Publikationsdatenbank

Varicella-zoster virus-induced apoptosis in MeWo cells is accompanied by down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression (2010)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Brazeau, Elizabeth

Mahalingam, Ravi

Gilden, Don

Wellish, Mary

Kaufer, Benedikt B

Osterrieder, Nikolaus

Pugazhenthi, Subbiah

Quelle

Journal of neurovirology

Bandzählung: 16

Heftzählung: 2

Seiten: 133 – 140

ISSN: 1355-0284

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

DOI: 10.3109/13550281003682547

Pubmed: 20345323

Kontakt

Institut für Virologie

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 51833
virologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Varicella-zoster virus infects multiple human and monkey cells in culture. The mode of cell death appears to be autophagy or apoptosis. Analysis of VZV-infected human melanoma (MeWo) cells revealed that Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels were decreased significantly 64 and 72 hpi (hours post infection), accompanied by the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Western blot analysis of virus-infected cells revealed activation of caspase-8, a marker for the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis, and caspase-9, a marker for the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis at 64 and 72 hpi. Significant increases in the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) were also seen at the height of cytopathic effect. Thus VZV induces apoptosis in MeWo cells in which Bcl-2 is down-regulated. Future studies will determine differences in the cascade of apoptotic events in non-neuronal cells compared to neurons that allow VZV to become latent.