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Updated: Sep 18, 2025
High-Throughput Transcriptome Analysis for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions
Published on: March 5, 2022
Whole-cell response of coronavirus-infected BMDCs through proteomic and transcriptomic analyses
Yanxi Ji1,2, Yuzhen Zhang1, Yongjia Tong1,3
1State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Introduction:
Understanding the intricacies of the host inflammatory response to coronaviruses is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies to mitigate the severe consequences of these infections. Various coronaviruses can trigger the host immune response, leading to highly similar inflammatory reactions. The mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), which belongs to the same group of beta-coronaviruses as SARS-CoV-2 and induces high pathogenicity in mice, typically serves as a safety model for investigating highly pathogenic coronavirus infections, replication, and virus-host interactions.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome and proteome of mouse bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) infected with MHV.
Results:
We characterized the global gene changes at both the mRNA and protein levels following viral infection, identifying ten genes involved in various anti-MHV biological processes. Furthermore, by integrating our findings with relevant published data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells, we observed significant similarities in the responses to MHV and SARS-CoV-2, particularly regarding immune and inflammatory responses.
Discussion:
These findings underscore how our research enhances the understanding of global gene expression alterations during coronavirus infection and facilitates the identification of novel antiviral targets.
Insights
Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) infection in dendritic cells reveals key anti-viral genes. Similarities were found between MHV and SARS-CoV-2 immune responses, aiding new antiviral target discovery.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Genomics
Background:
- Understanding coronavirus host responses is crucial for therapeutic development.
- Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), a beta-coronavirus, models pathogenic infections and virus-host interactions.
- MHV is a safety model for studying highly pathogenic coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively analyze the transcriptome and proteome of mouse bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) infected with MHV.
- To identify genes involved in anti-MHV biological processes.
- To compare MHV-induced responses with SARS-CoV-2 infection data.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome and proteome analysis of MHV-infected mouse bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs).
- Global gene expression profiling at mRNA and protein levels.
- Integration of findings with published SARS-CoV-2 infection data.
Main Results:
- Characterization of global gene expression changes in BMDCs post-MHV infection.
- Identification of ten genes crucial for anti-MHV biological processes.
- Significant similarities observed in immune and inflammatory responses between MHV and SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Conclusions:
- The study enhances understanding of gene expression alterations during coronavirus infection.
- Identified genes may serve as novel antiviral targets.
- Findings highlight conserved immune responses to related coronaviruses.
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