Parvovirus B19 and Cellular Transcriptome Dynamics in UT7/EpoS1 Cells

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a human ssDNA virus with ample pathogenic potential, characterized by a selective tropism for erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs) in the bone marrow. In vitro, in addition to EPCs, UT7/EpoS1 cells are widely used as a model cell system, permissive to viral replication, although in a restrictive pattern. In our work, we applied mRNA high-throughput sequencing technology (HTS) and a dedicated bioinformatic pipeline to investigate both viral and cellular expression profiles in the course of B19V infection of UT7/EpoS1 cells. Mapping of the viral transcriptome detailed the differential expression pattern across early and late time points in the course of infection, at 2, 16 and 48 h post-infection (hpi). Analysis of the cellular transcriptome indicated that downregulation of genes involved in the immune/cytokine/interleukin response was prominent from earlier time points throughout the time course of infection. Upregulation of genes involved in cell stress response was found at 2 hpi, and genes involved in cell cycle regulation were affected mainly at 16 hpi and 48 hpi. A comparative analysis was performed with EPCs, showing similarity in their viral expression profile but substantial divergence in the virus-induced dysregulation of the cellular transcription pattern. This dual-transcriptome analysis of infected UT7/EpoS1 cells and comparison with EPCs provides groundwork for future research aimed at providing a better definition of the pathogenic mechanisms of B19V.