West Nile Virus Capsid Triggers Brain Inflammation
By Biotechdaily staff writers
Posted on 23 Dec 2002
Researchers have found that the protein shield, or capsid (WNV-Cp), that surrounds the West Nile virus's single strand of RNA may contribute to the inflammation of brain tissues associated with the virus. This finding was published in the December 2002 online edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases.Posted on 23 Dec 2002
Investigators from the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, USA) found that the WNV-capsid by itself induced rapid nuclear condensation and cell death in tissue culture. Apoptosis was induced through the mitochondrial pathway resulting in caspase-9 activation and downstream caspase-3 activation.
"Despite the fact that West Nile virus is a global health threat, we understand very little of the pathogenesis of the disease caused by this virus,” said senior author Dr. David Weiner, associate professor in the University of Pennsylvania's department of pathology and laboratory medicine. "Overall, our data suggest that WNV-Cp may interact with host cell proteins to induce apoptosis in the host cell. Identifying these proteins will likely give more insight into the biology of West Nile.”
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