812-2487.
Abstract:
Persistent mumps virus infections were established in rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) and human medulloblastoma (TE-671) continuous cell lines. Significant amounts of infectious virus were produced by the PC-12 cells; infectious virus production by the TE-671 cells was limited. This restricted replication may be due to decreased production of viral envelope glycoproteins by TE-671 cells. The presence of virus changed the distribution of stimulus-evoked electrical responsiveness of both cell lines from responsiveness composed primarily of normal, rapidly rising, all-or-nothing action potentials to one dominated by abnormal, slowly rising, graded responses or by no response at all. Such changes have the potential to disrupt neural integration within the nervous system, and suggest a new mechanism by which persistent virus infections might play a role in chronic neurological and/or mental disease.
Insights
Persistent mumps virus infections in neural cell lines (PC-12 and TE-671) altered electrical activity, potentially disrupting neural integration and contributing to neurological diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neurovirology
- Cellular Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mumps virus can establish persistent infections in neural cells.
- Understanding how persistent viral infections affect neuronal function is crucial for understanding neurological diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of persistent mumps virus infection on the electrical properties of PC-12 and TE-671 cell lines.
- To explore potential mechanisms by which viral infections may contribute to neurological dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Establishing persistent mumps virus infections in rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) and human medulloblastoma (TE-671) cell lines.
- Quantifying infectious virus production.
- Assessing stimulus-evoked electrical responsiveness using electrophysiological techniques.
Main Results:
- PC-12 cells produced significant amounts of infectious virus, while TE-671 cells showed limited production, possibly due to reduced viral envelope glycoprotein synthesis.
- Mumps virus infection altered the electrical responsiveness of both cell lines, shifting from normal action potentials to abnormal graded responses or no response.
- These changes suggest a disruption of neural integration.
Conclusions:
- Persistent mumps virus infection profoundly alters the electrophysiological properties of neural cell lines.
- The observed changes in electrical responsiveness indicate a potential mechanism for mumps virus involvement in chronic neurological and mental diseases.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of viral-induced neuronal dysfunction in disease pathogenesis.