Apoptosis inversely correlates with rabies virus neurotropism.
We report that non-neurotropic rabies virus (RV) strains, currently used to immunize wildlife against rabies, induces not only a caspase-dependent apoptosis in the human lymphoblastoid Jurkat T cell line (Jurkat-vect), but also a caspase-independent pathway. Cell redistribution of the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was observed in Jurkat-vect infected with RV vaccine strain. Bcl-2 overproduction in Jurkat T cells (Jurkat-Bcl-2) abolished both caspase activation and AIF distribution. In contrast, strain of neurotropic RV did not induce apoptosis. The inverse correlation of the induction of apoptosis and the capacity of a virus strain to invade the brain suggests that blockage of apoptosis could be a strategy selected by neurotropic virus to favor its progression through the nervous system.
Thoulouze
Maria-Isabel
MI
NeuroImmunologie Virale, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75724, France.
Lafage
Mireille
M
Yuste
Victor J
VJ
Kroemer
Guido
G
Susin
Santos A
SA
Israel
Nicole
N
Lafon
Monique
M
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*
C494829:AIFM1 protein, human; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D005420:Flavoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D020169:Caspases