PubMed

Caprine herpesvirus-1 (CapHV-1) induces apoptosis in goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2005 Feb 10;103(3-4):283-93.

Pagnini U, Montagnaro S, Sanfelice di Monteforte E, Pacelli F, De Martino L, Roperto S, Florio S, Iovane G.

Department of Pathology and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy.

Programmed cell death (PCD), or apoptosis, is initiated in response to various stimuli, including virus infection. A number of studies have shown that deregulation of apoptosis is an important feature of virus-induced immunosuppression for various viral diseases. In the present study, CapHV-1 was found to cause apoptosis in mitogen-stimulated as well as nonstimulated caprine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Apoptotic index, as quantified by fluorescent dyes, revealed a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells at 24 and 48 h postinfection as compared to their respective noninfected controls. Apoptosis specific internucleosomal laddering in DNA from CapHV-1 infected PBMC was seen in agarose gel electrophoresis. No DNA fragmentation was observed in control noninfected PBMC. Virus-induced apoptosis was reduced by Z-VAD-FMK, an aspecific caspase inhibitor, by AC-DEVD-CHO (caspase-3-specific) and AC-VEID-CHO (caspase-6-specific) treatment. PCD in CapHV-1 infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells occurs at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. However, penetration of virus particles and infection was not required for PCD, as UV-inactivated CapHV-1 induced apoptosis of mitogen-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.