title: Distinct cell death mechanisms by Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection in microglia and macrophage.
abstract: DA strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) persists in the mouse central nervous system (CNS) and induces demyelination while GDVII strain fails to persist or demyelinate. L* protein, which is synthesized only in DA but not GDVII, is believed important in virus persistence and demyelination. Because a major reservoir for DA persistence is infiltrated macrophages or microglia, a resident macrophage of the CNS, we investigated TMEV infection of Ra2 cells, a murine microglial cell line. We found that DA strain grew well in Ra2 cells, but not GDVII strain or DAL*-1 virus (which fails to synthesize L* protein), suggesting that L* protein plays an important role in virus growth in microglia. Interestingly, in contrast to virus growth, most Ra2 cells infected with DA strain survived with no evidence of virus-induced apoptosis. These results may be important in clarifying the pathogenesis of DA-induced demyelinating disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan. ohara@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himeda
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D017945:Theilovirus / Q000254:growth & development*